When we arrived back in Noosa from our Fraser Island tour, we just barely missed the bus to Nambour, meaning we had to wait in Noosa for 3 1/2 hours before the next one left. We obviously didn't want to spend that much time at…Read More

When we arrived back in Noosa from our Fraser Island tour, we just barely missed the bus to Nambour, meaning we had to wait in Noosa for 3 1/2 hours before the next one left. We obviously didn't want to spend that much time at the bus stop, which was not all that interesting to begin with, so we wandered into Noosa Heads.It was around 4pm on a public holiday afternoon, so what little that was open was getting ready to close shortly. We did wander around a few small shops and a bookshop, but this was mainly out of necessity to hide from what we thought was a rainstorm. After the spitting rain stopped, we headed to Noosa's main beach, partly because we knew we couldn't get kicked out of it and partly because I hadn't seen it before.We didn't actually go swimming at the beach, since we didn't have any clean, dry clothes to change into afterwards for the long journey back to Brisbane, so we just dumped our stuff, pulled out our towels, and got out our books. There weren't too many people on the beach, especially in the area we had camped out in, since we were a fair distance from the swimming flags. Soon the flags got taken down and the beach emptied out even more.The weather wasn't the best—it kept spitting with rain and threatening to do more. We felt bad for the sand artist that had created a dolphin and a mermaid out of sand (with surprising accuracy), since every rain drop was eating away at his masterpiece. We never actually saw the person that created them, but he probably wasn't nearly as bothered as we were, since he probably makes them every day.The bit of a chill that the rain gave us (it always seemed like it was about to start pouring… but never actually did) was worth it to see the sunset that we saw. This was definitely one of the most brilliant sunsets I have ever seen, over a location that is beautiful to start with. We had abandoned the beach for the rain but soon came back when we saw the color the sky was turning, and this was definitely a good choice. The rainclouds were lit a brilliant orange and yellow, and then slowly faded to reds and purples over the span of about 15 minutes or so. Every shot we got of it showed the sky as being a slightly different, but equally as beautiful, color. The colors of the sky lit up everything, turning the sand a reddish color and twinkling on the surf. We definitely couldn't believe our luck, in happening to be on the beach that evening, and the number of photos that we took certainly proved it!The only thing that left me sad about this short layover in Noosa was that I didn't have time to explore Noosa National Park, part of which is the area that juts out to the south of Noosa's main beach. My friends had visited it earlier in the year when I was in New Zealand and enjoyed both the scenery and the chance to see wild koalas (the only difference here is that the koalas sleep in trees not owned by a wildlife refuge). Close

Lake Cootharaba is a brilliant little lake nestled in the Great Sandy National Park just north of Noosa. Only a 20km drive away from the Noosa area, it's definitely worth a trip, especially if you are a fan of any sort of water sport.I went…Read More

Lake Cootharaba is a brilliant little lake nestled in the Great Sandy National Park just north of Noosa. Only a 20km drive away from the Noosa area, it's definitely worth a trip, especially if you are a fan of any sort of water sport.

I went to Lake Cootharaba as part of a camping weekend with the UQ Sailing Club. We arrived there on Saturday morning and left on Sunday evening, and even though there were a lot of people there, we managed to get a lot of time on the lake.

I had never sailed before this weekend, and Cootharaba was a great place to get started. There was nice wind the entire time, not too much but enough to keep a sailboat moving. The best part of the lake is the fact that even though it's at least 10km long and probably half that wide, it never seems to get deeper than a meter and a half--which is convenient for when you capsize, yet deep enough to let you put down your centreboard and rudder.

I spent a bit of time out on the lake on a Getaway, a very easy to sail catamaran. The other boat I spent a fair amount of time on was slightly more interesting, being a one-hulled Laser. My friend and I decided that, neither of us having much experience, it would be a brilliant idea to take this boat out.

What ensued was highly amusing. We managed to sail in lines back and forth for a little while around the centre of the lake, but we couldn't get our rudder to go down, so steering was rather interesting. When we finally got the rescue boat to come over, their engine stopped responding to their gassing it, until finally it responded all at once, and all of a sudden, their rescue boat was on the back of ours. I lost all control of the rudder, and before we knew it, we were all swimming (minus the guy who actually ran the boat onto ours!). This is when my friend and I found out that the middle of the lake is indeed only chest deep, although slightly deeper if you count how deep your legs sink into the mud. Luckily, we finally got our rudder fixed and were on our way.

