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

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 4 photos

Brisbane City South Bank

August 29, 2016 by David Herd

Brisbane City Hall

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

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

From the old to the new

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

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

Sunday Suitcase sale August 21st 2016

The majority seemed to be backpackers selling their old clothes.

Treasury Casino

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

Many cranes on the skyline

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

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.

City Cat

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.

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

South Bank tranquil garden

The garden has a genuine rain forest feel.

A beautiful pagoda.

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

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

Approaching Equilibrium

A rather interesting sculpture

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

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

Relax in the Mall

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

Lots of colour, lots of shops

Day or night the mall is a hive of activity.

Eagle Street pier

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.

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

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

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

Regatta Hotel

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

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

Brazil Hotels

Soi Cowboy Nana Plaza Patpong

Please check out these fabulous posts

Gold Coast Pattaya Cinque Terre

Rio de Janeiro Singapore Eastern Europe

Bangkok Bars Tokyo Cape Town Safari

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

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

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.

Rio beach babes

Florianopolis Brazil

Bangkok river ferry

Fabulous HCMC

Amazing World Food

Lyme Regis Jurassic coast

Hiroshima Japan

Sydney Harbour

Lake Como Lake Garda Italy

Pattaya live webcam

Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Good Value Brisbane City Hotels

August 28, 2016 by David Herd

Abby On Roma

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Riverside Hotel Southbank

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

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.

Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

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

That’s all folks

Holiday Inn

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.

Rio beach babes

Florianopolis Brazil

Bangkok river ferry

Fabulous HCMC

Amazing World Food

Lyme Regis Jurassic coast

Hiroshima Japan

Sydney Harbour

Lake Como Lake Garda Italy

Pattaya live webcam

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 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

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

What a monster

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

South Bank Ferris wheel

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

Another look at the Monster

A very impressive building.

Executive Building

Called the Government’s new Executive Building it towers over Brisbane river.

Riverside buildings

This is the heart of the Brisbane business centre.

Huge towers dominate the skyline

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

City Cat arriving

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

The famous Story Bridge

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

Beautiful old paddle steamer

Kookaburra Queen paddle wheelers are famous for their dinner cruises.

Luxury living

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

Beautiful old ferry wharf

So nice to see these beautiful old structures preserved.

Bretts Wharf

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

The city cats are smooth, comfortable and fast.

City Cat

A great way to see the sights of Brisbane.

Brisbane City River Cruise

You can also sit outside at the bow and the stern.

Enjoy the fresh air and the wind in your face

The perfect spot to take photos of this wonderful city.

The Gateway Bridge

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

Brisbane River

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

CityHopper is free

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.

I leave the City Cat after a terrific 90 minute 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

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

Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

Holiday Inn

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.

Rio beach babes

Florianopolis Brazil

Bangkok river ferry

Fabulous HCMC

Amazing World Food

Lyme Regis Jurassic coast

Hiroshima Japan

Sydney Harbour

Lake Como Lake Garda Italy

Pattaya live webcam

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

August 25, 2016 by David Herd

Regatta-Hotel-Brisbane-river-flood-Australia

Wonderful Brisbane Hotel

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.

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

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

Designed by a genius

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

A surprise around every corner

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

Flood levels

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

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

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

Outdoor bar

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

Quite a spectacular room with very good food and wine.

Aged beef

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

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

Regatta Hotel Brisbane Landmark

Follow THIS LINK for the Boatshed menu.

City view from opposite Regatta Hotel

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

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

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

Brazil Hotels

Soi Cowboy Nana Plaza Patpong

Please check out these fabulous posts

Gold Coast Pattaya Cinque Terre

Rio de Janeiro Singapore Eastern Europe

Bangkok Bars Tokyo Cape Town Safari

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

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

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.

Beautiful Brazilian beach babes

Copacabana beautiful beach babes

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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

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 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

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. 🙂

Don’t do it Tony, don’t do it. 🙂

Very good coffee made b Jazz. 🙂

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

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

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

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

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

Greg “Noodles” Craig

Great to catch up with these guys.

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

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

World’s best prawns

Freshly caught about 25 kms off the Queensland coast.

NZ Lamb shank from Aldi

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

A Roman statue perhaps.

Murphy’s huge cock

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

Murphy’s TV room

An interesting room at sunset.

Donna Turner

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.

Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

Holiday Inn

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

Great Ocean Road

Melbourne

Port Macquarie

Sydney landmarks

Australian seafood

Mr Wong

Remembering Melbas

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

Brisbane

My life in 2003

Pattaya live webcam

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Chevron Island Surfers Paradise

August 18, 2016 by David Herd

Chevron-sland-Surfers-Paradise-Australia

Thomas Drive

Chevron Island Surfers Paradise

Chevron Island Surfers Paradise is located between Surfers Paradise and Bundall, a nice village with a very good choice of restaurants and coffee shops. My 2 nieces Laura & Elyssa pictured in the header of this blog is at probably my favourite eating spot, Frank’s seafood which is a traditional fish & chip shop.

Chevron Island Surfers Paradise

Cafe Alfons is a nice cafe for coffee or breakfast.

Bacon, eggs avocado.

Throw in a flat white or latte and cost comes to $21.

Hairdresser, R/E agent & Happy Dragon Massage.

