November 21, 2024 | 12:00am
Filipinos now have more options to get to Australia with their national carrier Qantas launching new nonstop flights to Brisbane, Queensland. The Airbus A330 flies four times a week, adding an extra 100,000 seats between the Philippines and Australia annually. Qantas first touched down in the Philippines in 1947 with Lancastrian aircraft supporting Australian Government military operations, before introducing passenger services in 1950. The first jet flights from Manila commenced in 1961 with Boeing 707 services flying to Sydney and forgoing the need of a stopover for the first time. Today, the Flying Kangaroo operates over 300,000 seats between the Philippines and Australia every year and will celebrate 75 years of passenger services between the two countries next year!
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said, “The Philippines is a very strong market for Qantas and we are pleased to be responding to demand for our services with the addition of flights to Brisbane. Just a short overnight flight away, Brisbane is the perfect starting point to Australia. Once in Queensland, you can explore the seemingly endless pristine beaches, incredible rainforests and vast country plains – as well as our friendly Australian hospitality.”
A room at the W Hotel Brisbane
The flight for Brisbane left Manila at 2:40 in the morning and I slept like a baby in the comfortable, fully flat duvet-covered seat-turned-bed and in less than eight hours, I was in Brisbane! We landed a little after noon and checked in to the spacious rooms of the W Hotel Brisbane. I haven’t been to this city in nine years so I got reacquainted with the city via a very educational walking (or running or hiking if you prefer) tour with Fit City Tours (www.fitcity.tours), a service available in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Food is very interesting in Brisbane. Asian and Greek cuisine is amazing here with a huge influx of Asian and Greeks in Australia. We had dinner at Stanley Restaurant located on the waterfront of the Howard Smith Wharves and had excellent Cantonese food! Moreton Bay bugs (or slipper lobster or “pitik” in the Philippines) is quite a popular dish here and is deliciously served as dim sum or inside fried spring rolls. Another dinner option for great Greek food would be Hellenika, located in the posh Calile Hotel. Right outside the Calile is Gelato Messina — one of the best ice cream shops in the world that serves over 40 flavors! Don’t miss this and try the bestselling pistachio praline and taste heaven in your mouth.
People from Brisbane are early risers and a cup of coffee and a “Breakfast Burger” is a perfect start for the day. I had a delicious one at Frankie and George; it is bacon, fried egg, and barbecue sauce in a brioche bun! I had fresh spinach added to mine and I enjoyed this with a flat white coffee but Brisbane’s coffee culture is well known so I had a second cup at the popular Georgio’s Café to have my fix for a long day.
Check out the QAGOMA (an acronym for the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art). Tons of beautiful Australian and aboriginal art along with works by Degas, Pissarro, van Dyck, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Picasso at the QAG. At the GOMA, we caught a Filipino art collective, the Kikik Kollektive (“kikik” is cicada in Ilonggo), preparing their mural for the QAGOMA Triennial.
Also check out Streets Beach — Australia’s only inner-city man-made beach surrounded by white sand. It is truly an oasis in South Banks Parklands! Anyone can go to this public “beach” in the middle of the city.
Do head to Eat Street Northshore in the historic wharf over the Brisbane River, which is built from 180 repurposed recycled shipping containers! The place has local live entertainment and features over 70 traders including five themed bars, shops, and micro restaurants offering treats from six of the world’s seven continents. It’s a popular food spot for tourists and locals alike and is quite near the Olympic Village for athletes in the upcoming 2032 Olympics!
Moreton Bay bugs at Stanley’s
The Qantas services between the Philippines and Australia are operated by its fleet of Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 27 business class suites in 1-2-1 configuration, each featuring direct aisle access and converting into a fully flat bed, and 269 economy seats.
QF98 from Manila to Brisbane departs at 0245 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Check out www.qantas.com/ph/en.html. Also check out www.visit.brisbane.qld.au and queensland.com.
(To be concluded next week)
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