Our next capsize was even more amusing, and totally our fault. We were proud that, after sailing for nearly two hours, we had only capsized once and it wasn't our fault at all. We had actually done a half decent job of seeing the lake as well. Unfortunately, when we tried to come back in to our camping place at Boreen Pt, we had to gybe, which we found considerably more difficult. Our attempt to do so went well until I got tangled up in the main sheet, and, in attempting to switch sides of the boat, took the whole boat with me! Again, we found ourselves floating, knee deep in mud, except this time we were in full view of the shore and everyone relaxing on it. Luckily, the people there were either beginners or not paying attention to us at all.

Even better than our second capsize was the fact that my friend helped me get in the boat, turned it around, and then let her go with me on it. Apparently I looked totally confused as she waved goodbye and began walking towards shore, while the wind picked me up and took me away. Soon I was sailing at a fair clip straight at the shore. I knew that one way to stop a boat was to turn it into the wind--but apparently I tried this too quickly, because I had soon flipped the boat for a third time, except this time I was exceptionally close to shore and there were plenty people to laugh at me (including my friend, who was nearly in tears behind me!).

While a bit waterlogged by the end of the day, I really enjoyed my time out on the lake and found that being with someone else that was totally lost too was the best way to learn. The lady that had lent us her boat said that we did quite well, although I don't know how much of that was her just being happy that the boat was in one piece, albeit with slightly more mud on the sail. I had a blast on this trip though, and it definitely inspired me to go sailing again--although sailing on Moreton Bay was slightly more difficult (and it always makes it interesting when people tell you stories about swimming away from sharks!).Close

One thing Australia seems to have an abundance of: luxuries for the skin, hair, body, and soul. I indulged in facials, skin peels, natural products for the body of every type. My favorite is EMU oil, which has rejuvenated my skin like nothing…Read More

One thing Australia seems to have an abundance of: luxuries for the skin, hair, body, and soul. I indulged in facials, skin peels, natural products for the body of every type. My favorite is EMU oil, which has rejuvenated my skin like nothing I have ever used.

Also, every Wednesday at the Eumundi Markets, I'd find my favorite reflexologist and get a foot and neck massage for only 25.00 AU. There’s Hawaiian-style, Thai-style, you name it – so many types of body work and massage. I indulged in many, and really learned how to "let go and let life..." Yoga classes? In Noosa, there is a bikram-style studio with great teachers... I took classes daily.

So if you are looking to rest, beautify, and kick back, this is the place. There are really sophisticated beauty shops – Smyths, right on Gympie Terrace, has a very current staff and expert haircutting and color services.

The resorts here are world-class as well, and don't come cheap. It is hard to find anything for under $200 per night anywhere except perhaps the backpackers. Food is pricey, life is pricey in Noosa; but I'd do it all again... and again... if the gods permit. Namaste.

Getting inland and visiting the older "hick" towns was one of my best experiences in this country. Country hospitality is everywhere, and yes, there are some wild and woolly bars and pubs around. Country cottages and old historic hotels can be found in Pomona and…Read More

Getting inland and visiting the older "hick" towns was one of my best experiences in this country. Country hospitality is everywhere, and yes, there are some wild and woolly bars and pubs around. Country cottages and old historic hotels can be found in Pomona and Kin Kin. Many town have huge spits for pig roasts on the weekends. Many of these place have great B&B's and swimming pools set in breathtaking gardens. Yandina is quite close to Noosa (maybe 8 miles) and boasts the PIONEER Coffee Roasters, a world-class coffee house--and I've been to many! I experienced my, to date, most delicious cup of coffee (a mocha latte with a heart on the top in foam) here about 6 weeks ago! Across the street is the Ginger Factory and also the NUT HOUSE (a macadamia nut factory). All have tours worth the price of admission. Close

When you have a log stretch of time, as my son and I had in Queensland, time slows down and one can really drink in the culture and the marvelous natural beauty. Noosa Heads sits on the Noosa River, which empties into the Pacific. A…Read More

When you have a log stretch of time, as my son and I had in Queensland, time slows down and one can really drink in the culture and the marvelous natural beauty. Noosa Heads sits on the Noosa River, which empties into the Pacific. A walk down the famous Hasting Street takes you past world-class restaurants with cafes spilling out onto the sidewalks and a delight of window-shopping and people-watching. The beach is just a block off the main street, and one can sip a marvelous coffee or drink an Aussie draft beer at any number of surf clubs or restaurants. The sea at the Noosa Beach is tame compared to my Australian beaches, and a large net is cast about 300 yards in the sea to keep back any lurking dangers. Children romp, surf, and play in the clean waters as lifeguards keep a steady eye on the fanfare. Choose any variety of accommodation, from backpacker lodges (for any age) to the more exclusive hotels in the area. Cultural activities are in abundance by the week, and when we were there, the Noosa Jazz Festival was in full gear.

