Page 145 - WDT Magazine Egypt

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIBETH MELLIN

he headline said it all: “Australia of the topography. At the city’s heart, one side edges
among happiest nations in world.” the high-rise CBD (Central Business District) while the
TI was perusing the local papers other runs along South Bank, a thoughtfully designed
while savoring a perfect salmon Benedict and mi- entertainment, arts, dining and recreational park and
mosa on the porch at the wood-framed Spicers Bal- commercial district. These two sectors are actually on
four Hotel. After nearly two weeks roaming around the east and west banks of the river at that particular
Queensland, I believed the claim completely. point, while other prominent areas lie on both sides
A family wedding lured me to Brisbane, the capi- in all cardinal directions and on points jutting into the
tal of Queensland and Australia’s third largest city. river’s curves. Stylish bridges, meandering ferries and
A little research made it clear I had to include a trip speedy catamarans help blend the two sides.
to two World Heritage sites, the Great Barrier Reef The crew on the Mirimar cruise boat pointed out
and Daintree Rainforest on the state’s northeast riverfront mansions and the campus of Queensland
coast. The resulting trip combined a two-continent University before docking at the foot of a hill beneath
family gathering with memorable natural and cul- Lone Pine. On top, dirt trails led past a kookaburra,
tural encounters. Tasmanian devil and platypus. In the largest enclo-
sure, hordes of uniformed school kids scarfed down
Natural Immersion in Brisbane bag lunches at picnic tables surrounded by koalas
napping in eucalyptus trees. Kangaroos nibbled on
Koalas and kangaroos greeted me at the Lone proffered kibble in an open meadow. Beyond hun-
Pine Sanctuary barely three hours after I arrived in gry myself, I headed to Mount Coot-tha, Brisbane’s
Brisbane on a tightly packed, delayed flight from LAX. highest point and studied the city’s layout during
I’ve never been a fan of the No Nap jet-lag theory, afternoon tea. Skyscrapers seemed to be shoving
but gave it a try, throwing myself full-bore into the each other out of the way in the CBD, where multiple
city at 7am. Dess, the kindest driver you could find, building cranes light up the skyline with blue and
zipped me from the airport to The Valley hotel, where green streaks at night. The river undulated through
I longed to sink into my chic suite’s whirlpool tub. the landscape.
After a frantic 40-minute pit stop (shower only), she My first sit-down meal of the day was just about
handed over a tall black coffee to fuel my day and as self-indulgent as you can get. I ordered tea at the
deposited me at the Brisbane River for a cruise to the lookout point’s casual Kuta Cafe. A cheery, chatty
wilderness park south of the city. man delivered two flaky, puffy scones with all the
The wide brown Brisbane River slithers and dips proper accouterments. I devoured one, then half of
through the city of some 2.4 million residents, defin- the second, slathered with cream and jam and hand-
ing neighborhoods while confounding my perception ed off the remainders with an embarrassed smile.

WINEDINEANDTRAVEL.COM 145