australia
TRAVELLING THE EAST COAST WITH GREYHOUND AUSTRALIA.
Wednesday, 8 January 2020
I'm currently sat in the common room at my hostel in Sydney after taking a 13 hour overnight coach from Byron Bay. Since I've still got a good 5 hours until I can check-in, I thought it would be a good time to pour a cup of coffee and start writing about my trip so far. If you follow me on this blog or on my socials, you'll probably know I spent 10 months living in Brisbane, and last week set off on a two week east coast trip from Cairns down to Sydney. I've been very lucky to be able to collaborate with Greyhound Australia who got me across the country in one piece. If you're currently planning your east coast trip and looking for tips, things to do and where to stay, look no further.
Transport
So the easiest way to travel around the east coast of Australia (and some of Northern Territory) is with the Greyhound coach service. I flew from Brisbane to Cairns and then over 8 coach trips have made my way down to Sydney. I was gifted a 15 day Whimit pass which gave me unlimited travel on their coaches within 15 days, in any direction. I was very lucky to have two seats to myself 90% of the time. The longest trip I did was 13 hours and I expected it to be a lot worse to be honest! The coach departed at 7:30pm and I tried to stay awake until 11pm and then sleep overnight just as I would on a bed. With the help of my melatonin tablets, my neck cradle pillow and eye mask it was quite a smooth journey. The coaches are air conditioned, have free Wi-Fi (admittedly a bit on the slow side) and the seats are spacious. If you're going to be making a lot of stops on your trip I'd definitely recommend getting a Whitmit pass as it works out more cost effective than buying individual trips.
To make things easier, here's a map of the main stops Greyhound makes. Don't let the closeness in dots trick you, as some journeys will still be 9 hours! My journey took me from Cairns - Townsville (Magnetic Island) - Airlie Beach - Agnes Water - Hervey Bay - Noosa (different trip) - Byron Bay - Sydney.
* I received a complimentary stay at Gilligan's Resort for review.
Breakfast at Caffeind - try the chilli eggs or homemade banana and walnut bread which comes with caramelised banana, coconut gelato and coconut caramel sauce.
Lunch at Gilligan's - they offer $5 meals (and they're big portions too).
Dinner at Moku Bar & Grill - for some insta-worthy plates and a varied selection of seafood and meat. It's located in the Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort so the views are pretty good too.
Great Barrier Reef Dive - There are tons of companies offering trips out to the Great Barrier Reef and they can range from $150 - $400. If you're paying to go out there then I 100% recommend doing a dive, as you won't see half as much if you must go snorkelling. I booked mine through Visit Cairns and they have a variety of tours on their website for all budgets.
So story time, I'm not usually someone who gets seasick, but man this had to be the worst 3 hour boat journey of my life (and I did the blue lagoon ferry trip in Malta when I was hangover and running on two hours sleep). I'm not sure if it was the waves, or that my stomach was feeling a bit fragile that morning but I threw up a total of 5 times on the day, not fun. That aside, the scuba diving was an insane experience. Breathing through a tube underwater takes some getting used to and your ears can get a bit painful as you descend but 100% worth it. Make sure you do some research into the area the boat goes to, as some will be 'prettier' than others.
Daintree Rainforest - The Daintree rainforest is the oldest rainforest in the world, and it's only 2 hours away from Cairns. I recommend booking a day tour like this Daintree Wilderness tour which will guide you through all the different environments in the rainforest, includes a tropical lunch and a cruise along the river.
If you have spent the weekend partying it up in Cairns, then Magnetic Island is the perfect place to unwind. I slept in a Bungalow and I had the nicest day just chilling on a hammock by the pool reading, getting to know the animals and waking up to two Wallaby's outside my door in the morning. Bungalow Bay has its own wildlife sanctuary so you don't have to go far to cuddle a koala! My Bungalow came with a double bed, a fan, a fridge and tea and coffee making facilities. There's a communal kitchen, bathrooms and a pool on site.
Free Wi-Fi
in reception area ✔️
Breakfast at The Early Bird - filled with all your usual healthy goodies, avocado toast, acai bowls and power smoothies.
Lunch at Cafe Nourish - like the name suggests, this cafe is filled with clean meals and has plenty of vegan options.
Dinner at Sandi's - located along the beach so it's a great place to watch the sunset. Good seafood!
Wildlife tour - Bungalow Bay offers daily wildlife tours where you get the chance to learn about Australia's animals and get to cuddle a koala (the one I met was called Pebbles, cute). I also learnt that Wombats can kill Dingos with their butts, pretty awesome.
Hire a Topless car - I don't have a drivers license so couldn't do this myself, but you'll see these little cars scattered around the island. They're definitely the quickest and most stylish way to get around the island!
So Base was my first shared dorm experience on this trip, and what are the chances that after booking into a 6 bed room, I was the only one in it. My first thought was, omg I'm going to spend Christmas Day alone. Luckily I met a lovely bunch of people in the pool area and spent most of my 3 days with them there. The beds were comfy, clean and there were large lockers provided in each room. The room also had an en-suite bathroom, so no long walks to the shower with all your toiletries. If you're looking to make friends on your trip, this is the hostel for you.
Breakfast at Cafe One 3 - great coffee and range of breakfast options
Lunch at Bohemian Raw Cafe - I was craving an acai bowl and walked 15 minutes up hill in the heat to get to this place, but it was worth it!
Dinner at Boaty's - this pub belongs to Base backpackers and they offer an $18 meal deal which gets you a meal and an alcoholic drink!
Lagoon - from what I heard it isn't really recommended to go swimming in the sea, but Airlie do have a lagoon in the town that's free to go swimming at.
For some bizarre reason, I thought it would be ok to arrive in Agnes Water at 6am, head to the beach all day and then get the next bus at 9pm to Hervey Bay. Luckily my brain realised that that would be an awful idea, especially since it was raining during the morning. So I booked a bed for the day and it was great to catch up on sleep and chat with other travellers. There was definitely a very friendly 'hippy' vibe here and everyone was so welcoming. The hostel offered breakfast and dinner for $5 each, cooked by one of the people staying there.
