Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Welcome to 700 travel blogs, to access a full index on your mobile please scroll to the bottom & choose from 700 locations. Email is [email protected]

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach

March 26, 2017 by David Herd

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

 Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney where on a sunny weekend thousands of people head for the pubs & restaurants as well as the famous beach. 

Beach or the pool

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Decisions decisions, the answer is whatever you prefer. 🙂

The pool & surf club are an iconic landmark

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

What a fabulous setting, absolutely breathtaking. Located right beside the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club.

The main attraction is the beautiful beach.

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

This is around 5pm so most of the crowd have gone home or to the pub.

Rock pool at northern end of Coogee Beach.

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Late afternoon as the sun sinks in the west. 

Copacabana or Coogee

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Seeing the beach volley ball always reminds me of Copacabana where I have been lucky enough to visit 8 times between 1999 & 2010.

This is what brings the crowds

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Magnificent Coogee Beach.

Wonderful views from these homes.

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Can you imagine how much it would cost to live here?

The average Coogee home price is $2,627,000 for a house & $1,o39,500 for a condo. However these overlooking the ocean & beach would be double that.

 Here are serviced apartments for rent.

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Amazing location overlooking the beach, ideal for a long stay. Use THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.

Would you prefer to stay in a Dive?

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Don’t be fooled by the name, the location is fantastic overlooking Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney. Book the Dive Hotel through THIS LINK.

Picnic in the park

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Check out the seagulls waiting for some scraps. 🙂

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach BBQ

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Cooking facilities are available here.

 Coogee Bay Road

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Lots of restaurants, cafes & flash cars.

Lots of sidewalk cafes

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Plenty of places to eat in Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney.

Coogee Bay Road

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

 Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney.

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

 

As you can see the traffic is bumper to bumper & finding a car park is like winning the lottery.

 Coogee Bay Hotel

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

One of the most famous hotels in Sydney and possibly the busiest.

Sunday afternoon session

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Noisy and busy at the Coogee Bay Hotel.

Coogee Pavilion

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

  Coogee Pavilion is a multi-storey dining destination created by Sydney hotel baron Justin Hemmes.

 Surf club entrance at southern end of the beach

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

What a perfect day for taking photos.

Southern end of Coogee

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Grand Pacific accommodation & the Barzura Cafe.

Coogee Crown Plaza

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Sunday session at the Crown Plaza.

Crown Plaza is a great location 

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Great views over the beach from this excellent hotel, Use THIS LINK for a terrific discount on a room with a view.

The older side of Coogee

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Many parts of Coogee are quite ancient as you can see, probably worth several million as a development site here in Arden Street.

This one is certainly worth preserving.

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

Not sure if it will be kept as a private residence or a guest house.

Overlooking Coogee Bay

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

As you can see Coogee is quite hilly.

Important safety message

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney

 When on the beach in Australia make sure you always use sun block-out, wear a hat & swim between the flags.

In recent years I have had many skin cancers removed, doctors tell me the damage was done many years ago before I turned 16 years of age. In those days we NEVER wore hats or used sun protection.

Things looked a little different in 1936

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach

It was called Belmore Rd in 1930

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach

 Fabulous old photos.

How about 1905?

Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach

It certainly wasn’t Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach then. 🙂

Thanks for visiting my Busy Chaotic Coogee Beach Sydney photo blog, before you leave please check out Maroubra Beach which is a few kms south of Coogee.         

 Zagreb Croatia                      Rio de Janeiro                  Brisbane River 

Zagreb Croatia bars restaurants        a7ff7566-9628-434d-a2b1-8c6e8b9a9021       IMG_0100

       

     Koh Samui                                   Korea                                  London

32780a6c-baf6-428a-bd71-68b1bed30b4c         Changdeokgung Palace (2)        IMG_7042

         Bangkok                                   Osaka                                     Pattaya

Soi Cowboy (25)          Osaka 1st night (17)       Walking St Pattaya is wild & sexy 

                                     

             Chiang Mai                      Pattaya                      Chao Phraya river

Chiang Mai with Tone        9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)   191de3bb-38fc-45cd-bce7-ef24081c554b

Pattaya live webcam
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

Check out these great photo blogs.


Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 4 photos

Gosford Central Coast NSW

March 24, 2017 by David Herd

Brisbane Water

Gosford Central Coast NSW

 Gosford Central Coast NSW is located on Brisbane Water just 80 km north of Sydney. Growing up in Sydney this area was where our family would spend our annual holidays.

Breakfast at Tommys Cafe at Gosford

Gosford Central Coast NSW

Before driving to Coogee in Sydney I decided I needed a good breakfast.

Scrambled eggs & avocado

Gosford Central Coast NSW

On Turkish toast of course. 🙂 TripAdvisor rate #6 of 101 Restaurants in Gosford.

A delightful spot in Gosford Central Coast NSW

Gosford Central Coast NSW

I wish I could find Turkish bread in Thailand.

Perfect sunday morning in Gosford

Gosford Central Coast near Sydney

From Gosford it’s just a short cruise to the magnificent Hawksbury River, 

Starship Cruises

Gosford Central Coast NSW

The “Lady Kendall” will take you on a 2.5 hour cruise for $37.

 Gosford Sailing Club Club

Gosford Central Coast NSW

 Located on the foreshore of Brisbane Water. Check it out through THIS LINK.

Shooting some photos

Gosford Central Coast NSW

I never go anywhere without my Canon. 🙂 

A perfect place for a row.

Gosford Central Coast NSW

Opposite the Leagues club.

Gosford Central Coast NSW Central Coast Stadium

Gosford Central Coast NSW

 The stadium has picturesque views over the Brisbane water.

Quality Inn the Willows

Gosford Central Coast NSW

Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent discount.

The Settlers Tavern

Gosford Central Coast NSW

A terrific T Bone have Settlers Tavern at 2 Hely Street, West Gosford. They have a great menu for a local pub, check it out on THIS LINK.

All the meals were excellent

Gosford Central Coast NSW

My friend Geoff had the pasta & his ex fiance Nana ordered a huge meal of steak & seafood. Geoff is a regular visitor to Thailand, follow THIS LINK to see his 50th birthday party.

Time to head south to Sydney.

Gosford Central Coast NSW

The last leg of my road trip is just a short drive south to Sydney along the Pacific Highway. 

And here I am approaching the bridge.

Gosford Central Coast NSW

It’s been a great drive down from from Surfers Paradise  to Sydney stopping at Kingscliff, Yamba, Port Macquarie, Forster-Tuncurry, Gosford & Coogee. Also dropped into Maroubra which is a place I have not seen for over 50 years. Just click on the links to see my photo blogs.

Thanks for visiting my Gosford Central Coast NSW photo blog.

         Checkout some more of my terrific blogs on the links below.       

     Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets Europe     Hungarian Parliament Building (2)       The Walkie Talkie (5)    

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837        IMG_7425    Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                     

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South Vietnam       Main Square (3)     Vung Tau statue (6)

Pattaya live webcam
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

Check out these great photo blogs.

  • Lyme Regis Jurassic coast

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

March 19, 2017 by David Herd

Fabulous Robina food court

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

 Kitchens Robina Town Centre Gold Coast is the largest and most expensive in QLD costing a whopping $160,000,000. Combining bars, cafes, restaurants along with 40 fresh food retailers. Spread over two levels it features eateries from local hospitality heavyweights such as the Honeyeater Kitchen from ex-Songbirds chef Trent Scarr, David Hayles’ Betty’s Burgers and James Brady’s Mr Pigs Bakehouse; alongside celebrity chef George Calombaris’ first Queensland restaurant, Jimmy Grants.

Kitchens Robina Town Centre Gold Coast

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

The whole place is quite spectacular, I will certainly visit again next time I’m on the coast.

Pure Meats

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

Butchers have come a long way since I grew up, I clearly remember them having sawdust on the floor. Here is an explanation from an old butcher explaining why; 

When my Dad and I butchered, we used it as a safety enhancement and for ease of cleanup as was mentioned. No, we wouldn’t have meat on the floor, but it seemed as the floor would get slippery over time, and without sawdust, it was only a matter of time before someone would slip and it didn’t matter much what you had for footwear.

