Brisbane Forest Park & Walkabout Creek Wildlife centre

Things to do:
Choose from a short bushwalk or a 5km walk aorund the Enogerra Water Reservoir.
See the Platypus in a special dark room at Walkabout Creek Wildlife Centre ,open 9am–4.30pm every day (closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January)
There are also wallabies,turtles,fish,frogs,snakes,lizards,birds,a wombat,pademelons,sugar gliders and possums.

Getting There:
From Brisbane catch a 385 The Gap Buzz bus from Roma st Busway Roma St station.

Don't Forget:
Water if you plan on bushwalking as there are no picnic facilities. Hats.
Entry to Wildlife centre entry costs

• Adults: $5.70
• Children: $2.80
• Concession: $3.95
• Family pass: $14.20

Check Out:
The Huge Hoop Pine trees and the sign showing a massive Gumtree uprooted during the November 16th 2008 storm.

Warning:
There are no picnic facilities at this site. Please take all your rubbish with you.

Other Options:
There is a cafe on site.

More Info:
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?parkid=2
http://www.360tours.com.au/Brisbane_Forest_Park/

Mayne Inheritance Tours

Tours for 2008 are over, but contact Livingheritage to be informed of tours in 2009.

Tour of sites associated with the Mayne family and the bizarre murder mystery.
Cost $40

More Info:
http://www.brisbanelivingheritage.com/02_cal/details.asp?ID=951&varPeriod=1

More Info on the Mayne Family
http://www.brisbites.com/mayneSelect.asp
http://www.abc.net.au/dimensions/dimensions_in_time/Transcripts/s527155.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mayne_Inheritance
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/lifestyle/literary-brisbane

Woodford

Woodford is a lovely small country town to visit.

Things to Do:
Ride the Durundur Railway
Visit the Storeybrook Herb Cottage
In Dec-Jan the Woodford Folk Festival is on (free buses from Caboolture Train Station)

Getting There:
Brisbane Buslines runs a bus from Caboolture
http://www.brisbanebuslines.com.au/timetables/country/default.asp

Don't Forget:
Sunscreen and a hat

Check Out:
Elvis Parsley at Grapeland in the main street.
The Woodford Lions Country Markets are on the 3rd Sunday.

Warning:
The train line only operates on the 1st and 3rd Sundays

Other Options:
Storeybrook Cottage has a B&B.

More Information:
http://www.angrms.org.au/index.html
http://www.storeybrook.com.au/train.html
http://www.woodfordfolkfestival.com/

Brisbane CBD

There are many things you can do within the CBD of Brisbane.

Things to Do:
Visit the new Central Library which has a great children's section
Roma Street Parklands has lovely flowers and a great playground
Visit the Museum of Brisbane
Go up in the tower of the Town Hall
Visit Brisbane's oldest building The Windmill
Climb Jacob's Ladder
Look at the Plaques for the Brisbane Literary Trail in Albert st
CBD parks- Anzac Square,Post Office Square, Brisbane Square,King George Square,Victoria Square.

Getting There:
Catch a Train,bus or a citycat to the City

Don't Forget:
Hats and sunscreen

Check Out:
The Cathedrals of Brisbane are beautiful!
Brisbane Arcade off Queen st is an amazing old style arcade

Other Options:
Visit Southbank
The Brisbane Botanic Gardens
The Commissariat Museum

More Information:
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE:961969855:pc=PC_1236
http://www.museumofbrisbane.com.au/
http://www.romastreetparkland.qld.gov.au/
http://pandora.nla.gov.au/nph-arch/O1999-Jan-8/http://brisbane-stories.powerup.com.au/lit_trail/lit_trail_core/lit_trail_frames.htm
http://www.queenslandhistory.org.au/

Kidspace at Chermside

One of the best playgrounds we have ever been to.