This was the part of the trip I was dreading because my bus got in at 1am, and I was already imagining the difficulty of getting into my bunk bed and doing the sheets in darkness and as silent as I could. I ended up getting to the hostel at 2:30am because the only taxi company in Hervey Bay took an hour and a half to come pick me up, even though I pre-booked it. Anyway, once I got to the hostel everything went smoothly. There was an envelope waiting for me in the postbox with the key and instructions, and even though I got a top bunk I managed. I practically spent no money here as breakfast was free and in the evening one of the staff members informed me they were having a free 'sausage sizzle'.
This was probably the best hostel location wise, as the main beach was literally attached to the back of the hostel. We stayed in a 4 bed shared dorm and the bathrooms and showers were just one door down from us. The hostel is a 5-10 minute walk from all the shops and cafes in Byron and also has its own restaurant, pool area and volleyball court.
Breakfast at Safya Cafe - good coffee, good avocado toast, what else do you need?
Lunch at Orgasmic cafe - I can confirm, their hummus plate with pita bread was orgasmic.
Dinner at Elixiba - as you can expect in Byron, it is filled with vegan and GF cafe options. The whole menu in Elixiba is plant based. Me and my friend shared the coco-mari tacos and the raw enchiladas and they did not disappoint.
Nimbin - Nimbin is the 'green' capital of Australia, if you get my drift. It's filled with colourful shops, cookies, little boutique stores and a lot of hemp coffee shops. We went with Happy Coach which cost us $55. We had a couple of stops along the way and lunch was included, our guide Princess Fiona was fab and provided all of the happy tunes on the coach tide.
Lunch at Speedos Cafe - make sure to stop here when you're in the Bondi area. Their menu is very instagram-able and it took me a good 10 minutes to decide between the caramelised banana and chia pancakes, the blue bliss bowl and the pitaya chia pot. In the end I went with the latter and it was delicious.
Dinner at Hotel CBD Bar - Australia hasn't got many signature dishes of it's own, but it does pride itself on making a good meat pie. So I opted for the meat pie with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy and it was sooo goood.
Coogee to Bondi walk - we ended up doing this on the hottest day on our trip, which was great for our tanning and jumping into the water at Bondi. Not so great when you're walking for an hour and a half up and down hills and steps. It was a very pleasant walk and there are a few other nice beaches to stop off along the way, and some will be less crowded than Bondi!
The Rocks markets - on the weekends The Rocks puts on a market full of independent stores and food stalls. Me and Caia got lovely matching necklaces there.
Mrs Macquarie's for best view of Opera House and Sydney Bridge - to get here you walk through the botanical gardens, and when we got there we were sat on a bench looking at the view thinking, wow we're actually in Sydney. If you'd like to get in the photo, they will look very small in the background so just walk round towards the Opera House and you'll get some good, less crowded photo spots.
The Grounds of Alexandria - another instagram spot for you ladies. The cafe here is in a sort of observatory filled with pretty plants and flowers.
Manly - a lot of people say they prefer this beach to Bondi as it tends to be a lot less crowded. You can catch the ferry from Circular Quay and it will cost you around $10.
Visit the free museums - both the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Gallery are free to enter and so are most of the exhibitions. They're also within a 20 minute walk of each other.
The Route
To make things easier, here's a map of the main stops Greyhound makes. Don't let the closeness in dots trick you, as some journeys will still be 9 hours! My journey took me from Cairns - Townsville (Magnetic Island) - Airlie Beach - Agnes Water - Hervey Bay - Noosa (different trip) - Byron Bay - Sydney.
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| Photo Credit |
CAIRNS
Where to Stay: Gilligan's Hotel and Resort
Can you believe I went to one of Australia's biggest party hostels and didn't party? In between my flight being 4 hours delayed and arriving to Cairns at 11pm, and then my sea sickness dilemma the day after I think I was pretty satisfied with just having a good rest and a cup of tea. I had my own private deluxe room and I was surprised by how modern it was. Gilligan's offers shared dorms but if you're travelling in a couple or fancy your space then booking into a private room means you get your privacy but also all the social aspects of a hostel. If you are planning on partying then Gilligans nightclub is two steps from the hostel, and there are also a ton of other activities going on in the hostel every day.
Free Breakfast ✔️
Free Wi-Fi ✔️
Free Shuttle from airport ✔️
Free Shuttle from airport ✔️
* I received a complimentary stay at Gilligan's Resort for review.
Where to Eat:
Lunch at Gilligan's - they offer $5 meals (and they're big portions too).
Dinner at Moku Bar & Grill - for some insta-worthy plates and a varied selection of seafood and meat. It's located in the Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort so the views are pretty good too.
What to Do:
Great Barrier Reef Dive - There are tons of companies offering trips out to the Great Barrier Reef and they can range from $150 - $400. If you're paying to go out there then I 100% recommend doing a dive, as you won't see half as much if you must go snorkelling. I booked mine through Visit Cairns and they have a variety of tours on their website for all budgets.
So story time, I'm not usually someone who gets seasick, but man this had to be the worst 3 hour boat journey of my life (and I did the blue lagoon ferry trip in Malta when I was hangover and running on two hours sleep). I'm not sure if it was the waves, or that my stomach was feeling a bit fragile that morning but I threw up a total of 5 times on the day, not fun. That aside, the scuba diving was an insane experience. Breathing through a tube underwater takes some getting used to and your ears can get a bit painful as you descend but 100% worth it. Make sure you do some research into the area the boat goes to, as some will be 'prettier' than others.
Daintree Rainforest - The Daintree rainforest is the oldest rainforest in the world, and it's only 2 hours away from Cairns. I recommend booking a day tour like this Daintree Wilderness tour which will guide you through all the different environments in the rainforest, includes a tropical lunch and a cruise along the river.
Practical Advice:
- If you are planning on scuba diving, make sure you're not planning on flying for 48 hours after. As the pressure could mess with your little ears!
TOWNSVILLE (MAGNETIC ISLAND)
Where to Stay: Bungalow Bay Koala Village
If you have spent the weekend partying it up in Cairns, then Magnetic Island is the perfect place to unwind. I slept in a Bungalow and I had the nicest day just chilling on a hammock by the pool reading, getting to know the animals and waking up to two Wallaby's outside my door in the morning. Bungalow Bay has its own wildlife sanctuary so you don't have to go far to cuddle a koala! My Bungalow came with a double bed, a fan, a fridge and tea and coffee making facilities. There's a communal kitchen, bathrooms and a pool on site.
Free Wi-Fi
in reception area ✔️
* I received a complimentary stay at Bungalow Bay for review.
