Hey, what’s up?

I recently went to Brisbane for a short 2-day trip! It’s been a while since I posted a travel blog, but I’m back again now.

My original plan was actually to go to Melbourne to renew my passport, but the direct flight from Darwin was ridiculously expensive. So I thought, why not stop by Brisbane first and then continue to Melbourne? It’s like killing two birds with one stone. Or, to put it more positively, feeding two birds with one bread crumb.

I stayed in a hostel while I was in Brisbane because hotels seemed a bit overpriced in general. I stayed at City Backpackers HQ, which is located near the CBD and only about a five-minute walk from the train station. For a hostel, it was quite decent, although it could have been better.

Unfortunately, I lost a book there and the staff were not particularly helpful in trying to find it. I suspect the housekeeper either threw it away or tucked it into a mysterious dimension where lost hostel items go. Honestly, I don’t mind losing the book itself, but inside it was my Harry Potter Hufflepuff magnetic bookmark. What a tragic ending. Ten points from Brisbane.

Okay, I’m done ranting. Let’s get back to the travelling part.

Day 1: Mount Coo-tha and a Brisbane City Walk

I woke up early and walked for about an hour from the hostel to the base of Mount Coo-tha.

There were several routes to choose from, but I picked one of the moderate trails because I didn’t want to spend my entire day climbing a hill and questioning my life choices.

At the summit, I was rewarded with a fantastic view of the Brisbane CBD. Since it was winter, the cool weather made the hike even more enjoyable. Along the trail, I spotted a few wallabies but sadly no koalas.

The Australian wildlife seems to have collectively agreed that whenever I visit, the koalas take annual leave.

On the way back, I took the bus because my thighs were already filing complaints. The last time I properly hiked was back in January when I was in Adelaide. Coincidentally, I’ll be heading back there again soon.

After the hike, I returned to the hostel, had a shower, and prepared for part two of the day.

I walked around the city centre and explored some of Brisbane’s landmarks. Of course, there were cathedrals, City Hall, museums and libraries. However, compared to some of the grand buildings I’ve seen in the UK and Europe, the architecture didn’t quite tempt me enough to go inside.

So my strategy was simple: take a photo, admire it briefly, and ciao.

One thing I found interesting about Brisbane was the number of bridges. They are everywhere, and many of them are quite distinctive. My favourite was definitely the Story Bridge. It is huge and impressive, although I still think some of the bridges back in Putrajaya look cooler.

Along the river, there were plenty of spots where people could picnic, relax and enjoy the sunshine. Combined with the pleasant winter weather, it created a really nice atmosphere.

For lunch, I visited Mamak Brisbane and ordered nasi lemak. I can confidently say it was the best nasi lemak I’ve had abroad. It wasn’t one of those fancy fusion versions that somehow includes avocado and an identity crisis. It was proper Malaysian-style nasi lemak with the right amount of spice and flavour.

After that, I visited the City Botanic Gardens for some fresh air. There were several stalls selling street food, jewellery and clothing. Sadly, none of the food options were halal.

I then made my way to South Bank Parklands, home to Brisbane’s famous man-made beach. Not many cities can claim to have a beach right in the middle of the city, and I think that’s one of Brisbane’s most iconic attractions.

Day 2: A Day Trip to North Stradbroke Island

The next day, I headed to North Stradbroke Island, or “Straddie” as the locals call it.

Fun fact: North Stradbroke Island is the second largest sand island in Australia, after K’gari. Since it’s located relatively close to Brisbane, it makes for a perfect day trip if you’re looking to escape the city.

Getting there was quite straightforward. From Brisbane CBD, I took a train to Cleveland, which took about an hour, followed by a 25-minute ferry ride to the island.

Once on the island, buses are the main form of public transport, although you can also bring a car over on the vehicle ferry.

The island was absolutely beautiful.

There were kangaroos everywhere. Yet somehow, despite all my efforts, there were still no koalas.

At this point, I’m convinced there is a secret koala group chat warning them whenever I arrive.

The island has several stunning beaches as well as some excellent walking trails. The water was crystal clear and the scenery was incredible. It looked perfect for surfing.

That said, the waves were quite powerful, and there were signs warning people not to swim in certain areas due to safety concerns. The ocean was basically saying, “Feel free to admire me from a distance.”

I highly recommend visiting Straddie if you’re coming to Brisbane, especially if you’re short on time. It’s a relaxing destination where you can enjoy nature, beaches and wildlife all in one place.

At certain times of the year, you can even go whale watching and spot dolphins.

Unfortunately, I didn’t stay too long because there was a train strike that day. I didn’t fancy missing the last train and donating half my travel budget to Uber.

After returning to the CBD, I stopped by a Korean restaurant called Simjeon. I ordered their spicy Korean chicken.

The menu rated it 10 out of 10 for spice.

They were not joking.

Let’s just say it was a memorable culinary experience that tested both my bravery and my digestive system.

After that, I headed back to the hostel because I had an early flight the next morning.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Brisbane was an amazing city to visit.

Apart from failing to find any nice Straddie or Mount Coo-tha postcards, not finding a bookmark worth buying, and losing my beloved Harry Potter bookmark, I had a fantastic time.

The city was clean, relaxed and easy to explore, while the combination of hiking, good food and nearby islands made it an excellent short getaway.

I would happily return one day, especially to visit the Gold Coast, explore more hiking trails, and naturally, eat more good food.

Who knows? Maybe next time I’ll finally find a koala… and a replacement Hufflepuff bookmark.

Alrighty, thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the next one!