Often we wore cowboy boots as you basically stand for 8 to 14 hours at a time and it seemed easier on you, but as you can imagine they aren’t known for tractive abilities. If you are packing a 135# or so hind, you really want your feet to stay under you. We never would have worked without sawdust on the floor in the back, the front we left sawdust free but eventually it would make its way up there.

It is a pain though tracking sawdust all over the place, in your vehicle, etc.

Naturally the beef must be hung. 🙂

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

Why is meat hung you may well ask; 

Meat hanging is a culinary process, used in beef ageing, that improves the flavor of meats by allowing the natural enzymes in the meat to break down the tissue through dry ageing. The process also allows the water in the meat to evaporate, thus concentrating the flavor.

Fish Lab by William Wu

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

Not only is this a good looking restaurant they also have a “drying room” next door. Follow THIS LINK for more about it.

The drying room

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

I have never seen anything like this before in a food court.

One of the many cafes

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

There is certainly lots of choices where to have a coffee here.

Too many coffee shops are never enough. 🙂

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

Not too sure if they are all making a living, and I’m guessing the rents are astronomical. 

Such a feeling of space.

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

The high ceilings and open plan gives a feeling of space.

 Spectacular roof at Kitchens Robina Town Centre Gold Coast

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

The architects have really done a great job here.

Lucky Luciano’s

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

I wonder if it’s a mafia hangout? 🙂

Woolworth’s for some serious shopping.

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

As you can see Kitchens Robina Town Centre Gold Coast caters for everything.

Farewell from Robina

Kitchens Robina Town Centre

Thanks for visiting my Kitchens Robina Town Centre Gold Coast photo blog.

   Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets EuropeHungarian Parliament Building (2)The Walkie Talkie (5)   

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

                     43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837IMG_7425Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                    

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South VietnamMain Square (3)Vung Tau statue (6)

Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

Holiday Inn

bbc35e6d-80db-4e1c-8f51-83dd84f16520

Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Check out these great food photo blogs.

  • Tokyo fabulous food
  • Steakhouse New York


Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

January 5, 2017 by David Herd

This is not a travel blog just my personal photo collection from the 1970s & 80s, check it out if you wish.

Arabella St Longueville

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

 Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney, it was early 1976 after a dramatic final few months living in Melbourne, I resigned from Sanyo Office Machines, moved to Arabella St Longueville in Sydney & started a new job as NSW sales manager with Wilkins Servis washing machines. I rented a beautiful waterfront home with the view you see above & a garage for my red E-Type Jag.

Little did I realise the next 11 years would be the most successful money making decade of my life, along with an almost non stop party regime and included luxury waterfront apartments, Jaguars & Mercedes plus a Bertram fly bridge cruiser parked outside my condo, & last but not least a red Doberman called Baxter.  

 This was actually 1975

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

However it features my friends & my beloved Jag in Beechworth Victoria, how about the hair & the bell bottom jeans? 🙂

Looking back the 1970s was probably my most exciting decade.

Carol Aboud 

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

It didn’t take me long to get tied up with Carol who had a hair dressing salon in Double Bay. She also had a husband & 4 children but these minor complications did not stop us from having a lot of fun over the next 4 years.

There is a very funny story involving Carol on another blog, just follow THIS LINK.

My beautiful mother celebrating my birthday on the 7-7-77

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

 What a great date for my birthday to fall on. When friends see these old photos is it any wonder they suggest I looked like a Miami drug dealer? 🙂

My Dad Arthur & my 2 best friends Wolf Wottke & Ron Walsh.

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

My two buddies surprised me by flying over from Adelaide without prior warning. That was a fabulous birthday present.

Carol’s birthday November 1978.

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

Check out the hair colour & the gold chains. 

New Years Eve 1978

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney Apologies for the fuzzy photo, but you get the picture. 🙂

French Champagne of course

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

From memory we were at the Castle Cove house of my friend Peter H & the booze was really flowing.

Oh Carol, I am but a fool…..

Neil Sedaka "Oh Carol"

Peter Luciano RIP

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

Peter & his wife in 1979, he was Carol’s brother and sadly passed away a year or two later.