Where to Eat:
Breakfast at The Early Bird - filled with all your usual healthy goodies, avocado toast, acai bowls and power smoothies.
Lunch at Cafe Nourish - like the name suggests, this cafe is filled with clean meals and has plenty of vegan options.
Dinner at Sandi's - located along the beach so it's a great place to watch the sunset. Good seafood!
What to Do:
Wildlife tour - Bungalow Bay offers daily wildlife tours where you get the chance to learn about Australia's animals and get to cuddle a koala (the one I met was called Pebbles, cute). I also learnt that Wombats can kill Dingos with their butts, pretty awesome.
Hire a Topless car - I don't have a drivers license so couldn't do this myself, but you'll see these little cars scattered around the island. They're definitely the quickest and most stylish way to get around the island!
Practical Advice:
- Where the Greyhound coach drops you off, you will find the ferry terminal in Townsville to Magnetic Island. If you buy your ticket online in advance you will save $4.
AIRLIE BEACH
Where to Stay: Base Backpackers
So Base was my first shared dorm experience on this trip, and what are the chances that after booking into a 6 bed room, I was the only one in it. My first thought was, omg I'm going to spend Christmas Day alone. Luckily I met a lovely bunch of people in the pool area and spent most of my 3 days with them there. The beds were comfy, clean and there were large lockers provided in each room. The room also had an en-suite bathroom, so no long walks to the shower with all your toiletries. If you're looking to make friends on your trip, this is the hostel for you.
Lockers in room ✔️
Free Wi-Fi ✔️
Where to Eat:
Breakfast at Cafe One 3 - great coffee and range of breakfast options
Lunch at Bohemian Raw Cafe - I was craving an acai bowl and walked 15 minutes up hill in the heat to get to this place, but it was worth it!
Dinner at Boaty's - this pub belongs to Base backpackers and they offer an $18 meal deal which gets you a meal and an alcoholic drink!
What to Do:
Sail the Whitsundays - the main reason people stop at Airlie is to get the boat to Whitsundays from the port. The most common trip for backpackers is to do a 1 or 2 night tour and you spend most of your time on the boat dancing and drinking. Since I was doing this trip by myself I didn't want to take the risk of being sat in the corner of the boat by myself with a drink and throwing up over the boat. So instead I went for the half day tour to Whitehaven beach and admittedly it was a bit rushed, I could have stayed there for a good 5 hours and we only got 1 and a half on the beach.Lagoon - from what I heard it isn't really recommended to go swimming in the sea, but Airlie do have a lagoon in the town that's free to go swimming at.
Practical Advice:
- If you're looking to see the iconic Whitsundays 'swirls' of sand and sea then make sure you book on to the full-day tour, as you won't have time to see it on a half-day tour *cries*.
AGNES WATER
Where to Stay: Backpackers at 1770
For some bizarre reason, I thought it would be ok to arrive in Agnes Water at 6am, head to the beach all day and then get the next bus at 9pm to Hervey Bay. Luckily my brain realised that that would be an awful idea, especially since it was raining during the morning. So I booked a bed for the day and it was great to catch up on sleep and chat with other travellers. There was definitely a very friendly 'hippy' vibe here and everyone was so welcoming. The hostel offered breakfast and dinner for $5 each, cooked by one of the people staying there.
Lockers in room ✔️
Free Wi-Fi in reception (500mb per day) ✔️
What to Do:
Surf - the beach at 1770 is pretty good if you want to try your hand at surfing. The hostel I stayed at allowed you to rent a surfboard for $15 which is a pretty good deal.
Skydive - I didn't quite pluck up the courage to do this (or have the money for it) but Agnes Water is a great place to skydive as you'll get views of the Fraser Coast and the Great Barrier Reef. You can get a skydiving deal for $299.
Surf - the beach at 1770 is pretty good if you want to try your hand at surfing. The hostel I stayed at allowed you to rent a surfboard for $15 which is a pretty good deal.
Skydive - I didn't quite pluck up the courage to do this (or have the money for it) but Agnes Water is a great place to skydive as you'll get views of the Fraser Coast and the Great Barrier Reef. You can get a skydiving deal for $299.
Practical Advice:
- Agnes Water (1770) is a more chilled out spot. I wouldn't recommend spending more than 1 night here unless you really need to replenish your body and just do nothing for a couple of days.
HERVEY BAY (FRASER ISLAND)
Where to Stay: Flashpackers Hervey Bay
This was the part of the trip I was dreading because my bus got in at 1am, and I was already imagining the difficulty of getting into my bunk bed and doing the sheets in darkness and as silent as I could. I ended up getting to the hostel at 2:30am because the only taxi company in Hervey Bay took an hour and a half to come pick me up, even though I pre-booked it. Anyway, once I got to the hostel everything went smoothly. There was an envelope waiting for me in the postbox with the key and instructions, and even though I got a top bunk I managed. I practically spent no money here as breakfast was free and in the evening one of the staff members informed me they were having a free 'sausage sizzle'.
Lockers in room ✔️
Free Breakfast ✔️
Free Breakfast ✔️
Free Wi-Fi ✔️
Free Greyhound pick-up and drop-off ✔️
Free Greyhound pick-up and drop-off ✔️
* I received a complimentary night stay at Flashpacker's for review.
What to Do:
Fraser Island - again the main reason people go to Harvey Bay is to access Fraser Island. I was pressed for time so only did a day tour, and whilst most backpackers do a 2 night trip and end up meeting lots of other young folk and drinking. I ended up in a small coach with a family of 10 Slovenians with 6 loud children. I did meet a very friendly elderly couple though who shared a few interesting stories with me. The skies were pretty grey but Lake McKenzie was still beautiful.
Practical Advice:
- If possible try and plan your trip so your greyhound arrives into Hervey Bay before 11pm. My bus got in at 1am and I was left waiting at the stop in the dark for an hour and a half for my taxi to arrive even though I had pre booked it. The reviews seemed to say they had had similar experiences. Sadly this is the only taxi company in Hervey Bay so you don't have much choice but to wait.
BYRON BAY
Where to Stay: Backpackers Inn on the Beach
This was probably the best hostel location wise, as the main beach was literally attached to the back of the hostel. We stayed in a 4 bed shared dorm and the bathrooms and showers were just one door down from us. The hostel is a 5-10 minute walk from all the shops and cafes in Byron and also has its own restaurant, pool area and volleyball court.
