This week in South East Queensland
24 - 30 December
AUSTRALIA'S festive season starts this week, with most businesses these days closing down for a week or two. This results in many people heading away if they can afford it. Travel to most places is massively inflated over these weeks. With so many people going away, many visitors arrive here for the Christmas peak, those escaping the colder climes wanting a subtropical break. The busy places reach their peak with crowds galore.
Today's hike takes me back along the Brisbane River where fortunately there is track following most of the river all the way down to Southbank, directly across from the city centre. This is a longer walk than usual, and I do encounter rain in the late morning, but otherwise this is a much easier walk than the previous two days during which I hardly saw the river.
Today's Journey
Distance hiked today: 32.5km
Total distance hiked to date: 507.7km
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02:31 - Before first light at the entrance to the Mount Ommaney river walkway. |
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03:18 - View over the river just as astronomical twilight begins - though the city light pollution won't allow the viewing of the dawn for a while. |
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03:46 - Crossing a walking bridge over a stream heading into Jindalee. |
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04:02 - The Centenary bridge. I walked half way across this just two sunsets ago. |
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04:05 - Path through Jindalee Park above the river as the sky begins to lighten. Numerous paths turn off into the residential estates to the right. The park provides plenty of separation from the river protecting most of the houses from flooding. |
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04:36 - The tide flowing in at Seventeen Mile Rocks, named after the rocky outcrop sticking out of this side of the river. A small nagivation ligtht sits on top of the rocks. A dramatic sunrise is happening through the approaching high clouds. |
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04:50 - Remains of a large conveyer beside a large hill of coral deposits which were crushed here at what used to be a cement works as the sun rises over the horizon. |
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05:01 - Huge lime crusher and tower left over from the cement works now part of a large park. |
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05:18 - Early morning sun radiating across the mirror smooth river viewed from the old wharf at Seventeen Mile Rocks.. |
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05:27 - Mud flats looking back upstream towards Centennary Bridge. |
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05:57 - The sun filtering through trees growing around the old conveyor system. |
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06:04 - Following the steep path climbing to above the Seventeen Mile Rocks cliffs. |
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06:12 - First glimpse of the city centre from the top of the hill. |
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06:15 - Following the path (then the road) around above the bend in the river heading towards Indooroopilly. |
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08:14 - The track returns to the river at Sherwood Forest, where a boardwalk goes over the river. |
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08:38 - Passing through Sherwood Forest Aborterium as rainclouds quickly build. Robin Hood and his merry men were hiding today. |
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09:15 - Rain falls as I cross the railway line heading across to the other side of the peninsula. |
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09:50 - First view of the river at Graceville, looking across to the western side of the Indooroopilly golf course. More rain is approaching as I head downstream along the parkland. |
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10:23 - The track cuts inland across a park to Oxley Creek as I dodge the heavy showers. |
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10:41 - Looking upstream at Oxley Creek where the bridge crosses its mouth into the Brisbane River. |
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11:00 - Continuing to follow the Brisbane River downstream as more rain threatens. |
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11:14 - The old power station on the river now long dismantled since the large coal powered power stations started delivering power to Brisbane. |
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11:25 - Heavy rain is falling now. |
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11:38 - Walking around the remains of the old power station as heavy rain continues to fall. |
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12:01 - The track diverts away from the river as the rain stops falling and the sun comes out. |
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13:16 - Heading out onto the next peninsula, I eventually reach the river again at a small park, opposite the bushland I had walked through the other day on the way to the Indooroopilly Golf Course. This side of the river mainly has large waterfront houses, so the views of the river are a bit few and far between. |
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13:53 - A marker indicates the level of past floods. The top arrow marks the 1974 flood when this entire area in Yeronga and Fairfield flooded. The clouds are quickly clearing. |
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14:24 - Passing around a private jetty as the river swings around the St Lucia Peninsula. |
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14:40 - A rock in the river as the tide is now going out. |
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14:51 - Great view of the Eleanor Schonnel bridge. Fortunately I won't need to shelter under it today as I did a few days ago. |
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15:14 - View downstream towards Westend. From here large houses occupy all the waterfront land, so I have to head inland and follow the top of the ridge. |
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16:12 - Following the main road, I very soon get another view of the city, now quite close. |
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16:50 - Heading along Dornoch Terrace towards Westend looking for a place to head down to the river. The view of the city is quite spectacular here in the late afternoon sunlight. |
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17:34 - I reach the river at the start of Orleigh Park walking under the spectacular fig trees as the bright late afternoon sun filters through the lush leaves. |
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17:53 - Orleigh Park boat ramp. |
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18:04 - The rowing club building which was originally a school for Aboriginal children taken from their parents in a shameful past. |
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18:11 - Continuing downstream as the afternoon sunlight reflects off the low towers of Milton. |
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18:22 - The sun shines spectacularly from behind the buildings of Toowong. |
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18:32 - Apartment buildings in Westend, a new residential area. |
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18:42 - An old milk treatment plant looking very out of place so close to the city centre. |
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18:45 - The dusk grows colourful as the sun sets behind Mount Coot-tha. |
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19:02 - Reaching the Go Between bridge. |
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19:12 - The railway bridge with a blurred train whizzing over it taking commuters down towards the Gold Coast. |
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19:20 - Walking under the spectacular arches of the William Jolley Bridge. |
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19:22 - Reaching the Kirilpa Bridge from where I tried to watch the sunrise three nights ago, and where I'll be heading onto later tonight to watch the new near in. In the mean time I'm heading further along South Bank to take part in the Christmas celebrations. |
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19:25 - The board walk along the western end of Southbank. Only half an hour ago a drunk driver drove along here but fortunately was stopped before she could injure anyone. Go figure... |
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19:27 - Heading up towards the Victoria Bridge as the sky darkens. |
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19:35 - The inner city viewed from on top of the Victoria Bridge about a third of the way across. Brisbane is a magnificent building with new glass towers going up all the time. |
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19:36 - Heading into the markets on Southbank. |
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19:37 - There is a lot of activity with everyone getting into festive mode. |
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19:54 - Lots of lighting reminding everyone it is Christmas. It is a very humid night, and there are a few people wearing Santa suits - totally wrong for the southern hemisphere subtropical summer. |
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20:01 - I return to the walkway along the river. |
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20:09 - The spectacular tropical gardens nicely illuminated in the night. |
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20:13 - The Nepalese temple. |
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20:18 - Following the river looking downstream to where I will be heading early tomorrow morning. |
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20:39 - People watching a movie from the southbank pool. |
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20:47 - The bougainvillea walkway winding its way along the length of Southbank as I head back towards the Kirilpa Bridge to bring in the New Year. |
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