Andy, Emma and Carol in Queens Street Mall, Brisbane

The next day was ANZAC day (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps), this is always the 25th April (they're not like the UK here, public holidays are whenever the date lands even if it's a Wednesday! Incidenty, if you say 'Bank Holiday' to an Aussie, they haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about!) and is to commemorate the service men and women who fought and died in all wars. The date is the 25th April because in 1915 in the First World War this was when troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. There was a big parade through Brisbane centre which we sadly missed as we were too late up, but we did get to see all the service people walking around Brisbane afterwards in their uniforms.

We met up with Carol and Emma (who coincidentally were staying in Brisbane for a few days) for a drink and to say goodbye and John who we met yesterday came along to drop off some gifts for us to take back to his family and friends back in England. We had a swim and some final moments of relaxation at our hotel pool and then it was time to make our way to Brisbane Airport for our flight to England that evening!