On the way

Checked out of the hotel and left the suitcase with the concierge and headed off to find some breakfast.

A final morning with a guided walking tour booked with a Brisbane Greeter, who started at the very impressive tourist information centre, which used to be a Theatre and Cinema. A fabulous building would have been great to see in its heyday.

We were taken on  a walking tour of some of the main areas, some already visited previously, but we did actually go inside the city hall building and were told some of the history of the parliament and government buildings.

We did smile when she said about the really old buildings dating from the 1880s, as for Australia, one of the oldest countries, the colonised areas don't really date back that far.

Brisbane was where a large penal colony was established, but those brought out here managed to create the city as it began. It is growing rapidly and several buildings have already been demolished to make way for new growth; though, many of the government buildings are now protected so they will remain nestled in amongst the shiny new high rises.
The rain came down, so it was useful not to be wandering too far today.

At the end of the tour we were near the QUT (Queensland University of Technology) so wandered in to find the original Government House, now swallowed up by new university buildings and managed to grab some lunch there. 

A walk along the river's edge after that through the mangroves, and back through the Botanical Gardens, then on to the Roma Street Parkland area and suitcase was collected before heading off to start on the long journey home.

Today's weather being more overcast and damp, meant it was great not to be worried about missing seeing things in the sunshine.

Have had a great 3 weeks here in Australia, the people have been so friendly, and we have had some fabulous weather. The Gold Coast is beautiful, Sydney needed more exploring, but was a great start to the time here, and being in Brisbane just finishes it all off nicely.
Another adventure to come soon I am sure, so the blog will fire up again.
But for now, I am heading home and not looking forward to getting back to normality.