Have a haircut, buy a house then go upstairs for a soothing massage. 🙂

Tribeca is a hot new restaurant on Chevron Island

Excellent food and very good service, run by Brandon & Shannon Pollard.

Sadly this venue closed in 2019.

Western end

Three more restaurants including one of 4 Thai restaurants on the island.

Good Thai food

This is the restaurant you see in the previous shot, It was 2011 & I’m with my brother Warren & a girl from Ray White who’s name I can’t recall. 🙂

Fu Manchu

Had lunch at this upmarket new two story restaurant, nice decor and good service but I have mixed feelings about the food.

Mixed reaction

The wontons on the left were not to my liking, fried does not suit me, however the chicken skewers on the right were quite good. Overall the dishes on the menu seem a little expensive, of course I only tried two so it is rather hard to give a reasonable opinion. The Spanish waitress was delightful. 🙂

Espresso Bonsai

A nice little cafe with very good coffee.

Fabulous hot rod

On Chevron for a promotion.

Colour coded outfits

And terrific smiles. 🙂

CHEVRON ISLAND SEAFOOD

My friend Frank operates this excellent fish and chip shop where I have been enjoying fresh seafood for years. Oysters, hamburgers and great prawns are also available. Grab a bottle of wine and a table on the footpath then enjoy the passing Chevron Island eye candy.

Adjacent to the traffic lights

Say hello to Frank and Warren.

Chevron Island Surfers Paradise

More seafood from Frank’s.

Feast at Franks.

Here are my friends enjoying one of Franks feasts, phone 5592 0027 to reserve a table. From left to right is Steve Bates, Nikki Murphy, Tony Murphy, Nick Partridge, Sharon Delmundo and Anne Lacy.

Sadly in March 2017 Anne lost her long battle with cancer & passed away, RIP.

You bump into the nicest people at Franks.

Here is my friend Donna at Chevron Island Seafood.

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

Looking east on Thomas Drive

The Surfers skyline is rather spectacular.

From the corporate centre

Chevron Island a few years ago was all low rise, a couple of multi story buildings have popped up recently, this shot however was taken around 2003.

Chevron Island Surfers Paradise photo blog

Farewell from Chevron Island Surfers Paradise , here I am with my old friend Bryan Dart who totally upset me when he told me he had lost 8 kilo since I saw him 18 months ago. The problem is I think that’s how much I have put on. 🙂

Running of the bikes

An article I wrote in the Gold Coast Bulletin.

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

Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

Holiday Inn

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 posts

Fabulous Soi 11 Bangkok

French village Breil Sur Roya

Breil Sur Roya devastated

Hong Kong 2014

Bradford on Avon

Coogee Beach Australia

Pattaya Thailand 2013

Amazing Iguazu Falls

New York City

Buddhist Temple Asakusa Tokyo

Pattaya live webcam

Counter only started February 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

August 17, 2016 by David Herd

Blue-Sky-white-sand-Surfers-Paradise-tall-bulidings

Nerang River

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise where I lived for 25 years before moving to Thailand in October 2011. Personally I preferred the city in the 70s & 80s before the explosion of modern high rise hotels and apartments. Having said all that, it is quite a spectacular part of Australia.

Old motel for sale

I’m surprised this prime property adjacent to the Chevron Island bridge was not developed years ago.

Chevron Renaissance

One of three towers offering apartments and hotel rooms.

The Chevron Renaissance

Quite a spectacular skyline in the heart of Surfers Paradise. Book HERE for a discount.

Q1 and 50 Cavil Avenue

Two more well known Surfers Paradise buildings.

The beach

The beach stretches for miles, this view is looking south.

Lifeguard

These lifeguards do a great job protecting the public.

Surfers Paradise Australia

Watch this video on YouTube

Blue Sky tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Apartments occupy two of the 3 towers with the 3rd a hotel.

Surfers Paradise Hilton

The Hilton offers great views overlooking the beach, book HERE for a good discount.

Orchard Avenue night clubs

Here are three popular night clubs in the heart of Surfers Paradise.

Looking south at Q1

Q1 is an 80 story tower with an observation deck on the top floor. For a great discount book through THIS LINK.

Looking north

Featuring Soul tower with Peppers Hotel. Book through THIS LINK for a terrific room rate.

Soul, Blue Sky tall buildings Surfers Paradise

A magnificent 77 level tower with views of the beautiful Surfers paradise beach.

Looking south along Orchard Avenue

Orchard Avenue is Surfer Paradise’s main late night entertainment street. Be careful after midnight. 🙂

Gold Coast light rail

Transport has greatly improved since the introduction of the light rail system.

Light rail map

Current and future routes, stage 2 will link up with the heavy rail system at Helensvale to make travelling to Brisbane much easier.

Q1 80 story tower

Probably the most iconic Gold Coast building.

Skyline view from the racecourse

Surfers Paradise skyline

Watch this video on YouTube

Surfers Paradise

My home for 25 glorious years, this city provides me with so many wonderful memories.

Melbas on the Park

Finally drinks with good friends Phil Thomson and Greg Craig at Melbas. Thanks for visiting my Blue Sky tall buildings Surfers Paradise photo blog, before you go check out my Isle Of Capri and Bundall blogs.