December 1978

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

We hired a houseboat for a weekend cruise on Hawksbury River. Two Peters, yours truly & Rob Symonds.

Talking about boats

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

This was my Bertram 25 moored right outside my condo at 72 Wrights Rd Drummoyne. I enjoyed six great years here & threw so many parties that I became the most hated person in the building.

St Georges Crescent Drummoyne

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

Just around the corner from my condo I purchased another waterfront apartment, so now I owned 2 condos & a terrace house in Glebe, I was on a roll. Working now as NSW Sales Manager for Remington Typewriters before moving to the word processing division. Enjoyed the job but hated the back stabbers, & there were plenty of them.

Selling all my Sydney properties over the years was one of my worst ever decisions, I should have kept at least one.

After the Jaguar XJ6 I upgraded to a white Mercedes Sports, life was good. 

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

In my eyes this was one of the prettiest cars ever built.

 View from my condo

  Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

With my Bertram moored right out front.

Another party at Wrights Rd

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

This gorgeous redhead called Beryl worked with Carol in the Double Bay salon, she had just had a boob job and I couldn’t help but admire them. 🙂

While we are on the subject of boobs….

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

You could never accuse Carol of being shy. 🙂

And the winner is Angie

  Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

Her name was Angela Savic, she was the girlfriend of my best friend Wolf. Without a doubt she had the best body out of all the girls we knew. Our very own Greek Goddess. 🙂

The music in the 70s produced many of my all time favourite songs, here are 3 of those.

Piano man 1973

Audio Player

Hotel California 1977

Audio Player

Suttans of Swing 1978

Audio Player

The five Herd brothers in 1979

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

Neale, David, Ian, Bryan & Warren, it’s a shame the photo is such poor quality.

 Jenny Dale

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

Jenny with the red eyes was another nice girl from the late 70s who wandered into my life occasionally. 🙂

Let’s finish the year off properly

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

Well 1979 turned out to be a very tumultuous year, Remington gave me the flick and I joined the company who had the agency for Qyx the new word processor taking the world by storm. I did a marketing course with Exxon in Philadelphia and topped the class, there were 25 Americans in the course with me the only foreigner. Back to Australia to launch the product nationally but only lasted a few months before having a blowup with the company directors who showed me the door. I was never good at taking instructions from fools. 🙂 

Now in 2023 at the ripe old age of 79, I guessing I just may have been a rebel without a cause. 🙂

To top off the year finally Carol & I parted company after 4 terrific years painting the town, I suspect I may have been going through a mid life crisis. 🙂 🙂 

Consequently I took 3 months off, spent lots of time on my boat, travelled to Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand & Bali then opened my very own liquor store in March 1980.

Sydenham Cellars

Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

Yippee, cheap booze for me. 🙂

Opening night 

Flashback Sydenham Cellars

My friend Debbie Don was part of the celebration.  More photos on THIS LINK.

The 1970s were probably the most interesting & dramatic of my life. 1972 saw me return to Sydney after a 2 year stint in Melbourne, only to see me head to Adelaide for two years as State manager for Sanyo, then back to Melbourne for two years with Sanyo before returning to Sydney in 1976. 

Made some money, broke some hearts & had a lot of fun. 

I was very good at my job, Sales & Marketing in the cut throat business equipment industry was a tough gig, but on reflection & being & brutally honest, my arrogant autocratic management style that worked well in the 60s & 70s was out dated in later decades. Consequently recognising my limitations I went back to what I was good at, which was selling. In the mid 80s I had a successful few years at Canon followed by 7 or 8 very good years as a financial planner with a couple of banks in QLD. In 1998 I took a year off work to travel & never really worked again. 🙂

Thanks for visiting my Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney photo blog.

It’s now 2023 and here is Glenn Frey to tell you exactly how I feel today.

 

Some of my lovely ladies from the 70s.

  Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney       Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney          Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

    Paula 1970                              Dianne 1973                            Lee 1974

    Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney        Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney          Farewell Melbourne hello Sydney

     Di Parko 72 & 76                      Jan 72/74                              Carol 76/79

                   Someone Like You by Van Morrison.