Lockers in room ✔️
Free Wi-Fi ✔️
Where to Eat:
Breakfast at Safya Cafe - good coffee, good avocado toast, what else do you need?
Lunch at Orgasmic cafe - I can confirm, their hummus plate with pita bread was orgasmic.
Dinner at Elixiba - as you can expect in Byron, it is filled with vegan and GF cafe options. The whole menu in Elixiba is plant based. Me and my friend shared the coco-mari tacos and the raw enchiladas and they did not disappoint.
What to Do:
Byron Bay Lighthouse - my dumb self thought we could walk from Byron Bay up to the Lighthouse, which would have probably taken us 2 and a half hours. Luckily one of us drove up and then we walked around the area and down to the edge of the cliffs. It does give some great views of Byron.Nimbin - Nimbin is the 'green' capital of Australia, if you get my drift. It's filled with colourful shops, cookies, little boutique stores and a lot of hemp coffee shops. We went with Happy Coach which cost us $55. We had a couple of stops along the way and lunch was included, our guide Princess Fiona was fab and provided all of the happy tunes on the coach tide.
Practical Advice:
- When having cookies, always listen to what the chef recommends.
SYDNEY
Where to Stay: Asylum Seekers Backpackers
When finding somewhere to stay in Sydney for 5 nights, I expected to pay anything starting from $200, even in hostels. After a bit of searching the world wide web, I came across Asylum Hostels and we paid a total of $160 each for 5 nights. The hostel is small and in a heritage building, so you really get a home away from home feeling. The staff are friendly and you get used to seeing the same faces at breakfast every morning. The hostel is on the more peaceful side, and they have 3 dogs on the premises (one being a rescue dog) and they encourage guests to take them for a walk if you want to. The hostel is a 2 minute walk from Kings Cross train station, and Coles and Woolworths are also a stones throw away. The room with a fan got quite hot, so if they have availability in the air conditioned room, go for this!
Lockers in room ✔️
Free Wi-Fi ✔️
Free Breakfast ✔️
Free Breakfast ✔️
Where to Eat:
Breakfast at Oracle - we had originally planned to go to Joseph Hyde but ended up here instead. They're both located on a narrow alley way on Llankelly Place so you've got a couple of options there. I had eggs Benedict whilst my friend had the overloaded croissant with scrambled eggs and bacon.Lunch at Speedos Cafe - make sure to stop here when you're in the Bondi area. Their menu is very instagram-able and it took me a good 10 minutes to decide between the caramelised banana and chia pancakes, the blue bliss bowl and the pitaya chia pot. In the end I went with the latter and it was delicious.
Dinner at Hotel CBD Bar - Australia hasn't got many signature dishes of it's own, but it does pride itself on making a good meat pie. So I opted for the meat pie with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy and it was sooo goood.
What to Do:
Free walking tour of Sydney - whenever I travel to any new city I always check to see if they offer any free walking tours, as they're a great way to get your bearings and learn a bit of history behind the landmarks that you're looking at (and burn off all the extra calories you've been eating). The I'm Free tour takes you from Town Hall all the way to Circular Quay, and our guide Aida made the tour interesting and entertaining. Note the tour is free but you are expected to tip something.Coogee to Bondi walk - we ended up doing this on the hottest day on our trip, which was great for our tanning and jumping into the water at Bondi. Not so great when you're walking for an hour and a half up and down hills and steps. It was a very pleasant walk and there are a few other nice beaches to stop off along the way, and some will be less crowded than Bondi!
The Rocks markets - on the weekends The Rocks puts on a market full of independent stores and food stalls. Me and Caia got lovely matching necklaces there.
Mrs Macquarie's for best view of Opera House and Sydney Bridge - to get here you walk through the botanical gardens, and when we got there we were sat on a bench looking at the view thinking, wow we're actually in Sydney. If you'd like to get in the photo, they will look very small in the background so just walk round towards the Opera House and you'll get some good, less crowded photo spots.
The Grounds of Alexandria - another instagram spot for you ladies. The cafe here is in a sort of observatory filled with pretty plants and flowers.
Manly - a lot of people say they prefer this beach to Bondi as it tends to be a lot less crowded. You can catch the ferry from Circular Quay and it will cost you around $10.
Visit the free museums - both the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Gallery are free to enter and so are most of the exhibitions. They're also within a 20 minute walk of each other.
Practical Advice:
- You can use your debit or credit card to tap on and off when using the public transport in Sydney (trains and buses). Just make sure you use the same card throughout the day as after a certain amount it will cap off, so the rest of your trips will be 'free'. I believe the amount is $16 on weekdays and $3 on Sundays.
- If you're getting the train to the airport, you can pay half the price by getting the train 1 stop earlier to Mascot, and then take a bus from there to the airport.
I've also got travel guides for Brisbane, Melbourne and Surfers Paradise (Gold Coast). I also recommend stopping by Noosa, we spent a weekend there and the vibe was great. If you have any questions for any of these places just drop me a message or email!
G
10 ALTERNATIVE THINGS TO DO IN BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA.
Tuesday, 3 December 2019
My 10 months in Brisbane will be shortly coming to an end, and I thought now would be a good time to share with you guys what my favourite activities and ways to spend time in the city have been. Granted, Brisbane hasn't got a lot of things to do and see, but there is no shortage of good places to eat in Brisbane, nightclubs and bars, and alternative things to do with your time whilst you are exploring the city. So here it is, 10 alternative things to do whilst you are in Brisbane.
1. Kayak down the Brisbane river.
This is such a great experience and you don't really need any experience to do it. I used to row and somehow I kayaked all the way up the river with my oar upside down, so my arms were definitely aching for the next 3 days! Riverlife offer a range of activities along the Brisbane river and I experienced the 'paddle and dip' one. We saw the sunset over the city which was beautiful, and then after an hour and a half of kayaking the group had some drinks and dips on a marquee by the river. 100% recommend!
* I received this activity on a complimentary basis for review
* I received this activity on a complimentary basis for review
2. Have a sunday session on a YOT.
Sunday sesh's are a big thing in Australia - because who cares if you're hungover at work on a Monday? The YOT Club host a series of classy boat parties along the Brisbane river during the spring and summer months. I worked at a similar boat (different company) as a VIP waitress and it was so much fun just wish I could have been on the partying side of things!
