Exchange Zones

DESCRIPTION OF OUR HOUSE

A traditional 1930s Queensland timber home, unique to this state in Australia and often called a "Queenslander". It is situated in a safe, leafy and very attractive Northern suburb of Brisbane, yet only 6.5 km from the CBD. It has all the usual modern conveniences and a trampoline, ping pong table and playstation for the children. We have many toys, sporting equipment and books, most of which the children would be happy to share. We have a range of bicycles including a tow-behind, baby seat and a tandem, most of which can be transported on the tow bar on the car. We are willing to swap cars. Ours is a very reliable, late model, six cylinder, automatic, air conditioned Toyota Camry station wagon (fold down rear seat and extended luggage area). We still have a car seat and booster for young chrildren. Borrowing our camping equipment is also a possibility. The master bedroom has a king size ensemble bed with a lattex mattress which is very comfortable. The childrens beds also have lattex mattresses. There is a fold out double sofa bed in the lounge. Broadband internet and email is installed on the new Apple/Mac computer with scanner and printer.


OUR REGION

Our place would make an ideal base from which to explore South-East Queensland, especially as we could offer you the use of our station wagon.
We are only 5-10 minutes walk from the Eagle Junction Railway station. Trains leave every 15minutes or less during the day, are often express, and take 12 minutes to the centre of the city. This is also the station to catch the train to the airport if you wish though it is probably only a $10-20 taxi fare from here. A train to South Brisbane station gets you to South Bank Cultural Centre on the banks of the Brisbane River. It has two excellent free Art Galleries and a free Museum and cheap Science Centre that children love. There are also more great bicycle paths that wind along beside the river and can take you to the Botanical Gardens on a cycle/pedestrian only bridge. The Southbank Parklands also have a man-made Beach. It must be one of Brisbane's Summer evening delights for the children to build sand-castles and watch the free fireworks from the warm waters of the lagoon. Near to South Bank is West End which is Brisbane's more multicultural and bohemian area with good cheap Vietnamese restaurants for example.
We are minutes from the main highway which bypasses the city traffic and can take you to the famous beaches of Gold Coast (south) and Sunshine Coast (north). About an hours drive in either direction. The Gold Coast also has all the well known theme parks such as Sea world, Wet'Wild Water Park (water slides), Movie World and Dreamworld. The sunshine coast has Underwater World (aquarium) and Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo (He's the famous Crocodile hunter who died recently and you may have seen on TV) All these activities are easy day trips from our place, saving money on accommodation.
There are many other fun things to do in Brisbane and the surrounding natural world which we can talk about when we start corresponding.

OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

We are one house away from a sizable park with a small creek which the local community is returning to it's natural state. While the park has natural areas with minor wildlife and nesting birds, it also has a large open grassed area as well as a skate park, basketball hoop, 2 cricket pitches, a cricket practice net, swings, playgym, flying fox, cycle path, see-saw and bowling green. About 2 blocks away is a huge green space around Kedron Brook, probably the best parkland on the North side of Brisbane. It has a wonderful system of off-road bicycle paths which connect to a Brisbane wide network linking to many other attractions and natural areas such as the Boondall Wetlands and the bayside suburbs.The sporting fields host Soccer, Hockey, Cricket, Rugby League and A grade Rugby Union in the Winter. While the suburb is quiet, safe, and leafy, the railway station is only 10-15 minutes walk away.

SOMETHING ABOUT OURSELVES.

I'm Jonathan and my wife's name is Karen. I'm a nurse and my wife is a high school art teacher. The whole family loves to read and we often go camping. The children do all sorts of activities for the fun of it e.g. Ju jitsu, indoor rock climbing, Rugby Union, touch football, cricket and girl guides. Family, especially their cousins, are very important to the children which is why we want a house swap in or near Hobro, Denmark where my Australian brother lives with his Danish wife and two young girls.