   Here are some more posts to check out

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                         d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
 
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1) 
A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Brisbane City South Bank

August 29, 2016 by David Herd

Brisbane City Hall

Brisbane City South Bank

Brisbane City South Bank

 Brisbane City River South Bank was a pleasant surprise for me, it had been many years since I last visited and the changes were many. Way back in the 90s when I worked for Metway Bank and the NRMA I would travel there regularly for the endless tedious meetings banks & insurance companies were famous for. This trip was purely for pleasure after spending 10 days on the Gold Coast.

Uniting Church Albert St

Brisbane City South Bank

Across the road from City Hall stands this delightful old church which was originally built in 1888.

From the old to the new

Brisbane City South Bank

Infinity tower is the magnificent tall building (81 floors) on the left and the monster on the far right is 1 William Street which will house only government departments. The photo was taken from the William Jolly Bridge.

The William Jolly Bridge

Brisbane City South Bank

The art deco design bride was built during the depression and opened in March 1932.

 Sunday Suitcase sale August 21st 2016

Brisbane City South Bank

The majority seemed to be backpackers selling their old clothes.

Treasury Casino

Brisbane City South Bank

  Treasury Casino was formerly the Lands Administration Building until it became a casino in 1995.

Many cranes on the skyline

Brisbane City South Bank

There is no doubt Brisbane is in the middle of a building boom, just count the cranes on this small part of the city.

CityHopper is free

Brisbane City South Bank

The CityHopper lets you travel the Brisbane river for free, the ferries run every 30 minutes between 6am and midnight, seven days a week. Follow the link below for all the information.

Simply hop on and hop off and enjoy all the Brisbane River and city sights.

City Cat

Brisbane City South Bank

Another great way to see Brisbane’s city and suburbs. Check out THIS LINK for my photo blog.

A sunny Sunday afternoon at South Bank.

Brisbane City South Bank

Lots of people cross the river to visit South Bank with its many attractions.

South Bank tranquil garden

Brisbane City South Bank

The garden has a genuine rain forest feel.

A beautiful pagoda.

Brisbane City South Bank

This Nepalese Pagoda was originally brought to Brisbane for Expo 88, in fact I actually remember seeing it back then. Incredibly this is one of only three Nepalese peace pagodas in the world to be located outside of Nepal.

As you can see from my Brisbane City South Bank photo blog there is so much to see in this great city.

The Wheel of Brisbane

Brisbane City South Bank

Nowhere near as large as London or Tokyo but it certainly looks very nice at night. ?

 Approaching Equilibrium

IMG_0086

A rather interesting sculpture

Brisbane City South Bank

Brisbane City South Bank

This sculpture in front of the Queensland Art Gallery is named “Approaching Equilibrium”, I guess people with more understanding of art than I possess will appreciate it. In my opinion a better name would be “Big Black Mosquito”. 🙂

The heart of Brisbane

Brisbane City South Bank

The Queen Street Mall is certainly the heart of Brisbane, no traffic, lots of shops & restaurants.

Relax in the Mall

b1206537-a901-4ffe-9cb4-970e4613930e

A great “people watching” place where you can enjoy dinner & a glass of wine.

Lots of colour, lots of shops

Brisbane City South Bank

Day or night the mall is a hive of activity.

Eagle Street pier

Brisbane City South Bank

Eagle Street is Brisbane’s business hub, jump on a City Cat and cruise along the river past many of the cities landmarks.

Huge towers beside Eagle Street wharf.

Brisbane City South Bank

Lots of offices and lots of good bars & restaurants to capture the workers for lunch and dinner.

Brisbane City South Bank

Brisbane City South Bank

Cruise past the wheel on your way to lunch at The Regatta Hotel, you won’t be disappointed. 🙂

The Regatta Hotel

Brisbane City South Bank

The perfect spot for lunch or dinner, great steaks and good service. Check out my photo blog here.

Regatta Hotel

Brisbane City South Bank

Thanks for visiting my Brisbane City South Bank photo blog, this city has improved out of sight in the last 20 years.

Here are some other Brisbane photo blogs to check out.