3. See how much food you can stomach at EatStreet.
Everytime I come here I say I'm just going to pick one thing. I end up having my meal, plus a sample honey donut, bubble tea and a marshmallow and fruit stick. This place is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays but it's definitely worth a visit. There are over 50 stalls and there's also live music and shows.
4. Start your night with some crazy golf and cocktails.
Holey Moley is Brisbane's crazy gold and cocktail bar in Fortitude Valley. So it's a great place to start your night if you want to venture into one of the clubs nearby after! This was actually my first time put put-ing and admittedly, I sucked. Maybe because I was three cocktails in or because my hand eye coordination is just terrible.
5. Find some second hand gems at a suitcase rummage.
My only regret is that I didn't sign up for this myself before it sold out, because I have accumulated a lot of stuff that I don't really want to take back home with me! The Suitcase Rummage takes place in Brisbane City the first and third Sunday of every month, and it's exactly what it sounds like. People bring their clothes, shoes, books, jewellery etc that they no longer want, in a suitcase to sell. You'll also find a lot of small businesses too selling their handmade crafts.
6. Go on a pub crawl with other backpackers.
If you read my other travel guides then you'll be used to this by now as 9/10 times I always add a pub crawl to the list! If you're not a drinker or like socialising with random people then go ahead and move on to number 9. If you are, Base Backpackers put on a Pub crawl every Thursday at 7pm that takes you to several bars and then their own nightclub Downunder Bar (definitely an experience in itself). I actually met one of my best friends here at one of the pub crawls!
7. Have a very instagramable picnic on Kangaroo point.
Kangaroo Point has one of the most picturesque views of the city - especially at sunset! There are lot of electric bbq's set up along the area so all you need to do is bring the food and drinks. If you fancy something a bit more special, then Picnic Co set up beautiful picnic spreads for all occasions, and they can be customised depending on your preferences.
8. Have a swim at Streets Beach.
To get to a decent beach in Brisbane you'll have to drive for an hour or more to get to Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast. Or you could walk across the bridge from the CBD and go for a swim at Street Beach, Southbank's 'fake beach' complete with sand and a pool. It can get pretty crowded on the weekend so make sure you get there early. It's pretty interesting being on a beach but still seeing all the skyscrapers behind it!
9. Watch a free comedy show at the Powerhouse.
To be honest this is something I wish I would have done more of whilst I was here, because I really enjoyed myself. Every Friday the Brisbane Powerhouse put on a free stand up comedy show, and well some of the acts are pretty funny.
10. Have a tour of Brisbane on an electronic longboard.
Since you are just visiting, I guess you should go and check out some of the sights hey? If walking is too boring for you, then try exploring the city on an electronic longboard with EskateAU. They offer a River City Tour and a Park Adventure, or you can customise your ride! The group size is pretty small (up to 4) so you get a personal experience too.
Have you ever been to Brisbane? Which one of these activities is most up your street?
G
5 RESTAURANTS AND CAFES TO VISIT IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.
Tuesday, 14 May 2019
When I think of food in Australia - I think healthy, colourful and creative. When you're travelling with a Vegan and Celiac, your restaurant choices tend to be a bit more niche and the menus usually tend to be a bit more creative. Whether you're looking for something instagrammable, or want to eat out without consuming all of your daily calorie intake in one meal, here are some options for every craving.
Queen Victoria Market
Ok so this isn't technically a restaurant, but if you're not really sure what you fancy eating then head here where you can choose from more than 10 different cuisines from across the globe. I shared halloumi fries, pavlova and paella with my friend, and I may have had a bubble tea too. There's usually live music too and a bunch of stalls and fresh produce for you to look at.
Pablo Escoburgers
My friend came across this place on Instagram after someone posted about their 'controversial' burgers in ode to Pablo Escobar. One of which comes with a dollar bill and a 'line of cocaine'. This was a pretty funky place, and the bartender creates a signature cocktail for you based on your preferences. We ended up spending around $45 each at this place, so it's not the cheapest of restaurants, but at least your burger will look good on the gram.
Ground Yourself Cafe
We stumbled accross this place on our way to get our nails done, and it was a delight. They have a large breakfast selection, smoothie and acai bowls and a selection of buddha bowls. I got the Superfood Salad lunch special for $10 which came with quinoa, cauliflower, goji, beetroot, kale, pickled grapes, toasted seeds and almond hummus. It was delicious.
Banff
If it's Italian you're after, then head to Banff in St Kinda for an inexpensive plate of pizza or pasta. They usually have offers on, such as $7 pizzas on Monday and Tuesday. They have an interesting concept called 'paper bag pasta' where your pasta is served...in a bag. I didn't get to experience it first hand, as I went for the Chicken & Pesto Risotto and it was molto delizioso.
Sister of Soul
This was probably my favourite and most delicious out of all of them. Even though we had initially planned to go for lunch, the breakfast menu looked so good that all 5 of us picked something from there. I had the French Toast which was no ordinary french toast, it came with vegan 'honeycomb', gelato, fruit and of course maple syrup (and some flowers that I assumed were edible). The Snickers Smoothie Bowl that my friend chose looked heavenly too.
Have you been to any of these? What are some of your favourite spots in Melbourne?
G
A WEEKEND GUIDE TO SURFERS PARADISE, AUSTRALIA.
Thursday, 2 May 2019
I've been in Australia for about two months now, and most of that has been spent in Brisbane - because of its warm weather, its great nightlife and its proximity to lots of other great places around Queensland. Surfers Paradise is situated in Queensland's Gold Coast and is an hour drive from the CBD. I'd say Australians head to Surfers on the weekend just like we Gibraltarians head to Tarifa. They're both known for their beaches, nightlife, and the perfect windy weather to practice your surfing skills. Here's what we got up to in two days in Surfers Paradise.
Where to Stay
If you stay anywhere along the beach you'll be able to get to everything by foot (obvious I guess). We stayed at K Resort Apartments which was a 5 minute walk from Cavill Avenue where you can find a plethora of shops and restaurants and a 10 minute walk from Surfers Paradise beach.
We shared a 2 bedroom apartment between 4 of us and paid £35 each for a 2 night stay. The living room was slightly dated but then again all we were really there for was to sleep, make toast for breakfast and pre drink before heading out. The Wi-Fi wasn't free, so we stuck with our 4G. The apartments had air-con and we also had a bathroom each.