Things to do:
Bring your bikes, scooters,roller blades, plenty of paths nearby.
Bring a picnic

Getting There:
We walk from Geebung or Virginia train stations but you could catch a bus
Use Translinks journey planner to find the bus route which suits you
http://www.transinfo.com.au/

Don't Forget :
Hat,sunscreen, water. Chermside shopping centre is nearby for shopping or food.

Check Out:
The Mountains to Mangroves corridor info signs http://www.mountainstomangroves.org/

Other Options:
Chermside Splash Park is just up the road! http://www.splash.com.au/

More Info:
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/living/suburbs/chermside/png/
http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/kidspace/index.cfm

Enchanted Forest Dorrington

This park was a wonderful accidental find. Lots of play equipment and fenced so very safe for little ones.
Fraser's Rd Ashgrove/Dorrington

Things to Do:
Bring a picnic, ride your bikes

Getting There:
Catch a 350 Express from outside the Roma st Police headquarters (stop 130) and get off at Fraser's Bridge.

Don't forget:
Hat,sunscreen, food and drink (There are no shops near the park)

Check Out:
The path way goes on as far as The Gap if you want to keep riding!

Other Options:
Ashgrove Park, (if you head back towards the city along the bikeway you'll find the park) Lots of room to run around and bushwalk trails.

More Information: http://www.ourbrisbane.com/living/suburbs/ashgrove/png/

Redcliffe Lagoon to Clontarf

This was a very long walk but it was a spur of the moment thing and we weren't really prepared for such a long walk. From the Redcliffe Lagoon you can walk along the foreshore all the way around to Clontarf (and on to Sandgate to finish if you are up for it!)

Things to Do:
Swim at the lagoon, fish from the jetty, swim at Sutton's beach, get fish and chips from the takeaway shop at Woody Point.
There's a great playground at Woody Point.

Getting there:
Catch a bus from the city, or from Petrie, Caboolture or Morayfield Train stations.

Don't forget:
Hat,sunscreen,water

Check Out :
The wreck of The Gayundah on the point.
Redcliffe Maritime Museum

Other Options:
Keep walking across the Hornibrook Bridge.

More Information: http://www.redcliffe.qld.gov.au/redcliffe_museum_web/02_for_schools/The%20Gayundah%20fact%20sheet.pdf
http://www.redcliffe.qld.gov.au/tourism/parks.html
http://www.redcliffe.qld.gov.au/redcliffe_museum_web/museum.htm

Island Hopping

Russell/Lamb/Macleay/Karragarra Islands, in Southern Moreton Bay are well worth a visit, see what Island life is like.

Things to Do-
All 4 Islands have swimming enclosures on the beach and picnic areas. Karragarra has a playground.

Getting There:
Route 250 Buses from Brisbane City. Bay Islands Transit System Ferries leave from Weinam Creek Ferry Terminal Banana St Redland Bay.
Ferries depart approx every 30 minutes, one service running clockwise the other anticlockwise.
Currently an Island Hopper ticket which entitles you to a return trip to the Islands and 3 inter-island trips costs $14.50 for an adult and $7.50 for a child.

Getting Back:
Ferries run until 9pm (check timetable)

Don't forget:
Pick up a timetable on the ferry, sunscreen,hats,water,insect repellant.

Check Out:
The old Saltmines on Macleay Island, walk along the foreshore, but watch out for the tide!

Warning :
Be Careful of tides and don't forget the insect repellant.
Karragarra Island has no shops, so make sure you buy water etc from one of the other islands.

Other Options:
Lamb Island has a Bed and Breakfast B&B

More Information:
Russell Island
Lamb Island

Gold Coast Oceanway

Walk along the Gold Coast, visit some of Qld's best beaches, playgrounds and you could even walk to Seaworld like we did.
Things to do- Along the walk you can see into the Sheraton Mirage Resort, there's a monument in cable park which recognizes the incredible achievement of laying the telegraph cable that first connected Australia to North America in the 1920s, also visit Macintosh island playground and see Bigfoot sleeping in his cave! Of course you can take your swimmers and try out the beaches!