I say, if you get as far as Australia, go up to Noosa and the surrounding areas like Eumundi and Yandina (where I had the world's best cup of coffee, no doubt). Noosa has no traffic lights or stop signs. Get used to driving on the left and navigating those 90 roundabouts in and around Noosa. Slow down and open your eyes. Get to the Everglades, the markets, the Ginger Factory, and spectacular Frasier Island.

Noosa is a fantastic location on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. The main strip is on Hastings Street which has heaps of great restaurants and cafes as well as fantastic ice-cream parlours and great stores for some holiday shopping Just across the road from Hasting's street is Noosa's…Read More

Noosa is a fantastic location on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. The main strip is on Hastings Street which has heaps of great restaurants and cafes as well as fantastic ice-cream parlours and great stores for some holiday shopping

Just across the road from Hasting's street is Noosa's beautiful white sandy beaches, which is great for a paddle and on the right day has some great swell come through on the point for the die hard surfers.

Restaurants in Noosa cater for all budgets. If you wanted a fancy romantic dinner or a night out with the family Hastings Street is where you would head to.

The weather on the Sunshine coast is warm all year round however in the summer, especially January it is very humid and if your not used to humidity you will feel it really bad.

Around Noosa there are also some really nice nature walks where you can enjoy what Noosa has to offer. When you’re on these nature walks it really does feel like you are in paradise.

Overall, it is a fantastic getaway for the weekend or a family holiday. If you’re coming from overseas its definitely a location not to miss.

Located in Yandina (the factory was originally in Buderim but needed to be upgraded), the Buderim Ginger Factory supplies 40% of the world’s ginger requirements. Personally, I am not a ginger fan, but it was worth a visit to see how ginger is processed…Read More

Located in Yandina (the factory was originally in Buderim but needed to be upgraded), the Buderim Ginger Factory supplies 40% of the world’s ginger requirements. Personally, I am not a ginger fan, but it was worth a visit to see how ginger is processed and to see the variety of products that contain ginger. The grounds include a small sugar train (a steam train pushed by a small diesel engine hidden in the coal bucket) and a plant nursery and rainforest walk with some of the most magnificent flowers I have seen. The trip was not a total waste, though, as they had some souvenir shops on the grounds and Macadamia produce was well represented.

For those with a love of ginger or a desire to see how such a factory works, factory tours were available and included tastings of a variety of ginger products.

We managed to explore from Rainbow Sands down to Byron Bay with many stops all along that 300km stretch. Roads are very good, and renting a car is the way to go, although one can take buses most places.  There are…Read More

We managed to explore from Rainbow Sands down to Byron Bay with many stops all along that 300km stretch. Roads are very good, and renting a car is the way to go, although one can take buses most places.

 There are so many beach towns - like Maroochdore (where one flies into the Sunshine Coast), Caloundra, and Mooloolabah -that have so many surprises. There are parks and forests scattered within this coastal environment. Spectacular lookouts make you forget your worries. The favorite expression in Australia is "no worries," by the way.

The Glass House Mountains are steeped in history. They carry aboriginal names, but were collectively named by Captain Cook in 1770. See kookaburras, cockatoos, rainbow lorikeets, and lots of amazing wonders of this planet. So you’d better rent a car and take a drive to some of these spots.

Boats are for rent all along the river. You can get a group together, as we did, and rent a BBQ boat... they will give you kayaks and some fishing gear, and send you down the river. One afternoon, about eight of us did just…Read More

Boats are for rent all along the river. You can get a group together, as we did, and rent a BBQ boat... they will give you kayaks and some fishing gear, and send you down the river. One afternoon, about eight of us did just this and made some lunch and had some drinks and took a dip while docked at the shore. This is an inexpensive way ($130>) to explore on boat the beautiful scenery of Noosa and gaze at millionaires' homes and watch the kids have a blast in the water.Close