Free walking tour of Brisbane

(Brisbane, Australia, 6th of February 2017)

After the positive experience we had from our free walking tour in Christchurch we booked another one in Brisbane. We were a little smaller group of only 9 people this time, which was lucky as our guide was very secretive. I can tell you that a “free walking tour” is not at all free – the tour guides always begin by telling you that they would like to see you give tips if you’re happy with the tour. The guide of Christchurch even told us how much he thought we would give him – approximately 15 dollar per person.

During the walk, we got a good idea of Australia and Brisbane’s history. Brisbane has a rather sad background when the city in its early years (after the Europeans “discovered” the country) was a place where you sent prisoners and, in the worst case, even tortured them. Brisbane is a city like architectural shipwrecks old and new in a blissful mix. Not particularly beautiful and really not thought out. As an example, a small beautiful church can be interspersed between ugly skyscrapers. 

At the end of the trip, we walked past a bicycle shop, begging new bicycle boxes, and then relaxing in the botanical garden before we picked up a rental car and drove back to Colonial Village. We have decided to rent the car to drive around and look at the Brisbane’s surroundings when we realized that the heat means that we will not be able to go sightseeing by bike.

/Christel