Brisbane - Queensland - Australia - Arcadia

Wallabies shelter from the heat.


Hello Everyone,

Arcadia enjoyed a beautiful on our cruise to Brisbane last Monday - 23rd February 2009.
Another mini turnaround for Arcadia and the last of our press, media and TV crew visits - what great coverage we got in Australia. I think Commodore Steve Burgoine must have been on every TV News programme in Australia! We said good bye to our friends from our Sydney Office today - it has been a very memorable voyage!


Here's Graham's overview for the blog....

Welcome to Brisbane, which the locals also call ‘Bris Vegas’ because the sun shines here more than anywhere in Australia. Their motto is ‘Beautiful one day, perfect the next!’ It's the third-largest city in Australia, capital city of Queensland and is becoming one of its most desirable places to live.

Brisbane grew around the Brisbane River. Interestingly enough, four European navigators, Captain Cook, Matthew Flinders, John Bingle and William Edwardson, all visited Moreton Bay but they failed to discover the river, however our passengers did not fail. All came back to their second home ‘Arcadia’ and sang the praises of Brisbane. The best old buildings, notably the mansions and Harris Terrace, line George & Queen Street. Unfortunately, many older buildings were torn down in the 1970’s to make way for newer ones but some still remain for us to see today and how the passengers loved seeing these super old buildings.

Anzac Square is a focal point in the city centre. All Australian cities commemorate those who have given their life for their country on April 25th every year – Anzac Day. ANZAC was of course the name given to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey early on the morning of 25 April 1915 during the First World War.

Down at Southbank the city fathers have built an ‘arbour’ so that the flowers can climb over the paths in a riot of colour. How we loved to stroll along the path - makes for some colourful pictures with the flowers in bloom.

The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the world’s first and largest Koala Sanctuary and how the passengers enjoyed the chance to do a once in your lifetime opportunity to stroke and cuddle a Koala. You probably know that Koalas love to sleep, sometimes up to 18 hours a day and you would be amazed by the positions they sleep in without falling off. The reason for that sleep is the food that they have to digest: Eucalyptus leaves which are actually poisonous, lucky on Arcadia we do not have to eat these. The great food on board more that satisfies our passengers.

Arcadia Passenger Mrs Fleckney enjoying her excursion ashore. So much to do on this Grand Voyage and so many varied experiences to capture.

Have we met before?? Thank you for coming to visit me on your big white Ocean Liner!

Fancy a dip? Gold Coast sands...................oh I do love a trip to the beach......

Didgeridoo playing in the down town area.

Colonial Building in Brisbane.

Brisbane City view from Mount Cootha.

Arbour Bridge covered in flowers.

Arcadia arriving in Brisbane at Fisherman's Island Grain. Thanks to our Inchcape Shipping services Agent Andreas R Kaech - Cruise Operations Controller - Queensland for taking this picture with his mobile phone as we were coming into port. Andreas - you are a great agent and thanks for all your assistance on the day - let's hope we return to Brisbane soon - everyone loves Brisbane.

ANZAC Square War Memorial.

Lots of good shopping and places to eat! I am just listening to the local Radio afternoon show as I type this here in Yorkeys Knob - pronounced locally as Yorkeys Ca'knob! I wish I was in Cairns however Helen and Steve have popped ashore so I am keeping ship!

Best wishes,

James.

Recline in the comfort of your friendship