Kayaking, Koalas and Kampai: Visiting Noosa

With cute accommodation and a top restaurant booked, itinerary sorted and beach clothes packed, we jumped into our hire car and drove up the Queensland coast to Noosa for a couple of days.

Hello Mr Pelican

 

We arrived at the upscale town and enjoyed some delicious oysters and bubbles at a lovely restaurant on the beach, a stone’s throw from the golden sand and crashing waves. A heavenly welcome!

 

Beach and bubbles

 

Tempura Oysters!

 

 

The temperature soared to 30 degrees in the afternoon, so we pottered around the swish boutique shops, before picking up some fresh seafood to make a linguine dinner in our ‘Little Rum River Shack’ airbnb.

Exploring Noosa River

 

The next day, we went kayaking along the tranquil waterway of Noosa River. We paddled past flocks of Pelicans and tropical mangroves, deciding which of the million pound homes we would live in on the water’s edge. I’ll take the one with the infinity pool and private pontoon complete with ‘his and hers’ jet skis, thanks!

Noosa's Riverside Pads

 

Despite Dom doing most of the paddling, my arms were still killing me afterwards, so I was in the mood for a big lunch! We packed up a delicious picnic and ate it at Laguna lookout, with panoramic views over Noosa. The swirl of the river winding its way through the sandy islands creates an almost watercolour effect. One of the best views I’ve ever enjoyed with an alfresco picnic!

Picnic Paradise

 

After lunch, we walked around the headland in Noosa National Park. An absolute treat spotting mother and baby wild turtles swimming in the turquoise water, and a koala snuggled up having a snooze in the eucalyptus above us.

Noosa National Park

 

Dinner was at top waterside restaurant Wasabi. A seven course tasting menu full of Japanese delights, complete with the sommelier serving us matching sakes and wines personalised to our taste buds. Kampai! A great end to an amazing few days.

Sunset

 

Underwater Wonderland: The Great Barrier Reef

This was THE trip I’d been waiting for since coming to Australia. Finally, we were off to explore the Great Barrier Reef! We’d chosen the idyllic Lady Elliot, a tiny island on the Reef’s Southern tip which looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Lady Elliot in all its beauty

 

The trip started in style as we flew in a mini aeroplane up the Queensland Coast, across Fraser Island, towards our destination. Suddenly, we could see it in the distance; the island glimmering in all its glory in the sunlight! A bumpy arrival on their makeshift runway and we had arrived in our home for the next few nights.

Arriving in style

 

We couldn’t wait to get snorkelling, and were in the sea within one hour of arriving. The beauty of this place is that you can snorkel straight off the beach and you are instantly surrounded by reef, teaming with marine life.

The Lagoon

 

What a treat! I can’t describe how jaw-droppingly beautiful it was. Magical mountains of coral were bursting with fish spanning all colours of the rainbow. We swam alongside leisurely giant turtles, friendly reef sharks and majestic manta rays, spanning 3 metres, who were having a spa session at the Lighthouse Bommies (i.e. getting nibbled by little fish to get themselves clean!). We also spotted giant stingrays and the aquatic emblem of Queensland; the giant grouper fish. I was later told that this character eats sharks for lunch, glad I didn’t know that at the time!

Off for a snorkel

 

It was such a surreal, exciting experience. When we managed to tear ourselves out of the water for a few hours we explored the island by foot. The stretches of beach were beautiful, with coral of all shapes and sizes rather than sand beneath your feet. Again, it didn’t look real!

 

Lunch was another delight, with the restaurant looking out over the lagoon. I couldn’t ask for a better view to enjoy my lunch and a cool drink during the midday sun. Sooooo relaxing.

Lunch at the Lagoon

 

After a long day, we enjoyed sunset before tucking up in our cute little eco-lodge for the night. There are currently 200,000 migratory birds using little Lady Elliot as their home for breeding season. Cue ear plugs at night to drown out their busy chatter!



