Good-bye to Australia

Wearing the bugnet hat at Kata Tjuta/Uluru!

Packed up all the souvenirs and my suitcase still closes! Big question is the weight. Airlines are so picky these days.... We'll see what happens at the counter. I'm hoping for the best!
It's been a great trip! Have spent the last 3 days in the city of Brisbane (or "Brisvegas" as it's commonly referred to here). It's a relatively small central business district ("CBD") on a peninsula of the winding Brisbane River, surrounded by many small suburbs in the hills and valleys. The coast is about 5 miles away, and north and south of Brisbane are numerous beach communities: South is known as the Gold Coast (lots of high rise condos) and North is known as the Sunshine Coast- more rural and laid back.
We toured sites in the CBD, notably the Commisariat Stores Building, the only remaining convict-built building in Brisbane (built on the shore of the river in 1829), the Treasury Building (now housing the Treasury Casino, where I won $44), the Southbank cultural precinct. We rode the Brisbane Wheel, similar to the London Eye, but not as tall. We took the city ferry to sites along the river bank.
We spent a day at the Australia Zoo, made famous by the Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. I got to feed an elephant (but didn't buy the photo), and we saw cassowaries, koalas, and the infamous saltwater crocs.
Will post more photos from home and add a few final thoughts!
Thanks so much to all our Australian hosts and new friends!

Looking forward to the flight home!