Remember how nice train conductors are? Telling jokes and giving advice on where to go and bringing you freshly cooked lasagne to your seat? No? Try doing the overnight to Brisbane...

after 16 hours of Zoo Magazine obsessed aussies, mental conductors and the obligatory poker playing swedish girls we chugged happily into Brisbane and wandered up to our hostel - Bananna Benders Backpackers... this gave mike's quote of the day:

"It might be a gay place. Let's only stay for a day"

So first things first we set out to the biggest tourist attraction in Bisbane, (or Brizzle as I call it, much to the annoyance of the locals) - the Castlemaine brewery! Lured by the promise of 4 free drinks we did the tour. Which rocked. As did the free beers. Yum.
The hostel was sodding boring though - people reading books and bed at 10. Tut tut.

Headed off to Australia Zoo the next day - home of the late great Steve Irwin. There was a pretty odd atmosphere about that place as they'd held his memorial only 2 days before. There were shrines everywhere for him.
The zoo was brilliant - much more relaxed than others I've been to. So low-fived an elephant as one does in those situations.
Then after watching the snake, bird and croc show we saw kangaroos wandering around...

Tom: "Crikey mate - there's a flaming Kangaroo"

Mike: "Let's fuck him up!" (sorry parents!)

Instead Mike underthechinned him.
Whereas I was busy pointing out shiny things to his wife
Then yes, of course Suze, I found a Koala who was completely battered on Eucalyptus Barbituates as most Koalas commonly are. Good Lad.
I did try to low-five a kangaroo - but the silly bint didn't quite get it...
Oh and you know how London has Squirrels wandering about the place? - Placating tourists and scoring crack? - Well Australia has lizards. Two foot long ones. This one had a heroin habit.
He's called Gary.