Getting There:
Train to Robina and then a 750 Seaworld bus and get off where ever you would like to start your walk.

Don't Forget:
Hat,sunscreen and water!

Check Out
- Bigfoot at Macintosh Island
- The Suspension Bridge (sadly it was closed when we were there)
- The Mirage Resort
- The Great Playground near the historic Southport SLSC

Other Options
Visit Seaworld or the Q1 Observation deck or Marina Mirage Shopping Centre.
There are some great parks around the GC http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard.aspx?pid=5930

More Information:
http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard.aspx?pid=5622
http://www.federationwalk.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q1_(building)

Southbank

Southbank is always a great family day out, there's always something on, something new to see, even just sitting along the riverbank watching the boats go by is a great way to spend a few hours.

Things to do there:
Swim at the man made beach
The Science centre (entry fee)
Museum (gold coin donation)
Art Gallery (Gold coin donation)
Gallery of Modern Art
State Library (Has an excellent children's section and also an Official Bookcrossing Zone)
Playgrounds
At the Northern end past GOMA there is a lovely new picnic area.

Getting there:
Catch a City Cat across from North Quay
Catch a train to South Brisbane or Southbank stations
walk- over the Goodwill pedestrian bridge or Victoria Bridge
Catch a bus to the Cultural Centre stop

Don't Forget :
Hat, sunscreen and water. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from. If you plan to go to the Mangroves in the Botanic Gardens you might need some insect repellant.

Check out:
-the Nepalese Pagoda a reminder of Expo 88
- The original Victoria Bridge pylons
- The Markets

Other Options:
- Walk along to the Maritime Museum (entry fee)
- Kangaroo Point cliffs walk (a great walk along the river under the cliffs where you can see people abseiling,a lookout, lots of places to stop for a rest, there's also RiverLife http://www.ourbrisbane.com/visitors/seeanddo/river/riverlife.htm where you can hire Rollerblades or Kayaks for a faster journey!)
- Walk over the Goodwill bridge and along to the City Botanic gardens, another nice walk along the riverbank. (visit the Kangaroo statue near the cafe) Walk through the Mangrove Boardwalk
- Walk past the picnic area at the far Northern end of Southbank and you can keep walking all the way to the West End Ferry stop, past the rowing clubs and a historic gas tower.

More Information-
http://www.abc.net.au/brisbane/stories/s1767541.htm
http://www.visitsouthbank.com.au/home
http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/
http://www.southbank.qm.qld.gov.au/
http://www.southbank.qm.qld.gov.au/sciencentre/
http://www.qag.qld.gov.au/
http://www.qpac.com.au/home/

Mt Cootha Lookout and Bushwalk

Mt Cootha is a great place for a family day out, there is a cafe and a restaurant at the lookout. Both are quite expensive but very nice, clean and the view from the Restaurant is worth the cost!
There are some information boards and toilets.
Down the trails there are BBQ areas and more toilets.

Getting there:
Bus 471 from Stop 7 in Ann st Brisbane, runs regularly on weekdays , there are only 4 services on Saturdays and Sundays.


Getting Back:
Same bus back or you could walk like we do! We have walked back to the ferry terminal at Regatta and another time we walked back to Roma St. Walking back down means you aren't stuck to the bus times and you can take a detour via the Cemetary and have a wander through the historic graves.

Don't Forget:
Hats,sunscreen and plenty of water if you take the bushwalk option.
It's not likely that you would get lost but best to print a map http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/media/parks_and_forests/parks/bfp_mtcootha.pdf just in case.


Warning:
The Powerful owl trail is VERY steep and not recommended for small children or unfit people. Some trails get muddy or covered with water in wet season.

Other Options:
There is also the Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens to visit on the way down

More Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Coot-tha,_Queensland