Eco-cabins

 

 

The two nights flew by in a blur of snorkelling, snorkelling and more snorkelling, each time spotting something new. We were so sad to leave this fairy tale island. With no phone reception or internet, it was like the outside world didn’t exist and I wanted to stay there forever!

Unfortunately, night shifts are calling so it's back to the grind for now...

 

Sunset on the island

 

The Gold Coast: Seafood, Springbrook and Sunshine

Bank holiday weekend and we were off to the Gold Coast to visit friends. Spring is well underway, and I’m noticing the difference; the humidity is rising along with the temperature with days often hitting 30 degrees!

Springbrook National Park

 

After arriving in sunny Coolangatta, we spent the day at Springbrook National Park in the Hinterland. Already missing the smell of freshly cut grass since moving from the UK, it was such a treat to be walking through lush green forested mountains enveloping the old Tweed Shield volcano. The panoramic views were phenomenal!

Don't Look Down! Springbrook views

Whilst enjoying lunch, some beautiful Rosella birds stopped by to showcase their vibrant feathers. A trail walk took us to the stunning Purling Brook waterfall, at over 100m high. Hoping across stepping stones, we spotted freshwater crayfish in the water. At one point Joni thought she saw a snake and made us all jump out of our skin; luckily a false alarm and just a creepy looking lizard!

Dinner was a delicious seven course seafood tasting menu at an ocean side restaurant, with views of the twinkling Surfers Paradise skyline. It was also my first time actually enjoying raw oysters rather than grimacing (Of course, I cheated by loading them with lemon juice and tabasco).

 

 

 

The next day was a relaxed stroll along Brunswick Heads, enjoying the Sculpture festival dotted along the beach, full of quirky contemporary art pieces. Sunbathing and having a dip in the warm turquoise sea made for a lazy afternoon. A great weekend!

Brunswick Heads

 

Whale Watching and a Flight to Remember: Hervey Bay & Fraser Island

After a week of night shifts, we were feeling exhausted but excited to be off on another road trip adventure: up the coast to Hervey Bay, for Humpback whale watching and a visit to World Heritage listed Fraser Island.

Sunset in Hervey Bay

 

Whale Watching

Up early to watch the whales on their annual migration to Antarctica, we met with some friends and were full of anticipation as the boat sped away from shore into the bay. Soon we spotted a group of whales breeching (or jumping out of the water to you and me) in the distance. As we approached, a couple of inquisitive whales came right over to the boat to say hello. What the guides fondly called being ‘mugged’. It was exhilarating to have wild whales weighing 40 tonnes coming so close that you could almost touch them! They looked beautifully majestic in the water as they swan past us, tail slapping, waving their fins and cheekily poking their noses out of the water. We were lucky enough to spot a mother with her calf, the youngster hitching a ride on her back, before mum rolled over to cuddle the baby with her fin, so cute!

Back on dry land, we spent the afternoon walking down Urangan Pier, the longest in Australia at nearly 1km long. Here, pelicans were diving for their lunch, whilst fishermen were hoping to catch something for dinner. In the evening, we enjoyed some delectable local seafood and cocktails at a restaurant along the esplanade.

Urangan Pier

 

The next day we caught the ferry over to Fraser Island. The largest sand island in the world, extending 500m below sea level and containing more sand than the Sahara Desert! With no paved roads, we jumped onto a 4x4 coach and enjoyed the bumpy ride along the dunes to our first stop; Central station and a walk through the peaceful forest.

Lake Mackenzie.
Yes, the water really was that colour! #no filter

 

Next up was a dip in Lake Mackenzie, where I have never seen water so crystal clear. Absolute bliss! After lunch, we drove up the stunning 75 mile beach on the East coast of the Island. It was so surreal to be driving along this ‘designated highway’, with the waves of the Pacific licking our wheels!

Dom in Heaven!

 

Our trip wouldn’t have been complete without taking a scenic flight over the Island. Clambering aboard a ‘toy’ plane with only 7 seats, I was slightly apprehensive as we took off from a comical makeshift beach runway, but the views were breath taking. The ‘bird’s eye’ views of freshwater lakes, Maheno shipwreck and the shoreline were lust-worthy.  

Up, Up and Away!

 

Shattered after an action packed day, we cosied up inside our comfy wooden cabin for dinner. Another fun adventure, full of memories I will hold forever.

Eerie Maheno Shipwreck

 

Ticking the Tourist Box: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

I was stupidly excited to be visiting Lone Pine koala sanctuary; the oldest and largest in the world. When I was young, my nan gave me a real koala skin toy (banned practice now, thank god), and whenever I played with it I always daydreamed about stroking a real koala one day. Having spotted a wild one on Stradbroke Island, I couldn’t wait to hold one!

Chillin' with a Roo

 

When we arrived at the sanctuary I was like a kid in a sweet shop. Seeing them up close, I was cooing and ‘awww’ing like a mad woman. ‘Kindergarten’ had 4 cheeky girls who were being very playful, jumping on the keepers head whilst he was cleaning. Never knew they could jump so far! The ‘retirement home’ had a more serene feel, with the OAPs lazily munching away and napping. The ‘boys’ area absolutely stank from their scent; the smellier the better to attract the girls apparently!

The Girls: '1, 2, 3...Jump'

 

I was in my element when I got to hold Hallie, a 2 year old koala. She was an absolute superstar, snuggling into me and posing like a pro for the camera. She was soooo fluffy! I wanted to scoop her up and take her home with me.

 

Meet Hallie

Next, we loaded our pockets with kangaroo food and soon found ourselves surrounded with a very friendly bunch, who had hopped over to say hello. For such big animals, I was surprised how gentle they were when eating out of my hand. They didn’t bat an eyelid when we gave them a stroke, and they were even softer than the koalas. Then before we knew it, boing, they had hopped off again.

Roo Selfie!

 

Such a novelty day; Now I really feel like I’m in Australia. Loaded up on my new koala facts, I’m going to be boring people for weeks!

Birthday Treats: ‘Fear and Delight, The Devil’s Banquet’.

Hitting 27 didn’t seem so daunting when I had a birthday treat in store! As part of the Brisbane festival, which runs throughout September, we bought tickets for ‘Fear and Delight: The Devil’s Banquet’, a dining experience and entertainment show shrouded in secrecy. We had no idea what to expect.

We dressed up to the nines, in keeping with the black and white dress code. Lining up outside the venue with hungry bellies, we puzzled over our only clue about the banquet: ‘Willy Wonka meets Heston Blumenthal….’

As we ducked through the velvet drapes leading inside, a pill was tucked into my hand by the hostess, inviting me to ‘take a trip’. Panic stricken, I broke open the capsule to check the contents. Edible glitter. Duh. I made a mental reminder to loosen up and just go with whatever was in store inside.

Dressed up to the nines

 

We were invited to enjoy the cocktail area, whilst awaiting the main banquet. First obstacle: retrieving my urine coloured cocktail from a bathtub and drinking it from a plastic bag. Comfortingly, the room was full of guests exchanging nervous glances. Not just me then…

At every turn, there were more edible surprises, each even more strange and delightful. Carpaccio canapes ‘off the bone’ (literally laid over a stags skull) complete with artichoke and freeze dried ant dip (yes, you read that right!). Gloved hands darting out from boxes to deliver tasty fruit and marshmallows. A creepy sorcerer serving spoons of ‘blood’ from his alter if you dared to try. Interactive canapes called ‘flick and lick’ involved weird and wonderful toppings, a perspex wall and spoons to use as projectiles. You can guess the rest. We soon got into the swing of things and were in fits of giggles.

Marshmallow? Yes please!

