And New Year's in the Sunshine Coast!

1/8/2013

1 Comment

 
Picture





Queensland is beautiful.
I have only been to a few places in this giant Australian state and everything I have seen of it is very diverse but all beautiful...
For New Years we headed south to Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast to Visit Nik's brother - a new part of Queensland for me.

The first stop after the airport (well, after pies for lunch) was the giant pineapple.... Yup, The Giant Pineapple!
Picture
Coolum Beach
This part of the coast is very beautiful and very different from the north. The water is clear and warm (no jellyfish or crocs!) and the sand is squeaky!
Because the reef is really far off shore there are waves to surf but unfortunately no reef to dive. It was pretty windy everyday while we were there, but I did get out once to try to catch some waves! (it was a bit to messy and the waves were a bit too big so I didn't do very well... I did enjoy being out there though!)
Picture
Beach at Noosa NP
We had a really nice visit in Coolum with Uggie and Amy and the rest of their visitors! We visited Noosa National park, climbed Mt. Coolum, went to a waterfall up the range, had NYE on the beach dressed as pirates, went fishing, and ate lots of yummy food!
My favorite was Noosa NP... There was a nice little wave for surfing (I will go there next time!) and there was some fishing to be had! Nik speared a nice flathead and Uggie shot something too...
Sunshine Coast was a great place to start the new year! But I was also happy to head home to Hobart to get a start on 2013...


Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!
- William Arthur Ward
1 Comment

Christmas and Boxing day in Cairns

1/3/2013

0 Comments

 
Yeah, Boxing Day gets a mention all its own! :)
This was my second holiday season in Cairns celebrating with Nik's family. I am not sure I will ever get used to a hot Christmas Day but it sure is nice to have sunshiny weather on Boxing Day and New Years! As usual going to Cairns involved lots of family, visiting friends, eating, and checking the internet waiting for good reef weather... We had a delicious Christmas Eve brunch and Christmas Day breakfast and dinner. Then there was Boxing Day... It is no wonder Christmas is the favorite holiday for this family!
Picture

Overall there was lots of cricket watching (and some playing!), lots of eating good food, and lots of sleeping over the holiday break.. In the hot weather naps are really key. We spent a few days on the range at Nik's parent's house - very relaxing and beautiful... I always find some sort of wildlife to chase. This time it was butterflies and kookaburras.... By the way, I was voted most improved cricket player of Boxing Day. I was really bad last year... Guess all the cricket watching is paying off! Cricket is fun!
Picture
As for the weather, Nik and I were able to sneak out one day for a flick with some friends at a protected little beach called Pretty Beach. We walked along the rocky and mangrovey shore and within 5 minutes Nik had a fish! He saw it (and 2 others) before he even had his line in the water. We had to be stealthy and quiet for a chance to catch these fish but once one took the hook it was all crashing and thrashing! Nik was in the water doing some fancy maneuvering to keep the fish from breaking the line in the tangle of mangrove roots... Quite the sight for me! My first glimpse of the infamous Baramundi! Unfortunately we didn't have a camera so this drawing will have to do...
Picture


I didn't catch anything except a rock in my shin caused by a flip-flop blowout, but overall a good day! Nik as usual was the big fisher that day with the baramundi and a spectacular baby cod... :)
0 Comments