We landed in brisbane and got our hire car..
Note to anyone hiring a car- make sure you have the phone number to arrange the shuttle pick-up when you land.. There are booths for many of the car hire places.. Ace was cheaper but we had to phone them from the phone near the info desk.
Our hotel Mantra circle on cavill was lovely... Full suite and kitchen.. 3 pools. Lovely view of the river. Close to beach and lots of shops.. Kookeburras birds, joined us for breakfast on our balcony. Amazing.
Waxy Irish pub staggering distance home :). Good Irish food.
Beach is great and if you surf it's perfect.
We took a trip on the tram to Broad Beach. Easy to get too. Lovely quieter beach. Great Swiss ice cream one block back form the beach ... Market was on when we went lots of cool stuff to buy. I managed to get stung by a jelly fish.. Didn't realize at first, wasn't too bad.. And hubby didn't have to pee on it. Didn't stop me enjoying jumping the waves and gives me something to talk about. The jelly fish was a lions mane and if you stay within the signs you probably won't get stung.. I drifted out of the areas. Trust me :).
Each morning and early evening the wallabies visited. And the first day we met 3 new friends a snake a spider and a scorpion .. luckily non poisonous :) but you soon get used to them. 
