Equal Access Adventures

A relaxed afternoon by the river turned into a gentle celebration of love, inclusion and community. The Melt Festival’s River Pride Picnic wasn’t about big stages or loud crowds - just sunshine, laughter and the peaceful rhythm of Pride flowing along the water. A Gentle Morning by the River Some days just have a peaceful kind of magic about them. The sun was out, the sky was clear, and the river shimmered like a ribbon of light - the perfect setting for the Melt Festival’s River Pride Picnic. We arrived ready for a slow and easy day by the water. First, we wandered through the markets before the program began. There were so many delicious foods on offer, and I couldn’t resist grabbing myself a coffee and a couple of giant cookies. I think it might have been the best cookie I’ve ever had - but wow, was it rich! Finding Our Spot We found a park bench right at the front with a perfect view of the river. Groups of friends and families had gathered nearby - some chatting, some reading, ...

Matsuri Brisbane is a wonderful free festival full of culture and entertainment! Lots of great markets to browse full of Japanese crafts, clothing, food and travel information. You can also book and pay to do some workshops and classes on the day which looked fun. We went nice and early, thankfully, as it was so busy when we left. We loved the Taiko drummers performance. We have seen them before at the Sake Festival and had to see them again. The sound is amazing and feels good for the soul. I’m always so impressed! My arms would hurt so much, I’d have to quit halfway - haha . I bet it's really fun exercise. I'm not sure my neighbours or roommate would approve of me practising either though. There were plenty of K-pop performances, but they weren’t really my thing. Instead, we spent most of our time deciding which food to try. With so much variety, I’ll have to find Japanese food trucks again just to sample what I missed! I had some beef onigiri and delicious custard pawaffles...

Nestled in the heart of Eatons Hill, Kumbartcho Sanctuary offers a peaceful escape into nature with winding trails, vibrant wildlife, and tranquil scenery. The sanctuary features a butterfly garden and a fairy garden, which are sure to delight little kids. You can even send the fairies some mail - a charming touch! Moving on from the enchanting fairy garden, Frog Hollow is another delightful spot to explore. If you love frogs, they have little ponds with different species of frogs. I had to laugh that the area is fenced. The fenced Frog Hollow is an interesting feature, though I couldn't help but wonder if the frogs might venture out to find new homes. The Sanctuary also has a nursery, which sells a lot of native plants for great prices. Perfect for if you are a green thumb, you can get some retail therapy in. We tried many times to spot a koala, but had no luck. There's definitely some furry friends somewhere, going by the marks we found on this tree though! There was lov...

A trip to the Golden Circle Factory Outlet is a great outing for bargain hunters! Located in Morayfield and Capalaba, this fantastic store offers clearance stock from Heinz and Golden Circle, allowing you to find items at prices much lower than in supermarkets. They also have a pensioner discount on the first Tuesday of the month! You'll find everything from snacks, chocolate, and confectionery to canned goods, drinks, cleaning supplies, and even affordable toothbrushes! It's the perfect place to stock up on bathroom essentials like soap and toothpaste at unbeatable prices. Personally, I love Popcorners - yum! The enticing deals, like '2 for $5.00' or '3 for $5.00,' are hard to resist - prices that even Coles or Woolies can't match! However, I found that cleaning items were not significantly cheaper compared to other stores. This outlet is an excellent place to stock up before a weather crisis. Fingers crossed there won't be one anytime soon, but if...

 A fun place to go and have a look around is this huge candy land. Full of lots of weird and wonderful confectionery. I really wanted to go just to try some of the overseas candy they have. I have online friends from all different countries, and I was keen to see what the fuss is about with Jolly Ranchers or Candy Corn. There's also lots of old Aussie favourites you don't get to see anymore! From the most sour drinks to the World's Hottest Corn Chips. They even sell Kool-Aid. We actually went there a second time just recently, to check out the newly installed human claw! You can pay to try and scoop up as much candy as you can. They have one of the biggest pick n mix selections I have ever seen. They also sell bulk bags of lollies which are perfect if you're having a party any time soon. I came home with a variety of things to try. I do not recommend the Warhead pickle haha! The Warhead jelly beans were actually delicious and the sour soda was too. Go treat yourself and...