Coolum Beach 2015

Set up at Coolum Holiday Park

Carolyn & Kenzie

Eight weeks have gone in a flash. How the time flies. We have been having a great time here in Coolum Beach. The weather has been mostly good, though we have had a couple of big storms. But with the temperatures mostly in the high 20's, and the ocean a pleasant 23 degrees, there hasn't been much to complain about! We really feel like "locals" when we are in this area. We have been welcomed into the daily life of our friends and there families and friends, and it all feels a bit like home. In the caravan park we have made new friends in Chris and Vicki, from Toronto near Newcastle, who arrived around the same time as us and headed off early November. We have really enjoyed their company, and Chris & I have played some golf at nearby Mt. Coolum. As well, our friends from Figtree, Phil & Cheryl dropped in for a visit in week four. We knew they were caravanning in the same areas as us, but it was a really nice surprise when they decided to call in for a week.

 

Lynne's a Bronco Fan

We had the last laugh!

When we arrived on the Sunshine Coast, the Footy Finals were in full swing, and whilst our team had fallen at the first hurdle, our friend Lynne's Broncos were still going strong. We spent a couple of fun nights at the Fisscher's, Lynne cheering on the Broncos with our token support until the Grand Final when we announced we would be supporting the Cowboys. She took it well, and when we arrived for the big game, she had decorated the house both inside and out, and what a game we all got to see!!

 



Happy Birthday Nancy.

The October long weekend saw us make a flying visit to Sydney for friend Nancy's 80th birthday party. We flew down on Thursday and stayed with Robyn, which was much appreciated. On the Friday, the three of us headed into the city, to first visit the Apple Store to sort out some issues with our IPad. The young staff at Apple, are all so friendly and helpful, I just wish they spoke in a language I could understand!! Oh to be so technology challenged!! Still, all was fixed, I think!! From there we headed down to check out the new works at Barangaroo. What a transformation has taken place where all those old wharves used to be. It is a wonderful parkland for the people of Sydney, under the shadows of the Harbour Bridge, and it all seemed to be accomplished in a short period of time. If you haven't been there, you should make a point of getting there.
 

At Barangaroo

With Robyn at Barangaroo

On the Saturday we were off to Bitton Restaurant at Erskineville for Nancy's party. How can any of our friends be turning 80!!! It doesn't seem possible!! She only wanted a small gathering of her family and close friends, and she chose one of her favourite venues. It was great to catch up with family and friends, many of whom we haven't seen for a while. It was a lovely day, with the champagne flowing. From the restaurant most headed back to Nancy & Keith's for even more food and champagne! A great day of celebration had by all! On the Sunday morning, Robyn drove us out to mum's place, and we all enjoyed a late breakfast at a relatively new café in Narwee, not far from Mum's place. It was good to see mum again, and we all just sat and chatted until it was time to take mum back home and head out to the airport for our return flight. Back on the Sunshine Coast, the airport bus took us back to Coolum, and our whirlwind trip to Sydney was at an end.



Morning tea with Lynne & Paul

At Eumundi with Lynne.

There is so much to do around the Sunshine Coast and the nearby Hinterland, and we have been making the most of it. Most days we still start with a walk along the beach or boardwalk, followed by a coffee at one of our favourite haunts, all of which are still here! There is The C@F or Sunrise with its beautiful view along the beach, and we found a new one in the back streets called Compound, which does excellent coffee. The new Coolum Beach Hotel is completed, and the food is good, and now with the new Dan Murphy's next door, all our beverage needs are catered for at the best possible prices!!
 

Dinner at Castros with Cheryl & Phil.

Our week with Cheryl & Phil was great. They had followed a similar outback loop as we had, to get to Coolum, so we had heaps to talk about! We haven't spent a lot of quality time together before, usually just catching up for a lunch or dinner, so it was nice to have a week together. The weather that week was ordinary to say the least, with regular showers and storms. It did not make outdoor dining at the caravan park much fun, so we gave the "Cheap Eat" venues of Coolum a workout! We did the Thai, an Indian, The Coolum Pub, and finished off with a night of pizzas at Castro's, which never disappoints. We farewelled them south, heading for a couple of weeks at their son's place on the Gold Coast.
 