Where to Eat
Since we were on a bit of a budget, we ate in the apartment twice and had breakfast in the room too (and a helping of snacks from 7/11).
Grill'd
If you're after a burger but want to knock of a couple hundred calories then head to Grill'd. They have gluten-free buns, vegan options and even a low carb bun that makes your burger less carby than a sushi roll. I went for the summer sunset burger - complete with bacon, avocado and pineapple. I also recommend trying the chips share plate which comes with their famous Grill'd chips, sweet potato chips & zucchini chips.
SandBar
Located next to the beach, this place is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner. We came at an in between time of 12pm so all chose an Acai bowl and damn was it good. All bowls were topped with banana, apple, strawberries, coconut, chia seeds, granola (and because I'm a gluttonous individual I also added peanut butter and raw cacao). If we would have come again, I would have definately gone for a Hawaiian poke bowl.
What to do
Party
A trip to the Gold Coast isn't complete without a night out (well that's my opinion with most trips). When we were choosing where to 'settle' in Queensland we originally thought of Surfers but heard it was like the 'Magaluf of Australia' so went for Brisbane instead. I must say, I think I had one of my best nights out in Australia there. We went to Sin City and Bedroom and I think I was running out of breath by the end of the evening because I was singing so many damn songs.If you like your aesthetics then Bedroom is a good choice - there's actual beds in the VIP area and bathroom, and the club gives out free popcorn and candy floss.
Infinity
If you want to experience the biggest trip of your life in 20 minutes, head to Infinity. Tickets are $26 and the attraction basically takes you through a series of rooms and effects that engage all your senses. Think house of mirrors but even more confusing and weird.
Ripley's - Believe it or Not!
I lived in London for a year and never made it to this place but I was always curious, so when we found ourselves with some time on our hands we popped in to see what it was all about. There's about 15 themed rooms and interactive areas (and a lot of bizarre stuff to check out).Surf
I mean whilst you're here you might as well try it right? We probably didn't pick the best time to do this (a.k.a the day after our night out) but luckily we picked 1pm for our lesson so we had the morning to recover. We went with Get Wet Surf School and paid $60 for 2 hours. We were surprised to find we actually didn't suck as much as we thought we would, and I managed to stand up on my board for an impressive 10 seconds.
Rent a scooter
We saw people on these everywhere and there are a dozen shops scattered around the area where you can rent a bike/scooter from. The coast is actually very long, so you could either go on a nice 50 minute scenic walk to Mermaid beach or electric scooter it.Crazy Cat Cafe
If you're travelling in a group then one of you is bound to be a crazy cat person (there were two in ours). The Crazy Cat Cafe have either 50 minute or 25 minute sessions and unlike the one we went to in Japan, you're actually allowed to play with the cats and hold them. They have quite a big menu ranging from shakes to lasagna to cheesecakes.Q1 Climb
If you're after the best scenic view of the Gold Coast, you can either climb to it or simply sit at the top of the Q1 building and enjoy a nice meal and glass of wine. The SkyPoint Climb lasts 90 minutes and you climb a total of 300 stairs, so make sure you've had your kale-spinach-superseed breakfast.iFly
Still haven't quite mustered the courage to sky dive? Then floating in the air in a vertical wind tunnel is a good alternative with iFly. The price is $55 for 'two indoor sky flights' and is suitable for people of all ages.
Tan
If you've done all that and wondering what to do with yourself next, then go take a nap on the beach.
Have you ever been to Surfers Paradise? What's your favourite seaside location in Australia?
G
EATING AROUND BRISBANE, A SHORT REVIEW OF EVERY RESTAURANT.
Saturday, 16 March 2019
Today marks 3 weeks since we arrived in Australia, and after a month of eating like kings in Asia we realised we'd have to eventually start cutting back on our spendings and start cooking. However, there are so many delicious places that we've already come across that we've decided to take it in turns to pick where we eat out each week. As I did with eating around Gibraltar, here is a short review of all the restaurants we'll be visiting during our time in Brisbane, Australia.
1. Eat Street Northshore
Where: 221D Macarthur Ave, Hamilton, Brisbane Qld Australia 4007
What: Everything, literally everything.
When: Friday and Saturday (4pm - 10pm) Sunday (12pm - 8pm)
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We thought we'd kick off our weekend with an evening at Eat Street markets - where you can choose from over 100 food stalls. I went there craving mac n cheese, and of course with that many stalls I came across an American one had that mac n cheese topped with bacon and mushrooms - que bueno. This place also has boutique shops, live music and a good selection of new and wonderful dessert options; including kinder bueno churros. On my last visit I had an Argentinian mixed meat platter and my god it was delicious. Followed by some fruit and marshmallow dipped in chocolate fondue.
2. The Pancake Manor
Where: 18 Charlotte St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
What: Pancakes, salads, and a range of brunch type of food.
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When better to visit this place than pancake day? Which is exactly what we did. There were over 15 pancake options on the menu as well as vegan and gluten free options (which kept two of my friends happy). The ambience in here was cool as it used to be a cathedral and I got Harry Potter 'great hall' vibes whilst I was in here too. I opted for a banana and maple syrup combo whereas my friend went all out with blueberries and blueberry sauce.
3. Bourbon Street
Where: 184 Grey Street, South Brisbane, QLD 4101
What: New Orlean Cuisine
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had high expectations for this place because I'm slightly obsessed with NOLA (even though I've never been) and it had been a hot minute since I last had gumbo. I was left slightly disappointed as I found it was too liquidy and the ratio of meat : rice : soup wasn't quite right. Nevertheless I still ate it all, as it was still a warm and hearty dish. Just didn't compare to the previous ones I've had. My friend had the jambalaya and also said it was average as it was lacking flavour and was simply spicy AF.
4. Mado Turkish Restaurant
Where: 1-3/15 Tribune St, South Brisbane QLD 4101
What: Turkish
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We're all a bit hummus obsessed in my group, so we decided to head here for my friends birthday on Monday. We had hummus dip and homemade pita to start, and then I had the mixed grill platter as my main and boy was this plate filling. It game with a char grill lamb shish, chicken shish and kofte izgara served with rice, salad and freshly baked turkish bread. I could have probably stopped eating after 1/4 of the plate but I'm not one to leave food on my plate (and then complain about my bloating later).
