Brisbane

The city of Brisbane sits far upriver (ca 12 km) from the ocean. The ultra-clean, ultra-modern city is served by a plethora of public tranport vehicles including trains, buses and these fast catamaran ferries.

Compañeras

Michelle of SV Warrior, my host, and Carolyn of SV Lightheart boarded the Miramar II for a hosted boat ride up (west) the Brisbane River to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

Skyline View

These piling moorings are on the Brisbane River at the Botanical Garden. For a modest price a boat can stay long term and take advantage of a dinghy dock and showers ashore. Nice! The only drawback is the current that can run four knots.

Historic Hotel

This hotel is renowned for having withstood one of Brisbane's great historic floods, when its lower two stories were underwater.

Mansion

Founded as a penal colony (what else?), Brisbane's elite of the Victorian epoch built monstrous mansions on the river.

Today's Elite

Even today, the Brisbane river's banks are cheek by jowl with mansions, most of which have their own dock. The river, however romantic is filled with man-eating bull sharks.

University of Queensland

Well upriver of the city, the University is connected to downtown by a bike path that continues across this people-only bridge.

Lone Pine

The first koala sanctuary, Lone Pine, was founded in the 1920s and has expanded its animal population into many species. This bird (a curlew?) was outside the sanctuary gates, nesting in the gravel. The biologists had roped off the area to give the poor girl a little protection.

An Active Population

There are well over 100 koalas and scores of other creatures here, lovingly cared for by a dedicated staff. 4 tons of eucalyptus are collected each day to feed just the koala population.

Sea Eagle

This bird of prey that fishes in the sea is only four kilos but has a windspan wider than human adult.

Barn Owls

Common in Australia too.

Owl Too

This owl hunts by land.

Sheepdogs

These amazing creatures swiftly managed these skittish, just out of the bush, sheep through a gate and twice up a ramp and over a bridge. These same dogs could manage well over 1000 sheep and make it look easy.

Intelligence

This puppy was eager to work some more!

Roooooos!

This is an example of an Eastern Grey kangaroo. A crowd of tourists and their chatter was not detering her from napping.

Big Red

The iconic kangaroo of Australia is the Big Red. This sweet, curious Momma came up to us and sniffed as her impatient little joey kept nudging her in her pouch (visible between her front legs).

The Wallaroos

were not interested in meeting us.

Koalas

We took dozens of photos of these furry sleepy beasts and it was hard to find one that wasn't sleeping or lazily munching on eucalyptus leaves, their sole food source.

Who is cuter?

It's hard to say...

Kookaburra

These gorgeous creatures emit a call that you know immediately. A kingfisher, they break the backbone of their prey (including snakes) before swallowing them whole.

Monitor Lizard

We wouldn't want to stand between this prehistoric monster and his prey.

Rainbow Lorikeet

Twice a day, Lone Pine, puts out grains that attract hundreds of wild rainbow lorikeets. The din is deafening but it's lots of fun.

Earth's

beautiful creatures amaze young and old alike.

Lorikeet

are about 10 inches long

The crowd...

was busily attacking the offered food, and each other as supplies dwindled.

Tazmanian Devil

Look at those red ears and not-so-tiny fangs. He was probably deciding if we tasted like chicken.