Welcome to Australia!

Hi Folks -
This is our house availability as at 1 November.  If any of our dates are wrong please let me know.

15 November - 20 November A
6 December - 17 December - M
25 December - 12 January - S

Availability (the dates allow a day for "tidy up"-but can be changed if you are willing to accept apartment as it is left).

21/22 November - 5/6 December
18/19 December - 21/22 December
13/14 January - 6 February

Best contact is via WhatsApp or Skype or email (icloud.com account).  I have international roaming on my phone so I can call you back.  If it's an emergency you can text/sms/imessenger me and I will call you.  If you call me then you will be charged at international rates.

Here is our schedule

• Copenhagen  11 Nov - 25 November
• Berlin 25 Nov - 29 November
• Frankfurt 29 -7 December
• Budapest 7 Dec -17 December
• Prague 17 Dec -23 December
• Leipzig 23 December -12 January
• Porto 12 January -23 January
• Tokyo 24 January - 3 Feb
• Sapporo 3 Feb - 6 Feb

SIM Cards in Australia
Optus has great coverage and you can buy a sim card at the airport.  Click here to see what their prices are.

Here is some information about Brisbane and then our place.

Arriving in Brisbane
Options from airport - taxi/uber, train, or bus.  Train is easiest.
Train - CENTRAL station walk to our place
Quay West - intercom on post outside door.

Building Managers (Rob and Lynne) will let you in.  Their office is downstairs - elevator to P1. They will give you the "keys"

• 1) a swipe fob for building access and pool
• 2) door key which also opens  the garbage shute on our floor. 

If you lock yourself out - contact the managers via phone, or intercom at front doors. Their phone number and email details are in the apartment AND I will send to you.

Videos on You Tube
I apologise for the amateur quality; I hope they help.
Apartment Overview 1
Apartment Overview 2
Garbage and Manager's Office

When you Leave 
Leave keys in box outside Manager's office.
Leave dirty sheets and towels in laundry hamper in main bedroom.  If you have time to wash and dry them, then great.  But please don't leave outside drying - they could be there too long and get dirty.
Please make up bed for next people.

P1 - leave key in here

Our Apartment - all below is common sense. If something unusual comes up please call and we can work it out. Visitors Information folder has maps and other touristy things.

• We have a local contact Maj (I will forward her phone number to you) whom you can phone if you need help.  She does not live in the building. She will "tidy" up after each visitor.  She is not a cleaner but our friend.
• Emergency - please let us know asap so we can advise what to do.  Phone numbers for plumber, electrician etc are on the fridge. Tradesmen are expensive and charge a minimum of $65 just to come out--it triples after hours. Ask building manager (Rob), he might be able to help. You will have to be there to let them into the building.
• We will leave bath, hair and beach towels and sheets/ pillowcases for each visitor.  
• We will also leave new toothbrushes, toothpaste, sunscreen, hats, umbrella (in laundry), shampoo and conditioner, body/bath gel -- help yourself. 
• Air conditioner - VIP please turn off as you leave.  If left on, it could cause a "fire" alert - the firemen will come and it's a $1500 call out fee charged to us.  We will then have to charge you for this :( 
• Internet and TV.  We have Apple TV - instructions are in the apartment in Visitor's Information folder - SBS is best tv especially for foreign tv shows and news.  Internet password on magnet on fridge. Unlimited data.  Printer (wireless) under tv, paper in top drawer side table near balcony door.
• Visitors - meet downstairs to let them in.  And don't let anyone into the building. 
• There are some basics left in the fridge - bagels (in freezer), eggs, milk. 
• Use any food or alcohol (bottom drawer laundry).  (Okay not the french champagne - unless you replace)
• Breakage - don't worry if you break a glass or a plate you can replace at David Jones - Vera Wang for Wedgewood. I have left the details in the apartment.  
• Please don't use the second bedroom. We will be storing our person stuff there.
• We appreciate if you use something up completely - for example toilet paper - that you replace.  
• Wash - instructions on youtube.  Use 1 scoop detergent and COLD water.  
• Clothes dryer - very slow.  It's quicker to dry on outside line. 
• Smoking - you can smoke on the balcony. Marble mortar "ashtray" is on balcony table.
• NO dishwasher. Enjoy the view. 
• BBQ - electric.  Feel free to use.
• Balcony - please use plastic on balcony.
• Please water plants.  Use as many herbs as you like. 
• Pool and Gym - First Floor.  Use blue "fob" to get onto the pool deck. Use our black and white beach towels.  You will need to use our plastic glasses and plates if you eat and drink there.  
• Windy days - Some days it gets REALLY windy. Things can blow off balcony!! Appreciate it if you vacuum outside too.
• Bathrooms - shower gets mildew if not aired. Please leave door open for a few minutes after use. Please wipe down tiles and inside door with squeege (see below) after each use.

