Travel Guides and Stories

You might not be familiar with Brisbane, but you surely know about its famous Gold Coast! The Gold Coast is probably the most “borrowed” beach name in the world, but the real deal is right here in Brisbane, Australia!

High-rise buildings in downtown Brisbane

More high-rises in the city center
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and Australia’s third-largest city. Brisbane River flows from the Gold Coast out to sea here. It’s a paradise for private yachts, home to many world-famous yacht clubs—even Jackie Chan has a mansion and private yacht here. Taking a yacht tour is a popular, recommended activity by the local tourism board. You get to learn all about yacht culture. Australians enjoy high social welfare, and everyone loves vacationing and exercise! Yachting is a favorite pastime. The wealthy don’t compete over designer cars, houses, or handbags, but over yachts. There are plenty of luxury yachts worth millions of AUD, with every conceivable amenity—truly the height of luxury.
On the Gold Coast, you’ll always spot Aussies surfing and swimming. The sand is golden and incredibly fine—a perfect place for water sports.

Gold Coast—there’s windblown sand here because the sand is so fine. When the sea breeze kicks up, the sand goes flying.

           Sunshine Coast

Gold Coast

           Sunshine Coast

Gold Coast beach

Gold Coast beach

Lovers sharing a passionate kiss on the Gold Coast

Surfing

Children playing by the sea

Healthy children

Children playing by the sea

           Sunshine Coast

Surfing
After enjoying the Gold Coast, we went to the Brisbane River estuary to try our hand at crab-catching. And then a crab feast!

The crab-catching boat and friendly pelicans

Pelicans

           Sunshine Coast

The pelican’s huge beak ensures it gets enough fish

Landing

Colorful clouds over the Brisbane River

Villas by the riverbank

Waterskiing

Tranquil riverside

Giant crab for lunch

The boat owner’s daughter
After a hearty crab lunch, we set off for Brisbane Zoo to get up close with Australia’s unique animals—kangaroos and koalas.

Lizards like this are everywhere in Australia

Australian red kangaroo

Red kangaroo

Red kangaroo

Red kangaroo

Grey kangaroo

Grey kangaroo

Red kangaroo

Red kangaroo

Check out this red kangaroo—surrounded by three lizards, and they get along just fine!

Boar

Lizards everywhere

Park staff and wombat (koala)

Koala climbing down from a tree—so clumsy, I was worried it might fall! Be careful!

The egret flew right onto the table—completely unafraid of people!

There’s a joey in that pouch!
Brisbane is beautiful, and the Gold Coast left a deep impression on me. I didn’t expect kangaroos to be not that agile, and koalas are even clumsier—how they survive in Australia is a miracle! If they were in China, they’d have gone extinct long ago.