G'day mate! Teri's Brisbane & O'Reilly's Adventures

by Teri E. Popp, Tastemaker in Residence

G'day mate! And welcome to the first of seven articles about the Land Down Under!

Australia--a land full of surprises and beauty, from interesting marsupials and wildlife to breathtaking vistas and shorelines. We began our most recent visit in Brisbane (pronounced Brizbin by the locals). We enjoyed this lovely gem of a city located on the Brisbane River, almost Portland, Oregon-like in its demeanor, albeit with a heavy Queensland, Australia accent!

We arrived on a very sunny day and partook in a local food festival along the riverfront. Families, along with joggers, dotted the parkway as we tried various food vendors and enjoyed the unusual bird life that's found only in Australia. By evening, we sampled Asian cuisine in Brisbane's Chinatown.

From our base in Brisbane, we ventured out on two full day trips. The first included a tour of an alpaca farm, Queensland's gorgeous wine country, and O'Reilly's-a private park located in the rain forest above Brisbane. The wine was yummy and the parrots at O'Reilly's added to the day!

We learned about Australia's unique eco-system and the fact it is home to a primary rain forest containing samples of some of the world's oldest plants and foliage. Covering over 12,000 square miles, Queensland's rain forest system houses many colorful and beautiful birds.