City Cat cruise                        Hotels                               Restaurants    

A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 

Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Check out these great photo blogs.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Good Value Brisbane City Hotels

August 28, 2016 by David Herd

Abby On Roma

Good Value Brisbane City Hotels

 Good Value Brisbane City Hotels starting with Abby On Roma which is directly opposite Roma St railway station. The coffee shop you see on the ground floor does an excellent breakfast. Use THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.

The header on this post shows two of the hotels I will mention later, The Park Regis and Meriton serviced apartments. For excellent room rates just book through the highlighted links.

 Ibis Styles

Good Value Brisbane City Hotels

Located at 40 Elizabeth Street in the heart of the city. Nice rooms and friendly staff, good shopping arcade next door where you will fine Coles supermarket & Target. Book through THIS LINK for a very good room rate.

Park Regis North Quay

Good Value Brisbane City Hotels

Very nice rooms with an incredible view. About an 8 minute walk to Queen St Mall. My only complaint was the very poor internet service, they give you a miserly 250 meg per day. Book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.

 Good Value Brisbane City Hotels here is view from Park Regis.

Good Value Brisbane City Hotels

One of the best river & city views from my room on the 7th floor.

Park Regis pool & Infinity Tower incorporating  Meriton hotel & serviced apartments.

Good Value Brisbane City Hotels

As you can see the Meriton Infinity tower is a spectacular building.

Riverside Hotel Southbank

Good Value Brisbane City Hotels

Just across the road from South Bank and the convention centre. Book through THIS LINK for a discounted rate.

Meriton hotel & serviced apartments aka Infinity Tower

Good Value Brisbane City Hotels

A huge 81 floors with 549 apartments with stunning views of Brisbane and beyond. For a great discounted room rate at the Meriton hotel there just use THIS LINK to book.

Thanks for visiting my Good Value Brisbane City Hotels photo blog.

Each month my posts receive 75,000 visits which I certainly appreciate.

Please check out some of the most popular below, and thank you for visiting.

 

   Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets EuropeHungarian Parliament Building (2)The Walkie Talkie (5)   

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

                     43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837IMG_7425Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                    

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South VietnamMain Square (3)Vung Tau statue (6)

Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

Holiday Inn

bbc35e6d-80db-4e1c-8f51-83dd84f16520

Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Check out these great photo blogs.

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Brisbane City River Cruise

August 26, 2016 by David Herd

South Bank Wharf

Brisbane City River Cruise

Brisbane City River Cruise

 Brisbane City River Cruise started for me at the South Bank Wharf and took me on a 45 minute cruise almost to the Gateway Bridge and back. This post will highlight many of the wonderful Brisbane buildings along the river.

 Treasury Casino

Brisbane City River Cruise

Overlooking the river is the Treasury Casino where they will be very happy to relieve you of your hard earned cash. 🙂

What a monster

Brisbane City River Cruise

I believe this huge skyscraper will house most government offices when completed. That’s the Victoria Bridge in the foreground.

South Bank Ferris wheel

Brisbane City River Cruise

 Not as large as London or Tokyo but it does look nice at night. 🙂

Another look at the Monster

Brisbane City River Cruise

A very impressive building.

Executive Building

Brisbane City Cat River Cruise Called the Government’s new Executive Building it towers over Brisbane river.

Riverside buildings

Brisbane City River Cruise

This is the heart of the Brisbane business centre.

Huge towers dominate the skyline

Brisbane City River Cruise

The city cat stops right here for the workers to commute from home.

City Cat arriving

Brisbane City River Cruise

What a great way to get around Brisbane, my 1.5 hour trip only cost me around $3.

The famous Story Bridge

Brisbane City River Cruise

 The Story Bridge first opened in 1940, & is named after prominent public servant, John Douglas Story.

Beautiful old paddle steamer

Brisbane City River Cruise

 Kookaburra Queen paddle wheelers are famous for their dinner cruises.

 Luxury living

Brisbane City River Cruise

What more could you want than a waterfront penthouse and this fabulous ship tied up in front?

Beautiful old ferry wharf

Brisbane City River Cruise

So nice to see these beautiful old structures preserved.

Bretts Wharf

Brisbane City River Cruise

Hundreds of modern (and expensive) condos are sprouting adjacent to the ferry stops, what a great way to commute to the city rather than fighting the road traffic.

