It’s only 20 years since Billy Connolly famously suggested that if the world ever needed an enema, it would be inserted in the capital of Queensland.

But today, Brisbane bristles with excitement, enthusiasm and business. It’s a boom town, with glass-and-steel skyscrapers rising above the Brisbane River in a sepia-tinged September sunrise.

Our three-week stay started in the city to acclimatise to the 30-degree heat and recover from jet-lag from a comfortable flight with Etihad, via Abu Dhabi and Singapore.

The first place to visit is the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, one of the city’s proudest attractions.

Within minutes of arriving, it seemed the holiday had peaked early.

Hidden away behind a green and leafy housing estate is a wonderland filled with the ultra-cute creatures staring down with eyes that seem affectionate and wise.

Next up, a visit to the inner-city beach, nestled between the meandering Brisbane River and the bohemian, arty South Bank region, forming a tropical paradise into the heart of the city.

Despite being jam-packed with tanned and toned teens, it was a friendly, warm and inclusive place to spend a relaxing day.

There is no shortage of places to eat in this cosmopolitan city, and the seafood is marvellous in this part of the world.

After a few days in the city, we headed up the coast to Noosa, to stay on the newly-built Peregian Springs estate.

Noosa is a popular and upmarket surfing spot, set on the magnificent Sunshine Coast and surrounded by glorious beaches. Alongside the Noosa River, it’s a great place to stay, with cafes and restaurants and many things to do and see.

We spent a day exploring the local everglade region with an unforgettable wilderness cruise into one of Australia’s most pristine regions.

For shoppers, Eumundi Market is a must. Perhaps two hours from Brisbane, it’s packed with stalls selling everything from hand lotions and hot peanuts to didgeridoos and designer fashions.

We’d saved the last of our spending money for Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Sanctuary on Moreton Island.

We’d booked a villa on this pristine sand-island an hour-and-a-half’s boat journey from Brisbane, and at times during our stay it felt more like the Maldives.

With beautiful waters, perfect white sand and miles of untouched wilderness to explore, we overheard people whisper the word “paradise”.

Moreton Bay is home to approximately 600 bottlenose dolphins, and Tangalooma is visited on a nightly basis by a small pod.

Eleven of them frequent the shores of Tangalooma, hunting, surfing and playing with fellow pod members. Each night, visitors wade into the shallows holding a fish to hand-feed these wonderful creatures.

The night we joined in, a tropical storm hovered and waves crashed over our heads, but it was an honour to interact with the marine mammals – surpassing the moment earlier in the day when our whale-watching cruise provided us with the spectacle of a humpback whale rising from the Pacific waters to wave its tail.

Three weeks flew by. We got tans. We felt better. We ate well and still managed to lose weight. It was a life-changing experience, and we’ll certainly go again.