Northside Hamilton

http://www.northshorehamilton.com.au/lifestyle/Space.aspx

The 2.5 hectare Northshore Hamilton Riverside Park is a natural gathering place for local residents and visitors, with a children’s play area, ripple lawn, barbecue and picnic area, and a great open space just perfect for informal cricket or football games. There is also be a performance space, Northshore Riverside Cafe, and a History Walk – commemorating the social, cultural and land use history of the area, from pre-European settlement to the present day.

The Brisbane Eye

The Brisbane Eye opens this week at Southbank.


"World Tourist Attractions Australia is proud to announce the arrival in 2008 of a new 60m wheel, in partnership with the South Bank Corporation. The wheel is located at the South Bank in the heart of Brisbane's cultural, lifestyle and entertainment district.

After a brief introduction to the facilities available, passengers enter one of the 42 fully enclosed, climate controlled capsules and are gently lifted to a height of 60 meters for a spectacular view of the city. Lasting approximately 13 minutes, the wheel experience also features a commentary pointing out local landmarks.

We welcome visitors with disabilities to The Wheel of Brisbane. Wheelchair users please note that the door width is 74cm, however standard wheelchairs are available on site, subject to availability.

Tickets can be purchased in person from the ticket office located at the wheel, advanced booking, at discounted rates, is also available via our online system

The Wheel of Brisbane at South Bank is owned and operated by World Tourist Attractions Australia Pty Ltd."

Pricing:

Online:

Adult : $13.50
Child (3-12 years) : $9.00
Child (1-3 years) : $1.80
Infant : FREE
Private Gondola : $85.50

Onsite:

Adult : $15.00
Child (3-12 years) : $10.00
Child (1-3 years) : $2.00
Infant : FREE
Private Gondola : $95.00

60m high, the same height as the Eye that was at Seaworld for 2006/2007.
Higher then the Eye that was at the Ekka which was 45m (and the old Ekka ferris wheel is 35m)
http://www.worldtouristattractions.co.uk/wta_wheel_brisbane.php

Strathpine Park

Things to do: Bring your bikes, watch the ducks on the ponds,bring a ball to kick around, visit the site of the Normanby distillery, a great playground for the kids,climb the lookout, room to run!

Getting There: Catch a train to Strathpine Station and cross the road at the lights.

Don't Forget: Hats, suncreen

Check Out: The paths keep going along past Westfield shopping centre

Other Options: Visit Westfield Foodcourt for lunch.
Visit Lei Park at Lawnton

More Info:
Bike path maps
http://www.prsc.qld.gov.au/c/prsc?a=da&did=1132528&pid=1095923458&sid=
http://www.petercampbellrealty.com/NowandThen/NormanbyDistillery.htm
http://www.maxlink.com.au/pinerivers/PARK/pineriv.htm

Ipswich

Ipswich has enough things to do to keep you busy for a few days or a few visits!

Things to Do:
Visit the Railway Workshops
Visit Queens Park and the Nature Centre
Visit Global Arts Centre at the Ipswich Art Gallery
Bushwalks at Denmark Hill Conservation Park
Follow the Ipswich Heritage Trail
Enjoy the new Riverwalk area and visit this area at night to see the creature light show

Getting There:
Catch a train to Ipswich

Don't Forget:
Sunscreen and Hats
Queens Park has a kiosk, BBQ facilities and a lookout

Check Out:
The old Railway Bridge remnants behind the shopping centre on the edge of the river.

Other Options:
Catch a train further on to Rosewood
Visit the grave of Dan Kelly in the Ipswich Cemetery

More Information:
http://www.ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au/
http://www.ipswichcentral.com.au/river/
http://www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au/
http://www.heritagetrails.qld.gov.au/attractions/ipswich2.html
http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/about_ipswich/parks_reserves_precincts/parks_search/index.php?id=75
http://www.ironoutlaw.com/html/writings_hall.html

Toombul Kalinga Park

Another great playground, away from traffic with public toilets and lots of different playground equipment.

Things to Do:
Bring a picnic
Bring your bikes,scooters etc and use the bikepaths nearby

Getting There:
Catch a train to Toombul Station

Don't Forget:
Water, hats and sunscreen

Check Out:
The old Mine of the Northern side of the creek

Other Options:
Follow the pathways and cross over Shaw Rd to see the wildlife in the wetlands.

More Information:
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/activeandhealthy/families/kidsparks/

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/

Toombul Bike Criterium

Toombul has a big bicycle criterium behind the shopping centre.

Getting There:
Take your bike on the train to Toombul

Don't Forget:
Helmet, water and sunscreen

Check Out:
The Historic Cemetery next to the Criterium

Warning:
If serious bike racers are using the track, please be careful!

Other Options:
If you follow the path past the Criterium, it joins the Kedron Brook "Jim Soorley" Bikeway which you can follow all the way to Nudgee.


More Info:
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/activeandhealthy/recreation/cycling/destinations/
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/heritage/index.cgi?place=600271&back=1

Shorncliffe

Shorncliffe Foreshore has just had renovations done. There's a great park near the Jetty and rock pools to play in along the shore.

Things to Do:
Look at the boats in the Marina, play in the park, look for sealife in the rockpools.

Getting There:
Take a Shorncliffe train from Northgate.

Don't Forget:
Sunscreen and a Hat

Check Out:
The View from the top of the cliffs

Other Options: Keep walking along the foreshore to Sandgate where you can visit the lagoons.

More Info:
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/living/suburbs/shorncliffe/history/

Pioneer Park Landsborough

This park is the best playground I've ever seen, we spent over 7 hours here and still had to drag the kids out!
An All Abilities playground with something for everyone.

Things to Do:
This playground has everything, you won't need to go anywhere else! BBQ,toilets, fully fenced,water bubbler, access for wheelchairs, shade sails, gazebos, seats, sand play,flying fox, swings and much more.

Getting There:
It's a 10 minute walk from Landsborough train station, we walked it with 9 kids and even the 2 and 4 year olds walked it easily. From the station turn left into Caloundra street and the park is on the right about 700 metres up the road.
There are only a few trains on weekends to Landsborough. 8.51am and 10.41am from Caboolture on Saturdays.

Getting Back:
Trains leave Landsborough at 3.28pm and 6.13pm on Saturdays.

Don't forget:
Sunscreen,hats, and Insect repellant.

Check Out:
The Mad Hatters Tea room on the way to the park.

Warning:
The traffic is very busy on both roads on either side of the park and on the weekend of the 15th March there was one pool gate missing on the Western side of the park. Hopefully it will be replaced quickly.

Other Options:
Head back to the station a little early and there is another park on the western side of the station with a train to climb on, this park is small but fun and is also fenced.

More Information:
http://www.disability.qld.gov.au/community/all-abilities-playground/pioneer-park.html

Riverwalk

The Riverwalk along the Brisbane River from Eagle st to New Farm park is a great walk or bike ride.

Things to Do:
Look for fish in the river, watch the citycats and ferries go past
Great playground and trees to climb in at New Farm Park
Farmers markets at Powerhouse 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month
Powerhouse has activities during the school holidays

Getting There:
Catch a Citycat to Eagle St or Riverside or walk from Central Train station

Don't Forget:
Water, sunscreen and a hat

Check Out:
The airraid shelters from WW2 and the lizards you may see basking in the sun on the old wharves.

Other Options:
Start from New Farm Park instead.
Walk over The Storey Bridge and continue your walk along the cliffs

More Info:
http://www.brisbanepowerhouse.org/
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:STANDARD::pc=PC_1217
http://www.ozatwar.com/bunkers/howardsmithwharves.htm

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)