Bretts Wharf up close

Brisbane City River Cruise

The city cats are smooth, comfortable and fast.

City Cat

Brisbane City River Cruise

A great way to see the sights of Brisbane.

Brisbane City River Cruise

Brisbane City Cat River Cruise You can also sit outside at the bow and the stern.

Enjoy the fresh air and the wind in your face

Brisbane City River Cruise

The perfect spot to take photos of this wonderful city.

The Gateway Bridge

Brisbane City River Cruise

Construction on the Gateway Bridge commenced on 5 June 1980. It was officially opened on 11 January 1986.

Brisbane River

Brisbane City River Cruise

As you can see the river meanders through the suburbs and almost circles the city.

CityHopper is free

Brisbane City River Cruise

The CityHopper lets you travel the Brisbane river for free, the ferries run every 30 minutes between 6am and midnight, seven days a week. The ferry travels along the Brisbane River, to North Quay, South Bank 3, Maritime Museum, Thornton Street, Eagle Street Pier, Holman Street, Dockside and Sydney Street terminals.

Simply hop on and hop off and enjoy all the Brisbane River and city sights.

 I leave the City Cat after a terrific 90 minute cruise.

Brisbane City River Cruise

You can take the City Cat in both directions from the city, a nice idea would be to head in the direction of Toowong and disembark at the fabulous Regatta Hotel, a great place for lunch, dinner or a few drinks. Follow THIS LINK to see this iconic hotel.

Brisbane City River Cruise

Brisbane City River Cruise

This city is just getting better & better, it’s now August 2016 and the number of cranes on the skyline indicate a building boom.

Thanks for visiting my Brisbane City River Cruise photo blog.  For a discounted hotel rate at the Park Regis Hotel which is in a terrific location just book through THIS LINK.

                             Here are some more posts to check out
 

           

   Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets EuropeHungarian Parliament Building (2)The Walkie Talkie (5)   

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

                     43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837IMG_7425Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                    

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South VietnamMain Square (3)Vung Tau statue (6)

Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

Holiday Inn

bbc35e6d-80db-4e1c-8f51-83dd84f16520

Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Check out these great photo blogs.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

August 25, 2016 by David Herd

Wonderful Brisbane Hotel

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

 Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark has been around for a long time. The original hotel was built there in 1874, as a single story wooden building. Located by the river and classified by the National Trust it has been flooded out quite a few times over the years. The above photo shows the rear view of the hotel and highlights the ornate cast iron lacing which adorn the entire building.

1992 Jaguar sovereign.

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

My great old friend Steve Rado picked me up at the Park Regis Hotel where I was staying and drove me to the Regatta Hotel in his immaculate Jaguar which he recently purchased for $1300.

The Park Regis is in an excellent location, for a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

What a fit out

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

Certainly one of the best fit outs I have ever seen at an Australian Hotel.

Designed by a genius

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

If you are not impressed by the decor here then pubs are obviously not your thing. 🙂

 A surprise around every corner

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

There are lots of nooks & crannies to eat and drink at this fabulous hotel.

Flood levels

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

Outside they have marked flood levels and the years they happened. The recent level of the 2011 flood was around the bottom of this photo.

Sidewalk dining

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

The Regatta even have a place where the smokers can continue with their disgusting habit.  You guessed it, I’m a reformed smoker. 🙂

Lovely table settings

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

They certainly have many dining options for parties of any size.

Outdoor bar

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

So many choices of where to eat and drink and such little time. 🙂

If you cant find a place that suits you at the Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark, you are just not trying. 🙂

Lunch at the Boatshed

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

Quite a spectacular room with very good food and wine.

Aged beef

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

If it’s a good steak you are looking for, this is the place. Seeing the aged beef on display gave me a flashback to Gallagher’s Steakhouse in New York City, follow THIS LINK to see what I mean.

Open kitchen

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

The food was excellent, we both had steaks washed down with a Margaret River red.

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

Follow THIS LINK for the Boatshed menu.

