January 7, 2026 Brisbane, Australia

We had been moored, but no gangplanks lowered, since around 10 p.m. yesterday at the Port of Brisbane. Passengers were not authorized to get off until 7:50 a.m. this morning.

This morning’s sky was a typical east coast sky, of many large fluffy clouds, some a little grey. By midmorning the clouds had shrunk considerably, but still held a position on the layer of atmosphere above the horizon. At 7 a.m., the temperature was a warm 26°C, humidity 72% with a SSE wind of 15 kph. Today’s high is predicted to be 29°C.

We both have had a minor cold for the past few days, which is sapping some energy in the warmer weather.

We had a quick breakfast in the dining room then gathered our keycards, phones, hats and backpack to leave on the shuttle for the 21 kilometre drive into the central business district (CBD) of Brisbane. The walk from the ship along the switchback passenger bridges into the cruise terminal to the escalator at the far end, down to the main floor to the other side of the building then out to the shuttle bus stop was 505 meters. Steps 1,521

NEWS - 40% chance of Queensland north and northeastern coasts to experience a tropical cyclone, category 1 or 2 in two days. There could be another 500 millimetres in the already flooded areas. Temperatures in the high 20s. In two days, we are scheduled to arrive in Townsville followed by two days in Cairns. It is the rainy season in this part of the world.

In the southern Australian states of Victoria (Melbourne) and New South Wales (Sydney) the temperatures are predicted to be in the mid 30s with extreme wild fire warnings a worry with already dry conditions.

Note: Brisbane is the main host city for the 2032 Summer Olympics scheduled for July 23 to August 8.

It was about a half hour drive to the CBD. Our 9 a.m. scheduled shuttle was full, 60 passengers, by 8:50 a.m. so off we drove through the extensive port area and past the International airport before passing through the suburbs and into the city centre where we were dropped off at King George’s Square. The last bus back to the ship from there is scheduled at 2:45 p.m. If a passenger misses the final bus, the taxi fare would be well over $50AU. We noticed that the price of unleaded gas at a Shell station was $1.639AU. Sail away is scheduled for 4 p.m. today

Across the street was the City Hall that was opened in 1930 after a decade of construction. It now houses the Museum of Brisbane.

We walked along George Street to Brisbane Square where the old Treasury Building stands, now part of Griffith University. Queens Park is located by the corner Elizabeth and Albert with a large statue of Queen Victoria outside the 1901 Lands Administration building. We walked down to a wide path along the river on the Bunya Walk that led us through Miller Park and the 1829 stone building that was the Commissariat Store. From 1829 to1842 it handled all goods and provisions in and out of the colony. The penal colony closed in 1842 and the Commissariat Store has had many other uses over the past 180 years.

Almost at the City Botanic Garden, across George Street is Queensland Parliament House. The building was first occupied in 1868 after four years of construction but not until 1889 was it finally completed 25 years later. This is also the area of Queensland University of Technology with more modern buildings. The Chancellery is one of the older 19th century buildings.

We found several entrances to the City Botanic Gardens. We strolled along the shady paths. There was a viewpoint at one section of the gardens. In the 1850s four rainforest ponds were created but only two remain today with waterlilies in them. There was a hibiscus garden near a path to the riverwalk running along Brisbane River. As we exited the gardens, the gates has a crest of the Botanic Gardens. Nearby was the Kangaroo Point Bridge whose 460 meter span connects Kangaroo Point to the CBD.

On Edward Street as we returned to the shuttle stop, there was the old Naval Offices , a two storey brick building completed in 1901, the first year of the Federation of the Commonwealth of Australia. Stop count 7,533

We did find a gelato shop in the Queen’s Mall. We finished our walk through the Queens Street Pedestrian Mall returning to King George’s Square in time to catch the 11:30 a.m. shuttle back to the ship. We had walked 7.38 km.

The bus took less than ten minutes to fill for the ride back to the ship.

After changing clothes, we went to the Library Café for caramel iced frappés.

There was not a lot of interest to us for the activities happening on the ship. We could have participated in Ping Pong, Pickle ball, Trivia, the movie Wicked or Origami folding a penguin. At 3:55 p.m. the captain made his daily announcement and advised that the pilot was onboard, to guide the ship out of the port, as all passengers were aboard. The ship would be heading into the Coral Sea and passing the Great Barrier Reef for the 700 nautical mile voyage to Townsville. Tomorrow is our second Sea Day. There could be waves of two to three meters and strong winds from the ESE at 22 to 25 knots (41 to 46 kph). We expect some “motion of the ocean” as the captain likes to say.

We enjoyed a nice dinner with Margaret, Ted, Sandy and Sue, then all ordered coffee at the Library Café on the way to the World stage for tonight’s entertainer pianist, Joel Bowerman.

Total steps : 11,540