Squeegee

Garbage shute on our floor

CAR

1. Toyota Prius.  Silver.  Hybrid. Unleaded petrol - please don't use cheapest as it will effect the running of the car.  
2. "Key" on lanyard behind front door (see photo below). Replacement key costs $600!  If clicker doesn't work, there's a door key (see photo below).
3. Parking -  see below P3 near lift; remember we have a scooter parked in same spot! Sun visor (see below) - top left in (slow - be patient); bottom left out. Can swipe fob too.  
4. Insurer - NRMA.  Copy of policy in apartment. We have told them someone else will be using the car, but they advised they did not need names or drivers' licence because we have premier insurance. Driver must be over 25; or you are responsible for the entire claim. If you have to make a claim, you are responsible for the first $600. 
5. Road Side Assistance.  RACQ. Card in envelope in console in car.  If you break down - call 131111 tell them the registration and they will come and fix the car.  (We've recently put in a new battery and had it serviced). If they can't fix it then they will tow it to the closest place. Towing costs after a certain mileage.  You will have to pay them for the towing (and in Australia it's expensive!).  
6. Tolls.  Electronic tag. Linkt. Add up very quickly - around $4 - $7.  (You won't hear it buzz or click like other countries--so you won't even know when you get charged!).  It is automatically deducted from my bank account.  So I'd appreciate if you could let me know; I'll check the account and easiest if you leave cash in the apartment.  Google map instructions "without tolls" to save you $.
7. Parking and speeding fines - speeding tickets start at $177! Cameras are EVERYWHERE--you won't even know you've been caught.  Usually 50 km in Brisbane;  100km on highways.  Watch schools - 40km (7-9; 2-4). There is an extra charge after 28 days and I won't get the notice til we're back which means an extra charge because of late payment--sorry but I can't think of a way around it. 

Visor - in and out

Car Park - P3

watch scooter

Back of front door

Car door key

Health/Medical
Doctor - Myer Centre.
Dentist - plenty in the city

Brisbane - What's Nearby

Transport - we will leave a gocard in the Visitor's Information folder. Please keep topped up for next visitor.

Elizabeth Street Cinema - an old fashioned, cheap theatre with great air-conditioning.  Great for hot days.  Serves alcohol.

GOMA - free art gallery - 15 minutes walk.  Has free movies on some days

Cultural Centre.  South Bank.  Qld Museum, Qld Art Gallery (has great indigenous art), loads of restaurants and pubs/places to drink. 15 minutes walk.  Has markets.  QPAC has great plays if you like live theatre.

Lone Pine Sanctuary - is a MUST visit because it's the only place (I think) where you can cuddle a koala.  Get a photo.  It's an old fashioned animal place (not a zoo as most animals roam freely).  So you get to feed and pat kangaroos.  Plan a whole day around this because it is a fun place.   How to get there. You can catch a bus from Queen Street station - cheap and easy; google and you'll get exact directions and time.  It's about 40 minutes on the bus. Or if you prefer there are river cruises.

Visitors Information and Booking Centre is in Queens Street Mall.



Shopping
Food - Coles is closest - its open from about 7am to 9pm
Target - 7am - 9pm - is in the same centre.  Good for basics such as cheap teeshirt ($8) or an umbrella etc.
Queen Street Mall - clothing H and M; Zara, Uniqlo; and high end stores (Chanel, Lv, Hermes etc) and touristy places to pick up souvenirs.
There are plenty of small convenience stores that are open 24 hours a day.

Cheap Eats and Coffee
Behind us is Anthology - voted best coffee in Brisbane
Kadoya Japanese is one block away - great Japanese but not a sashimi or sushi place.  Costs about $12 a meal--and they're huge.
Jade Buddha is on the river - and has great specials such as All You Can Eat Dumplings on Tuesdays for $12 plus drink - 12-2 and 5-7.  (Monday is beer and burgers for $10).
Seafood - Georges - has great views too and half price lunches.

High End Restaurants
MooMoo - best steaks in Brisbane


Around Brisbane

• Gold Coast - one hour south
• Sunshine Coast - two hours north - from Caloundra to Noosa beautiful stretches of beaches -- less crowded than Gold Coast.
• Mount Tambourine - cool off on hot days, great restaurants, markets, and bush walks and distillery  (has great Aussie liquors - such as bush plum wine) 
• Yatla Pies - best pies in Australia - on highway to Gold Coast.

Miscellaneous
Smokers - in Australia cigarettes are expensive - $25-$35 per packet. You might want to buy them duty free.  Smoking is not allowed in public spaces.  You can smoke on our balcony.

Brisbane River - the City Cat goes up and down the river and is great.

If you are more energetic you might like to try paddle boarding, abseiling - lots of things.  Look at this company.

Mostly enjoy our place.  We want you to have a great time in Australia!!