City view from opposite Regatta Hotel

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

In the middle of the photo behind the William Jolly bridge is the Park Regis hotel. The rooms are excellent and so is the cost if you use THIS LINK to book. I had a room with a great view for $109 aud per night, but you must use THIS LINK to get this price. 🙂

Farewell from the Regatta Hotel

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

Thanks for visiting my Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark photo blog. It was the perfect place to catch up with my old friend Steve Rado and reminisce about our life in Adelaide in the 70s.

                                 Here are some other Brisbane photo blogs to check out.             

A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Here are some of my most popular posts.

Pattaya live webcam

Beautiful Brazilian beach babes

Copacabana beautiful beach babes

Nana Plaza Bangkok sex sin sleaze

Sexy Cherry Bar babes Pattaya Thailand

Tim Bristow Iron-Bar Freddy Tropical Joe

Atlantic Bar North Pattaya

Sexy Soi Cowboy Bangkok 

Beautiful Budapest

Australian seafood

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Brisbane-Bangkok-Thai-flight-Cancelled

August 25, 2016
by David Herd
Comments Off on Bangkok Thai flight Cancelled

Bangkok Thai flight Cancelled

Brisbane airport railway station Bangkok Thai flight Cancelled  Bangkok Thai flight Cancelled, I have flown thousands of times throughout my life and this was the first time I ever experienced a cancelled flight. As Newton would say “For every action, … Continue reading

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

August 20, 2016 by David Herd

This is not a travel blog just my personal photo collection from the Gold Coast in Australia in August 2016.

Sorrento Sam

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

 Surfers Paradise sentimental journey took me back to where I lived for 25 years before moving to Thailand in October 2011. I stayed at Sorrento with my old friend Tony Murphy and his lovely wife Nikki, plus Sam the 3rd member of their family.

Murphy’s birthday

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

Morning coffee at The Island cafe is a tradition with this group of friends, and today August 11 2016 just happened to be Tony’s 74th birthday.

Dangerous with a knife in his hand. 🙂

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

Don’t do it Tony, don’t do it. 🙂

Very good coffee made b Jazz. 🙂

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

I must say the coffee at the Island Cafe is absolutely fantastic. I couldn’t help noticing the price of the small quiche compared to a similar one in Thailand that I regularly buy. Here it is $15.90 and at Big C in Pattaya $1.85.

 Surfers Paradise from the racetrack

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

Close to Tony’s home in Sorrento is the Gold Coast race track, here is the view of downtown Surfers Paradise.

 Two things I miss living in Thailand

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

Fresh ocean prawns and avocado at Isle of Capri is a perfect meal for me. Sure you can get both items in Thailand but certainly not is the same class as Queensland.

Other things I miss

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

A few good friends who can’t be replaced or forgotten. In fact catching up with them was my main reason for this trip. Above is my great mate Ross Kennedy leading me astray once again.

Lunch at Chevron Island

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey 

  Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

On the left is Bryan Dart, on the right Phil Thomson

 Greg “Noodles” Craig 

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

Great to catch up with these guys.

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

Just crossed the Southport bridge and about to turn left to buy some fresh prawns from the trawlers.

For a discounted rate at the Q1 hotel or any others just book through THIS LINK.

The trawlers at the spit

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

In my opinion they offer the best, freshest, tastiest prawns in the world.

World’s best prawns

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

Freshly caught about 25 kms off the Queensland coast.

NZ Lamb shank from Aldi

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

Terrific Lamb shank from Aldi, these were a regular treat for me when I lived on the gold Coast.

 Interesting things in the Murphy’s garden

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

A Roman statue perhaps.

Murphy’s huge cock

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

As you can clearly see this is one huge cock. 🙂

Murphy’s TV room

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

An interesting room at sunset.

Donna Turner

Surfers Paradise sentimental journey

Caught up with an old friend Donna Turner on Chevron Island.

Thanks for visiting my Surfers Paradise sentimental journey photo blog.

For a great hotel room rate (with free cancellation) just book through THIS LINK.

          Checkout some more of my terrific blogs on the links below.

           

 Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets EuropeHungarian Parliament Building (2)The Walkie Talkie (5)   

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

                     43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837IMG_7425Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                    

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South VietnamMain Square (3)Vung Tau statue (6)

Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

Holiday Inn

bbc35e6d-80db-4e1c-8f51-83dd84f16520

Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Australian adventures

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos