Australian Sojourn – April-May 2026

Part 7: Brisbane, Montville, and the Sunshine Coast

I’m back in Gulmarrad for one night having spent the past five days in southern Queensland and before heading tomorrow to Guruk to see Mum one more time before my return to the U.S. on May 11.

As I did last year, I stayed while in Queensland in Brisbane with Enid, my dear friend from uni days in Armidale (1984-86). It was a very relaxing few days in Australia’s Sunshine State, a stay that included a visit to the Glass House Mountains and the town of Montville, and a lovely dinner in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast with my friends Jeremiah, Kristy, Frankie, Sonny, Raph, Millie, and Collette.

Following are images of my time in Brisbane, Montville, and the Sunshine Coast.

Above: Enid in Montville – Saturday, May 2, 2026.

Above and below: Scenes from the Brisbane neighborhoods of Manly and Manly West – Friday, May 1, 2026.

Above: Port of Brisbane – Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

Above and below: Montville – Saturday, May 2, 2026.

Above: The Glass House Mountains – Saturday, May 2, 2026.

Above: A night out on the Sunshine Coast – Sunday, May 3, 2026. From left: Collette, me, Kristy, Sonny, Jeremiah, Raphael and Millie.




Right: With Collette – Sunday, May 3, 2026.

Above: A real highlight of my April-May 2026 Australian sojourn was meeting for the first time my late dad’s cousin Moya Bayly. We had a lovely visit in Tweed Heads on Monday, May 4. And, yes, I learnt some new things about my Dad’s side of the family.


NEXT: Return to Guruk

For the previous posts in the Australian Sojourn – April-May 2026 series, see:
• Sydney and Newcastle
• Gulmarrad
• Guruk
• Gunnedah
• Armidale
• Gulmarrad, Maclean, and Brooms Head

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast (2025)
• Townsville (2016)
• Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast (2010)
• Travelin’ North (2006)

Images: Michael J. Bayly.