Day - 10. Sunshine Beach (6)

Meredith Meyers drove up from Caloundra to visit us today.  It was so good to see her.  We spent the day together, catching up on news because we have not been together for a very long time, and sharing memories of the fun times we spent when she and her husband Roy still lived in Melbourne.  There were particularly good times on our houseboat "Infinity" at Lake Eildon. 

Roy and Meredith were great friends and so the 7 hours we spent with Meredith today went so fast and was most enjoyable.  She is a very special lady.

The temperature at Sunshine Beach today was 27 degrees and the whale watchers had a great day with many whales and their calves frolicking just out from the surf break.

For those shivering in Melbourne, it will be 28 degrees tomorrow here on the Sunshine Coast !!!!

Judy and Meredith having lunch at the Sunshine Beach Surf Club.

Meredith and Brian in our apartment.

Day - 9. Sunshine Beach (5)

You can see by the photos that today we did not do much except walk!!  Up and down the beach, and then through the National Park on a sandy track with many hazards of rocks and tree roots.  Eventually we reached another beautiful beach at Alexandria Bay.  The sand there was extremely fine, and made squeaking noises when walked upon.

It seems that only poor people go there, because many couldn't afford clothes!!

Daily routine - mandatory foot-washing before entry to apartment after the beach.

Frustrated surfers waiting for a good wave.  As you can see, the ocean was a beautiful deep blue today.

Track through the National Park, with native bushes and foliage on both sides.  Plenty of grass trees ("black boys"), banksias, sword grass, and scraggly eucalypts.

A steep section of the track leading down to the beach.

Day - 8. Sunshine Beach (4)

More relaxing and walking along sandy beaches today.  This location is truly blissful.  Our calves are really feeling the pressure of walking up and down and through sand, but they should improve with more practice. 

In town there is a wonderful gourmet seafood outlet, where we purchased two pre-prepared lobster mournays ready to heat in the oven for dinner.  I am sure that these will be beautiful, served with an accompanying salad (and no cooking or preparation required!!)

More tourists soaking up the sun on the beach.

Hastings Street with coffee-sipping people peepers.

Day - 7. Sunshine Beach (3)

Took a long walk along the beach this morning towards Castaways Beach, and our calves are reminding us of how far it was!  

After lunch, which included a perfect avocado (only $2.00), we took a drive to Tewantin and the ferry which takes vehicles across to Rainbow Beach.  Then back to Hastings Street in Noosa for some window shopping amongst the "beautiful people". 

Hastings Street is very different from our previous visits to Noosa.  There are now tall apartment buildings overlooking the beach between the water and the fashion street.

The "long weekend festival" is on at present, commencing last weekend and lasts for 10 days.  There are lots of activities organised, beginning with a Mardi Gras parade last Friday evening.

Pre-breakfast walk in the sand.

Boats on the Noosa River.

Main beach at Noosa - the place to be seen!

Walkway from the beach back to Hastings Street.

Posting a very important replacement card.  Let's hope Australia Post delivers this time!

Another photo of Noosa's main beach.

Day - 6. Sunshine Beach (2)

An early morning walk along the beach commenced our day.  Much needed after 5+ hours per day of sitting in the car for 5 days.

It is now a much more pleasant temperature than we have been experiencing (max 23 degrees today).

Joined Stephanie and Alistair (from Moama) for lunch.  We met them when we were travelling in NW Australia in about 2012 and have stayed in touch.  

Then the shopping centre, where we found a gourmet outlet with fabulous seafood.  

We then drove around for a while exploring, including the National Park, the glitzy Hastings Street where coffee drinkers relax whilst "people peeping", and then up to the Laguna Lookout for its great view over Noosa township and the river.

Walk along the beach before breakfast in the early morning sunlight.

The Costa Nova apartment building.  Our unit is on the 3rd floor, directly above Judy.  We have stayed here twice before, and the 2 and 3 BR apartments are really wonderful.  Beautifully decorated, with all facilities, we feel quite spoilt.

View from the Laguna lookout, overlooking Noosa and the Noosa River.

The Noosa Thriller boat, for tourists to take scary rides!!

Local man and dog precariously balanced on the small craft, heading out through the heads.  Intent to check his cray pots no doubt.

HIn

Taking advantage of superb local produce.  This will be our dinner tonight.  Under the green crumble are fresh salmon pieces ready for pan-frying.

Day - 5. Sunshine Beach (1)

From Toowoomba to Sunshine Beach through Brisbane was only 3.5 hours on a very good highway.  The first section was down a very steep decline (7 %) from Toowoomba for a short distance, leaving the clouds behind and descending under the cloud to a landscape covered in sunshine.    The majority of roadway to Brisbane and up north was freeway with several tunnels under the Brisbane suburbs.   At Sunshine Beach we reached our Costa Nova apartment where we have stayed previously.  Beautiful location, views over the ocean, lovely apartment with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, very attractive living room and kitchen, plus laundry and balcony.

View of the ocean from our balcony.

Rom 

Our bedroom, which has a view of the sea.

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Looking from the lounge across the dining room to the kitchen.

Balcony setting for warm evening pre-dinner drinks, or after-dinner coffees.

Looking over our balcony to the pool and spa.  Obviously for warmer weather!

Day - 4. Toowoomba

Upon arriving at our Alexander Motor Inn last night, we found that it did not have a restaurant for dinner.  The owner had a great sense of humour, saying "don't stay here, there's a great restaurant just down the road at the Burke and Wills.  I'll give them a call for you and book you in".  And he did!!

From Moree to Toowoomba today the road was quite rough with very long straight stretches and many long trucks travelling in both directions.  The scenery was very flat and mostly dry, with little of interest.  

So much for coming to Qld for the warm weather!!  The temperature was 11C decrees for most of the way, and at Toowoomba it is raining, the fog is down to 600m and the city is 700m altitude, so we are in the clouds with the heater on high in our room.

Tomorrow we may enter some warmer temperatures.

Interesting facade of a hotel in the centre of Goondawindi, which we passed en route.

Millmerran Bakery - a funny little outlet in a quaint little town where we paused for lunch today.

The pool and fog from our motel window in Toowoomba.

Another view of the fog.  Our vehicle is parked at the left.