5. Spaghetti House
Where: Little Stanley St & Grey Street, South Brisbane QLD 4101
What: Italian
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love Italian food, I could probably go to an Italian restaurant every day for two weeks and be able to order different things on the menu that I liked. My problem is, I also like snacking so I find it very hard to go from lunch to dinner without eating anything in between and then when it comes to dinner I'm not hungry enough to fully enjoy my meal. Either way, I was in the mood for pasta so ordered the cannelloni with spinach and ricotta. I have to say it wasn't the best one I've tried, I feel like there wasn't a lot of flavour or tomato sauce and you couldn't taste the cheese much. My friend said her carbonara was ok but not the best she'd had either, but my vegan friend was very happy with her pesto gnocchi. Therefore I give this place a fair 3/5 stars.
6. Mucho Mexicano
Where: Shop 15, Little Stanley St, QLD 4101
What: Mexican
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I probably eat Mexican food twice a year, and I can't remember the last time I ate tacos. When I saw Mucho Mexicano had an 'all you can eat in 2 hours' Taco Tuesday offer for 25 dollars I jumped on board. There were 5 soft taco options available: pulled pork, chicken, fish, sweet potato and halloumi and a black bean, mushroom and tomato salsa one. Surprisingly the fish tacos were quite nice and the sweet potato and halloumi were also up there as my favourite. I managed to eat a total of 6, which was a decent job on my part.
My issue with the chicken tacos (and my friends fajitas) is that they use chicken thigh so they were a bit...chewier than expected. I think you do get your moneys worth if you have a big appetite or like a variety, as they are essentially mini fajitas but you get 5 options instead of one. I'll have to try the margaritas next time I go.
My issue with the chicken tacos (and my friends fajitas) is that they use chicken thigh so they were a bit...chewier than expected. I think you do get your moneys worth if you have a big appetite or like a variety, as they are essentially mini fajitas but you get 5 options instead of one. I'll have to try the margaritas next time I go.
7. Zeus
Where: 13/14 Little Stanley St, Brisbane City QLD 4101
What: Greek
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I made the smart decision this time of not eating after lunch so I could really appreciate and enjoy my dinner. You order at the counter here and my meal was brought to me within 15 minutes. I opted for the 'Zeus pita wrap ($13.50)' which was filled with lamb shoulder, slaw, parsley, house-made mustard mayo and eggplant dip and it was delicious, I could have eaten another one. The only reason I haven't given this place 5 stars is because the halloumi fries were a bit bland in flavour (and before you hit me with 'halloumi is bland' I've had much better ones). They also have a gluten free and vegan menu.
8. Pineapple Express Cafe
Where: 9 Portside Wharf, Hamilton QLD 4007
What: Superfood cafe
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We thought for this weeks food outing we'd pick something slightly healthier since I just got a new gym membership and don't want to start the week by pigging out on a three course meal. Luckily, Pineapple Express was just around the corner from our apartment and have a very unique and delicious looking menu. They have pulled jackfruit nachos and burgers for the vegans, acai bowls and smoothies, protein based meals for the gym buffs, and if you just fancy an english breakfast (with a twist) they do that too. I went for the Black Bowl ($16) which uses activated charcoal amongst other fruit for the blended base, and then is topped with coconut yoghurt (this was delicious), goji berries, kiwi and other fruit. I think I'd definitely like to come back and try some of the other items on their menu.
9. Guzman y Gomez
Where: All over Brisbane
What: Mexican
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So last week we planned to go out for a fancy dinner, but then found the place we were planning on going to was shut down permanently. So instead, we ended up next door at Guzman y Gomez - a fast food chain. Nevertheless, their burritos and enchiladas are the sh*t so I wasn't complaining. They're so full of flavour, and this time I tried to cut out a few hundred calories by taking the wrap out with a burrito bowl, and it was still tasty and filling.
10. Kiss The Berry
Where: 187 Melbourne Street (but there's several around the city)
What: Acai bowls and smoothies
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When I leave Australia I think I will probably miss acai bowls the most (and bubble tea) because neither of these things have been established in Gibraltar yet. Kiss The Berry is one of the most popular acai cafes in Brisbane. I got a medium acai bowl of peanut butter & jelly (Blend: açaÃ, banana, strawberries, peanut butter, raw cacao powder, coconut milk. Toppings: choc buckinis, banana, coconut yoghurt, peanut butter, raspberry bits, cacao nibs.) I could have probably eaten 5 bowls of it because it was delicious. I'd love to go back and try their apple crumble bowl whilst the winter menu is still on!
11. Cactus Republic
Where: Shop 30BB/153 Little Stanley St, South Brisbane QLD 4101
What: Mexican
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
For someone who usually doesn't eat a lot of Mexican food, it's funny how this is the third mexican restaurant on this list lol, maybe I am a changed woman. We used the EatClub app (finds you local discounts) and saw that Cactus Republic had a 20% off discount at the restaurant, so we chose to have dinner here. Me and my friend got confused when ordering so I ended up leaving this place very full and barely walking. I thought we were sharing nachos, but she got tortilla chips so I ended up with a whole plate of them for myself, and ordered 3 soft tacos on top of that. I wasn't that impressed to be honest. I prefer melted cheese to the 'squirty' american cheese they use on the nachos, and the tacos weren't very full and lacked flavour. Mucho Mexicano still take the top spot for tacos.
Where: 182 Grey Street - South Brisbane
12. Suki
What: poke bowls
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Poke bowls are everywhere in Brisbane, yet after living here for 6 months this is the first time I'd actually had one. If you're on a health kick or just eat pretty clean in general, then Suki is a great choice. For $10-$15 you get a bowl that you can either customise yourself by choosing your base (rice, quinoa, salad) and then your protein (vegan options too!) and sauce. I went with the '3's a crowd' bowl which came with tuna, salmon and a whole lot of veg and then added some Kimchi to it. I was still hungry, so probably should have gone for the katsu chicken. Nevertheless still tasty and affordable.
13. Beach House Bar & Grill
Where: Corner of Elizabeth & Albert Street
What: Australian/Pub food
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
After 6 months of living in Australia, I finally got round to almost trying a parmy (chicken parmigiana). As I opted for the Hawaiian chicken schnitzel so replaced the napolitana sauce for pineapple. I didn't love Beach House, but I didn't hate it either. The portions were very big and the prices were decent, but I did find the food lacked flavour and oomf.
