The people of New South Wales, the state where Sydney is located, view Queenslanders as unclutured, unsophisticated, crude. Queenslanders wear flip-flops instead of shoes. They’re hicks—barely emerged from the unmannered outback. They are called (unkindly) Banana Benders. Even the government of Queensland is a little quirky. They’ll give you Betty Boop license plates if you want.

Brisbane (locals call it Dizzy Brizzie) is the capitol of the state of Queensland. Of Australia’s half-dozen major cities, it is the fastest growing. Nearly fifty people move there every day.

Subtropical climate, robust communications links, booming growth and a relaxed lifestyle attract new residents. To contain them all, the city sprawls into endless suburbs and high rises sprout along the Brisbane River.

We arrived for our quick visit on yet another rainy day. In one of the Boomerang Coast’s wettest years, the weather just won’t ease up. I find it hard to grasp that Brisbane currently struggles with a drought-induced water shortage.

In the city center, Queen Street has been made over into a pedestrian mall—a vibrant, activity-filled space.

Ibis know: on a rainy day, it’s time to go shopping.

Some original downtown buildings escaped the designs of high-rise developers. The ground floor of this lovely edifice now houses a hamburger place—Hungry Jack’s. Looks like a Burger King—and in fact it is. However, another hamburger shop in Queensland already owns the Burger King name, so the franchise had to change. Looks to me like somebody muffed a chance at a nice big settlement.

The South Bank of the Brisbane River is home to a large, lovely park.

Besides the signature ferris wheel, the park offers swimming lagoons with imported sand and lifeguards—a beach amidst high rises!

A kilometer-long trellis composed of hundreds of massive free-form uprights supports a huge planting of bougainvillea. It follows a serpentine path used by joggers, strollers, and skaters. Each upright is unique—some taller, others shorter or curved differently.

This thing must have been expensive. Whatever it cost, I think it it’s worth it.

A Nepalese temple built by craftsmen from Katmandu symbolizes Australia’s Asian orientation. It creates a quiet space in the otherwise busy park.

We are blessed that we have so many friends and acquaintances in Australia. They have guided us in our travels, and have opened their homes to us. This nighttime view of Brisbane was taken from the balcony of an apartment belonging to one of them.

Except for visiting our friends, we had no real agenda in Brisbane. Rather, the city is our jumping off point for travels in Northern Queensland. There we hope to leave civilization behind and enter the untamed tropics.