From Toronto to Brisbane, Australia

Twenty Two Hours of Travel

Including airport layover time, it takes us 22 hours to get from Toronto to Brisbane, Australia. We fly Air Canada first to San Francisco (5.5 hours), then United Airlines to Brisbane (14 hours). Surprisingly, it goes by quickly with time spent reading, sleeping and binge watching Ted Lasso episodes. We arrive in Brisbane at 6:20am local time.

We seamlessly pass through the airport and grab an Uber to our accomodations in central Brisbane.

Arrival in Brisbane

At this early hour the weather here is almost exactly the same weather we left in Toronto; sunny blue skies and comfortably warm. But it’s spring in Australia, not fall.

We are able to store our luggage in the luggage room where John changes into shorts & t-shirt  and I clean myself up in the public bathroom of our hostel. This hostel has dorms but also private rooms with bathrooms that are just like staying in a hotel.  It is very centrally located.

Exploring Central Brisbane

We are tired but ready to explore Brisbane. We grab coffees at the nearby Buno Cafe to get energized and plan our day then head out at 9:00am. 

It feels like we are in North America (Canada). People are very friendly, stopping to give us tourist advice when they see us looking at buildings.

City Hall

We pass the City Hall which has a free museum. Mounted Police patrol the area. We walk through the Queen Street Mall and check out the architecture of the Brisbane Arcade.

City Botanic Gardens

The City Botanic Gardens is a short walk away. They are free to the public. A water dragon greets us as we enter.

There is an abundance of bird life including Australian white ibis and others.

The Old Government House is beautiful with it’s purple jacaranda tree in full bloom.

Along Brisbane River

Crossing the Goodwill Bridge over the Brisbane River, we reach the other side of the river known as Southbank.  We take the bougainvillea lined Arbor River Walk past the man-made Streets Beach and along the Rainforest Walk where we encounter lots of water dragons and birds.

Brisbane is a very walkable city. I can see how it would be a great city to live.

The Nepalese Pagoda is very pretty and of course we have to take pictures of the Brisbane sign in front of the skyline.

It’s only 11am and it’s already very hot. It’s going up to 32C (89F). Thank goodness there are many shady places and seats around. We take the shaded Neville Bonner Bridge back across the river to the Northbank and take the public ferry from North Quay terminal to Riverside terminal. 

We see Brisbane’s famous Story Bridge, an historical cantilevered bridge. 

I am starting to tire so we head to the trendy Fortitude Valley area and have lunch in Chinatown. 

I am pooped and drag myself around James Street shopping area which is like Yorkville in Toronto before heading back to the hostel to rest. We have walked 13.5 kms are pooped.

An hour later we are off again. This time to the nearby Roma Street Parklands and then to get a few groceries for breakfast since we have to leave before they serve breakfast at the hostel. Food here is quite a bit more than in Canada.

We have an early night.