Maleny Botanical Gardens

Maleny Botanical Gardens.

One of the new things we really enjoyed, was a visit to the Maleny Botanical Gardens. This is a private venture built from scratch by a South African guy. The views from the escarpment out over the Glasshouse Mountains are incredible, and the extensive earthworks have resulted in spectacular terraced gardens filled with water features and sculptures, and places to just sit and  take in the wonderful vistas. We added the option of morning tea, which is taken in one of the Gazebos that catch the

John with a friendly Macaw.

breezes

Maleny Botanical Gardens

and look out over those gardens and the distant Glasshouse Mountains. In addition to the beautiful gardens, there is a fantastic Aviary, and it is huge! It is filled with colourful Australian parrots, as well as South American Mawcaws, which are super tame, and brightly coloured conures. Within minutes of entering the enclosure we had birds sitting on our shoulders, arms and even our heads!! I've gotta tell you, that when a Mawcaw sits on your shoulder and decides to squawk, it sure clears out the ear wax!!!

 

Bee Gees Plus one!

Bee Gee's Way at Redcliffe.

Our social calendar has been full. Visits to the Eumundi Markets, The Caloundra Markets, the Noosa Harbour markets. Lunches and dinners at various venues, it has all been great fun. A couple of movie days thrown in when the weather has turned bad, plus drives up to Gympie and Tin Can Bay. Another great day out, took us to Redcliffe, a northern, bayside suburb of Brisbane. It was here, that the world famous Bee Gees had settled when first coming to Australia. Lynne & Paul had told us

On Bee Gee's Way.

about a tribute to this amazing but ill fated group of brothers, 

On Bee Gee's Way.

who first performed live at the Redcliffe Speedway!! Like many waterfront locations around Australia, the waterfront at Redcliffe has been transformed with loads of eateries, and the quite incredible Bee Gee's Way, a visual, audio and sculptural tribute to this fantastic group of entertainers, only one of whom remains with us today. We sat watching the video of their career, listening to all those familiar songs. Barry Gibb came to Redcliffe last year to open the exhibit and was responsible for supplying much of the material. An excellent day in the outer suburbs of Brisbane.

At Noosa Valley Country Club.

Maleny Botanical Gardens.

John has enjoyed some good golf days, both with mate Peter Taylor, and new friend Chris. Mostly we have played at Mt. Coolum Golf Club, where Pete is a member, and not to be confused with the Coolum Resort, which has been a disaster ever since Clive Palmer took over. It is currently closed! It is an absolute tragedy for the Sunshine Coast, that their best resort, and one of the best in he country, has been ruined by this moron! The golf has been mixed, but most enjoyable. Carolyn & I did our usual round at Noosa Valley Country Club, which we love. This is a golf course in a garden, with kangaroos and birds everywhere, It is an absolute picture at present. A real treat for John & Pete was a round at Pelican Waters Golf Club. This Greg Norman design is now well established and a treat to play. Some of the holes, set among the waterways full of water lilies, and enhanced by the white sands of Norman's signature use of bunkers, are simply sensational.

Pete's Birthday.

Pete's Birthday.

Pete had a birthday while we have been here, and friends arranged a surprise party, which was a real surprise. Pete didn't have a clue. It was just a small group of his friends plus his sister Nettie and Brother In Law Graham, who we have dined with on a number of occasions, and they are great fun. It was a fantastic night with so much food! We left with Nettie & Graham around 11.30pm, but given Pete's condition when he picked John up for golf on Saturday morning, celebrations went long into the night! Pete sure didn't have any trouble keeping his head down over the ball!!!

A cruise on Pumicestone Passage.