Where: 11a/455 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
14. VeganBurgz
What: vegan burgers (duh)
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have nothing against vegan food, I actually like going to places that are catered for vegans because they're a lot more creative with their menus. As the name suggests, VeganBurgz is dedicated to meat free burgers. I got the 'cheesy B' burger where the patty was made out of kidney beans and boy was it filling. I think I'd like to go back and try the 'sweet kale-roline' burger where the patty is made out of sweet potato and topped with kale and onion rings. I love that their buns are made out of matcha too. If you followed my Japan travels you'll know I was having matcha everything. We also got a medium size portion of chips to share and it was more than enough! The only downside to this place was that there is no indoor seating, and it was a rare chilly night in Brisbane when we went.
Where: 14/1 Eagle St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
15. Jade Buddha
What: Asian fusion
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I'd been to Jade Buddha before for drinks and a boogie, and it has great views of Brisbane as it's just along the river. Even during the day the views are great, and as expected the place was full of business professionals on their lunch breaks, as it's located in the CBD and they offer $10 lunch specials. I only recently discovered San Choy Bow (great for your low carb days) so when I saw they had this on the menu I decided on that. Although admittedly I should have noted the fact it was listed under 'lighter meals' because I'd skipped breakfast so could have done with ordering the Buddha Bowl like my friend did. Even though it was a light lunch on my part, and if you think about it was essentially lettuce with a bit of protein, it certainly didn't lack in flavour. You could tell it was good quality duck and there was no fatty bits! They also have an interesting selection of cocktails - my friend chose the classic Espresso Martini whilst I had an elderflower based one. I'd love to go back another day and have their Balinese Style Lamb, don't know why I didn't order it in the first place!
* We were invited to Jade Buddha for a complimentary meal and drink for this blog post.
Where: Shop 8/57 Vulture St, West End QLD 4101
* We were invited to Jade Buddha for a complimentary meal and drink for this blog post.
16. Buddha Brothers
What: Breakfast/Brunch
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Brisbane has no shortage of healthy cafes and 'instagram worthy' breakfast spots. I came across Buddha Brothers on Instagram and was instantly drawn to their very aesthetically pleasing plates of food. Tucked away in West End, this small cafe is the perfect stop for a healthy breakfast, lunch or afternoon treat. Before arriving I already knew what I was going to order - the snickers nice cream bowl. Trust us to go for the 'unhealthiest' option on the menu! I think this is the first time in my life that I haven't been able to finish a dessert. Simply because it was such a big portion, but does anyone else find it hard to stop eating when they're full when something tastes so good? The bowl was a blend of peanut butter and banana, and topped with chocolate granola, cacao nibs, banana, peanut butter and buckini. In hindsight we could have probably shared one and shared a buddha bowl too as they looked delicious - I think I'll have to go back and have the lamb shoulder bowl. The only thing stopping me from giving them 5 stars is that they're not offering coffee yet (they did have iced coffee cartons though!). Other than that, the portions were great value for money and full of flavour.
* We were invited to Buddha Brothers for a complimentary meal for this blog post.
Where: 100 Edward St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
* We were invited to Buddha Brothers for a complimentary meal for this blog post.
17. Raw Energy
What: Breakfast to Lunch
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I'd past by this place so many times and finally got round to sitting down! As the name suggests Raw Energy's menu is filled with nutritious meals, superfood extras and at a very reasonable price. I told myself I was going to get something other than an energy bowl and had my eyes set on the zucchini and corn fritters, but I passed by a table and saw how nice the dragon bowl ($13.90) looked and alas, I ordered that. For an extra 2 dollars you get a superfood mix of goji berries, chia seeds, L.S.A, sunflower seeds and cacao nibs. It definitely added to the deliciousness of the bowl as otherwise I think it would have been missing that bit of crunch. Nevertheless it was delicious and refreshing. My friend ordered the quinoa, sweet potato & kale burger ($13.90) and said it was good but surprisingly she was still hungry afterwards. If you work in the city it's in a great location to stop by for lunch and the service is fairly quick.
* I received a complimentary meal from Raw Energy for this blog post.
* I received a complimentary meal from Raw Energy for this blog post.
18. Byblos
Where: Portside Wharf, Hamilton, QLD 4007
What: Mediterranean
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
What I ordered: Lamb shoulder, pumpkin kebbi, rekakat, mixed leaf salad.
What I ordered: Lamb shoulder, pumpkin kebbi, rekakat, mixed leaf salad.
I used to live in Hamilton and I always passed by this place but by the look of the place I thought it would be out of my 'backpacker budget'. In my 8 months in Brisbane I haven't really gone for an expensive dinner out so I thought, why not? Byblos has a lot of Lebanese and Turkish options on the menu and to be honest, I could have probably ordered anything and liked it. We shared 4 plates between 3 of us and to be honest I could have probably eaten the slow cooked lamb shoulder all by myself, it was heavenly. The rekakat were also my favourite (pastries filled with feta and mozzarella). The restaurant has outdoor and indoor seating as well as a lounge area if you just fancy a few drinks and smaller plates. In total we paid $35 each for the 4 plates and a glass of wine.
19. Stones Throw Corner Cafe
Where: 1/371 Logan Rd, Stones Corner QLD 4120
What: Breakfast to Lunch
Yum Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What I ordered: pumpkin & chocolate pancakes and an iced coffee.
What I ordered: pumpkin & chocolate pancakes and an iced coffee.
Stones Throw cafe offers a range of breakfast and lunch options and luckily for us, the breakfast options were served all day! It's located on Logan Road and there are a nice couple of vintage and charity shops along the street too. As always, I usually eye up the menu before arriving and I was torn between the mac daddy breakfast burger (it comes with a mac & cheese patty!) or the spiced pumpkin & chocolate pancakes. In the end I settled for the latter, as always I end up going for the sweet option on the menu. At first I wasn't sure how pumpkin would taste in pancakes but to be honest they tasted perfectly normal and delicious. It was such a hot day too so the home-made lemon & lime sorbet was the icing on the cake (or the topping on the pancakes hehe). There's a lot of seating available and they even have a little patio at the back of the cafe with a very aesthetically pleasing wall full of plants, the bathroom was pretty cool too.
* I received 50% off my order from Stones Throw Cafe for this blog post.
Where is your favourite place to eat in Brisbane? Would love more recommendations!
G
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