BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA
Our next stop in beautiful Australia was in Brisbane. This city is also located in the region of Queensland and is located about a two days sail south of Cairns. We ported here on October 29th, and after having to do a General Drill for the Australian Coast Guard we disembarked the ship to head to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, one of the most famous intimate zoos in the world. The zoo not only is home to many species of Koala’s, but also has many Australian specific animals including Red Kangaroos, Dingoes (basically a wild house dog), native birds, wombats, and the very cute and cuddly Tasmanian Devil(not so cuddly). As we entered the park we went straight to the kangaroo area where you got to get right up to them. Being close meant actually being able to pet them and feed them. The enclosure was quite big and was home to at least 40 to 50 kangaroos. Most would let you come right up to them and take pictures with them. One thing you notice about the kangaroos is how they move. They can be very slow and sneaky and then take off in huge leaps covering some distance. When they stand up on their rear legs it can be very intimidating. After spending about 40 minutes with them and taking a ton of photographs we headed to other parts of the zoo. We next saw the Wombat which looked like a little fat furry brown pig. Don’t be fooled though…they bite!!!! Next we found what we ultimately came to the zoo to find…the Koala’s.
First thing I had to do was take a photo with one. When or where else would I get to do this? Sixteen dollars later I was holding a cute little Koala in my arms and taking pictures with it. For the life of me I cannot remember the little guys name but he was cute. They move very slowly and this one would keep looking up at you probably trying to figure out what kind of tree he was climbing on. After few moments of holding him I had to give I’m back so more people could share this experience. Yes, I did try to sneak him under my shirt but his sharp claws preventing me from getting to far away. Better luck next time.
Following this we ventured to an area which housed your everyday wild Australian animals and was able to take many great pictures of them. The park has different enclosures for different types of Koala’s and we checked a few of them out. Everyone loved the babies and Mom section s you could find a baby Koala riding on their Mom’s back up a tree. After spending some time here we then found our way to the Crocodiles. One of the only things I want to see in Australia is a wild Crocodile and here they had two of them. No bigger then four to five 5, these crocs still looked quite menacing as they made no movement. Being so still as they were you could tell they knew exactly where everyone was at all times and could react at a moments notice to catch a meal…if you know what I mean. By this time it was time to leave the park and head downtown for some shopping…well the girls did that anyways.
Once downtow
n, I also did some Christmas shopping…I have to be productive and was able to score some items in “Australia The Gift,” which is a huge souvenir shop in these parts. As the time got nearer to our all aboard time I began to get nervous. I was just told that the last shuttle back to the ship was gone and that meant time to flag down a taxi. This took of course forever and I began to sweat looking at my watch as the second and minute hand raced by. Finally a driver found us and stated he didn’t know where the ship was but “had an idea.” This was not very reassuring, but luckily we made it back with minutes to spare. Phewwww. Just another day living the life on the M.S. Amsterdam. Next we were off to the much anticipated port of Sydney for a 3 day 2 night stay.
Our next stop in beautiful Australia was in Brisbane. This city is also located in the region of Queensland and is located about a two days sail south of Cairns. We ported here on October 29th, and after having to do a General Drill for the Australian Coast Guard we disembarked the ship to head to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, one of the most famous intimate zoos in the world. The zoo not only is home to many species of Koala’s, but also has many Australian specific animals including Red Kangaroos, Dingoes (basically a wild house dog), native birds, wombats, and the very cute and cuddly Tasmanian Devil(not so cuddly). As we entered the park we went straight to the kangaroo area where you got to get right up to them. Being close meant actually being able to pet them and feed them. The enclosure was quite big and was home to at least 40 to 50 kangaroos. Most would let you come right up to them and take pictures with them. One thing you notice about the kangaroos is how they move. They can be very slow and sneaky and then take off in huge leaps covering some distance. When they stand up on their rear legs it can be very intimidating. After spending about 40 minutes with them and taking a ton of photographs we headed to other parts of the zoo. We next saw the Wombat which looked like a little fat furry brown pig. Don’t be fooled though…they bite!!!! Next we found what we ultimately came to the zoo to find…the Koala’s.
First thing I had to do was take a photo with one. When or where else would I get to do this? Sixteen dollars later I was holding a cute little Koala in my arms and taking pictures with it. For the life of me I cannot remember the little guys name but he was cute. They move very slowly and this one would keep looking up at you probably trying to figure out what kind of tree he was climbing on. After few moments of holding him I had to give I’m back so more people could share this experience. Yes, I did try to sneak him under my shirt but his sharp claws preventing me from getting to far away. Better luck next time.Following this we ventured to an area which housed your everyday wild Australian animals and was able to take many great pictures of them. The park has different enclosures for different types of Koala’s and we checked a few of them out. Everyone loved the babies and Mom section s you could find a baby Koala riding on their Mom’s back up a tree. After spending some time here we then found our way to the Crocodiles. One of the only things I want to see in Australia is a wild Crocodile and here they had two of them. No bigger then four to five 5, these crocs still looked quite menacing as they made no movement. Being so still as they were you could tell they knew exactly where everyone was at all times and could react at a moments notice to catch a meal…if you know what I mean. By this time it was time to leave the park and head downtown for some shopping…well the girls did that anyways.
Once downtow
n, I also did some Christmas shopping…I have to be productive and was able to score some items in “Australia The Gift,” which is a huge souvenir shop in these parts. As the time got nearer to our all aboard time I began to get nervous. I was just told that the last shuttle back to the ship was gone and that meant time to flag down a taxi. This took of course forever and I began to sweat looking at my watch as the second and minute hand raced by. Finally a driver found us and stated he didn’t know where the ship was but “had an idea.” This was not very reassuring, but luckily we made it back with minutes to spare. Phewwww. Just another day living the life on the M.S. Amsterdam. Next we were off to the much anticipated port of Sydney for a 3 day 2 night stay. 
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