Caloundra skyline.

Another great day out, enhanced by a picture perfect day, was a cruise around the Pumicestone Passage on a small ferry. The passage separates Bribie Island from the mainland, and stretches some 36 kilometres. We were only cruising the northern end around Caloundra and into the canals of Pelican Waters. It was just lovely, with lots of birdlife, and  it gives such a different perspective looking back from the water. We finished up with a nice lunch on the deck at the Pelican Waters Tavern.

At Caloundra Street Market.

Paul & Harley.

I think we have done most of the major markets in the area. The Caloundra Sunday Market is the one that has grown so much, now rivalling Eumundi for best market on the Sunshine Coast!! We really like the Sunday market at Noosa Harbour. It is very relaxed, quite small but has quality stalls, and each week an excellent band or singer is on hand to help wile away the time while sipping a morning coffee looking out over the Noosa River. For fresh food, the Produce Market at the football ground is very good, But be early, as the locals descend on the place in hordes, also every Sunday morning.

Melbourne Cup Lunch

Dinner at Alfie Langer's
Mooo Bar & Char Caloundra.

We have had lots of time with Lynne & Paul and their two dogs Harley & Kenzie. Beach walks, coffees, lunches and dinners, and a host of outings. We have become quite well known by the residents at Maleny Grove!! We do enjoy their company, and Lynne is such a good organiser, always keeping an eye out for an event or a venue to visit. Melbourne Cup Day was a good example. The Maleny Rotary Club put on a wonderful lunch at Tiffany's, a Wedding Venue high on the escarpment looking out over the Glasshouse Mountains. It is a spectacular venue, and the weather was just great. There was a fashion parade that took place in the wedding chapel, and a delightful lunch was served. Paul got a horse in the Calcutta, but the rest of us didn't do any good in the sweeps or Calcutta, but we all had a lovely time. The girls all got dressed up for the occasion, and a couple of local charities went home very happy. I think this first time event will be around for a few years to come!

Lunch with Peta & Warren.

Jacarandas in Gympie.

We invited friends Peta & Warren down for lunch at the caravan. These are friends of Robyn, who we met in Sydney, and who moved up to nearby Cooroy, several years ago. We have kept in touch over those years, and usually manage a catch over coffee or lunch. It was lovely to see them again this time, and catch up on their news. We did head up to Cooroy on a couple of other occasions, as it is home to a gorgeous café called Maison de Provence, which Carolyn loves. Run by a French couple, the food is very traditional French, and excellent, all in a lovely setting on a wide verandah. Great pastries and breads, and very good coffee. You can even have snails if you choose!! It is a nice way to spend some time, and always popular. 

Tracey & Marcus' Birthday.

Dad did two cakes!

Towards the end of our time at Coolum, we again jumped on a flight to Sydney to help celebrate a couple of family birthdays. Our niece Tracey was turning 40, and her son Marcus, my mum's only great grandchild, was turning two, and a big family celebration was planned. We stayed with Jenny, Dave & Jill, and took the opportunity to catch up with Keith & Nancy as well. It was also good timing, as we got to spend some time with my sister Jenny, who is having open heart surgery on November 23rd, to fix a dodgy heart valve which she was born with. It is a worrying time for the whole family, but we know it will all go well. She is in the best of hands.

Catch up at the Wentworth
with Nancy & Keith.

Harley wanted to come with us!

It is now time to say farewell to Coolum, for now, and start a slow trip down the coast to Sydney for Christmas & New Year. Our last week was saying farewell to friends, and making last minute visits to old favourites. In search of Preserved Lemons that Carolyn needed for a recipe, we found Belmondo's, hidden away in an industrial estate at the back of Noosa. This is foodie heaven! What a selection of meat, smallgoods and groceries, as well as a café! How has this gem been hidden from us for so long???? One thing for certain, you won't just happen to drive past!! Still, it is always good to know that this area always has new things to find! And we will always find a way to come back!