 

Finally, we were invited into the main banqueting hall where we had ringside seats, a prime spot for the show later. There were no plates and my cutlery was a pair of black gloves! Starter was a syringe full of a delicious tomato soup, which we were instructed to inject into each other’s mouths. Main course was roast dinner, but by no means ordinary. The chicken came complete with head and feet, and the garlic sauce was served in a paint pot, with a brush to paint it over your food. Dessert was ‘egg and soldiers’; a sweet custard served in a hen’s egg with shortbread biscuit soldiers.

Dipping and Brushing

 

Getting interactive with food in such a unique way, confusing the hell out of our taste buds and just getting generally messy was so fun! We couldn’t stop laughing throughout the entire meal, especially with the wine flowing. Even the water was served via a nozzle jet through the waiter’s legs, ooo-err.

Dinner is served

 

The entertainment afterwards was an entrancing mix of acrobatics, comedy, singing and dancing, injected with sex, leather and bondage. Not for the faint hearted!

Creepy Clown

 

After the show, we enjoyed some bubbles at a riverside bar, animated by what we had just experienced. It had been even stranger and more fun than we had expected. Truly ‘Fear and Delight.’

Bubbles on the riverside

Acknowledgements: ‘Fear and Delight’ picture and ‘Creepy Clown’ pictures taken from Brisbane Festival Flyers.

Moving to the Sunshine State: South Brissie and Straddie Island

Time really does fly when you’re having fun! It’s been over a month since the big move down under with my boyfriend, Dom, to work in A&E in Brisbane, Queensland. I can’t quite believe that this is the 7^th country I’ve visited in as many months, and am looking forward to the adventures to come!

Aptly named the Sunshine State, I was greeted with cloudless blue sky and a temperature of 25⁰C the day we arrived. Did I tell you they call this ‘winter’?! Helloooo Australia!


My new home!

The first week passed in a blur of life admin, night shifts at my new job (NOT a good combination with jet lag) and getting settled into our new home in South Bank. The buzz of city life means there’s so much to see, do, drink and eat! It’s an exciting contrast from our relaxed country lifestyle in North Wales last year. Living in a beautiful riverside location, even commuting to the city centre is done in style here via a kitsch ‘city hopper’ ferry. Catching some rays on the top deck whilst cruising along the river, I feel a world away from the UK. It certainly beats the tube!



Commuting the Ozzie way

Evenings have been spent sipping bubbles overlooking the river, admiring the city skyline sparkling against the night sky. And what a novelty being able to have a drink outside in the evening without feeling cold!

Enjoying Bubbles in the City

 

One pro of shift work is getting a stretch of a few days off, enabling us to go and explore. First on the list? Stradbroke Island (or as the locals fondly call it, Straddie Island) off the East Coast

After dropping off our stuff at a cute Airbnb on the coast (massive fan of Airbnb!), we hopped straight on the ferry over to the Island. What a treat we had awaiting us. Wow. The island was breath taking!

 

Straddie Island

 

Walking around North Gorge at Point Lookout on the tip of the Island, we were rewarded with humpback whales and dolphins majestically jumping out of the beautiful turquoise water. We even spotted a pair of giant manta rays leaping gracefully over the surface of the sea, whilst Kookaburras and some cute plover chicks tweeted in the sunshine.

North Gorge

 

We got very overexcited to see wild koalas in the eucalyptus trees for the first time. Cue double overexcitement when a family of kangaroos casually hopped past us, complete with baby Joey in pouch.

Enjoying tasty gelato at Point Lookout

 

The next day was spent strolling along the golden coast, with warm sand beneath our feet and crystal clear waves rolling ashore. It was only after Dom took a dip in the sea that the locals warned us about the number of sharks in the area. Definitely won’t be trying that next time! We ended our mini break by enjoying sunset at Cylinder Beach, before tucking into some delicious local fish and chips. What a great few days, I can’t wait to explore some of the other Islands!

Sunset on Stradbroke