In between skiing in Zermat in Feb/March and our mega Switzerland and East Africa trip in August / September we decided to squeeze in a bit of a getaway to Queensland. So here is the one page trip log.
Friday June 7
It was off to Brisbane on QF at 11:05 AM. We arrived about 20 minutes late, picked up our hire car from Avis and were on the road to Surfers Paradise at 1:30pm, somewhat behind schedule. Due to ongoing road construction in Surfers (due to the construction of a light rail system) it took us a few rounds of the block to find the estate agent to check-in and pick-up the keys for our holiday apartment in the Hilton Residences.
As we were already parked in the Coles carpark we did a quick grocery and grog shop stocking up for the weekend - at least breakfasts, packed lunches (for hiking trips) and fives'es.
Just as we walked in the door of our holiday apartment at the Hilton Residences, H&G rang to say they had landed at the Gold Coast and were in a taxi on the way. They arrived 40 minutes later just in time for a bit of unpacking and five'es on our balcony - overlooking the wonderful Gold Coast beach.
We had pre-booked dinner at Seaduction restaurant at the Peppers Resort which is within the Soul condo building. The restuaruant overlooks the beach so has a wonderful setting but unfortunately it was a cloudy drizzly night. The food and service were excellent.
Saturday June 8
After a great breakfast, we drove to Binna Burra in the hinterland and did a major 12K walk - stopping for a break half-way for a light lunch of some sandwiches we had brought from home. We arrived home in time for showers then we (mainly Helen) settled in to watch a rugby game (All Blacks vs the French). Fortunately the kiwis won. We went to Chill restaurant (on Tedder Street, famous as a local eat's street) for dinner. Unfortunatley it was bucketing down rain and we had to wait a bit for a taxi but got one and arrived at the restaurant more or less on time. The meal was outstanding.
Sunday June 9
We drove to Tambourine Mountain (also in the hinterland) and did a couple of shorter walks before stopping at a German restaurant for lunch which was memorable for its humongous portions. After lunch we went to a tree top walk then headed back to Surfers. We had run out of ideas for dinner (particularly when all of the Hilton concierge's suggestions looked pretty dismal) so we stayed home for dinner of cheese and cold cuts.
Monday June 10
After brekkie we did a big seafront walk before the rain set in. After the walk we drove over to the Mirage Marina for a browse around the shops and a very nice lunch at the Glass Brasserie. We relaxed back at the apartment before driving H&G to the Gold Coast airport for their flight back to Sydney. Dieter and I decided to try Vapiano, a local pizza and pasta joint for dinner - it was OK.
Tuesday June 11
We drove to Springbrook in the hinterland and did a great walk - passing several waterfalls; in fact walking under a couple of them.
We had a packed lunch half-way along the walk then checked out a few more outlooks before the rain/fog closed in so we headed back to our apartment. We met some friends (Ken and Josie) for a drink at 5pm - we met them on a Seabourn cruise last December going from Dubai to Singapore. We just bumped into Ken on our first day here in Coles. We went back to our apartment for sambos for dinner so Dieter could watch the soccer match between the Aussies and Jordan - a must win World Cup qualifing match for the Aussies - fortunately they made it 4-0 but still need to win next week against Iraq.
Wednesday June 12
Last full day in Surfers - after brekkie we drove to Broadbeach and did a bit of a walk before the rain (this was getting to be a definite weather pattern) closed in. We had lunch at the Helm Bar (same one as in Darling Harbour) then spent a quite afternoon at home. For dinner we went to the Salt at the Hilton where they have an excellent special of 2 courses + glass of wine for $45.
Thursday June 13
It was off around 10:30am for Bangalow where Greg (my former boss) and his partner Amanda have a property - stone fruit farm and horse stud. we arrived in time for lunch and settled into our own self-contained accommodation then had a nice lunch with Greg and Amanda sitting in the sun beside their pool. Later we had a bit of a tour of Greg's property then hit the Bangalow pub for five'es where we met many of Greg's local friends and neighbours. It was then back to ranch for a BBQ dinner and more vino - a long day - we crashed into bed around 9:30pm.
Friday June 14
After brekkie, Dieter and Greg ran some errands (buying horse feed), I relaxed at home and Amanda took Ivy to pre-school then did a beach walk. Later Dieter and I toured Greg orchard with his farm manager, Fossy (aka Greg Foster) and his brother Ken. we then had a wonderful lunch at Harvest a one-hatted restaurant in a local town, Newrybar (see http://harvestcafe.com.au ). We got home in time for a pot luck dinner and a very early night.
Saturday June 15
We bade farewell to Greg, Amanda and Ivy and setout for Noosa stopping first at the Byron Bay lighthouse (spotting a few whales and dolphins) - we made it to Noosa by about 2:15pm, checked-in to our holidy apartment at picture Point Terraces overlooking Hastings Street then did a quick grocery shop. By the time we finished it was time for an early five'es as we were starving, not having had time for lunch. We did a quick lap of Hastings Street then back to the apartment for dinner in house - pasta and salad.
Sunday June 16
After breakfast we did a 1.5 hour walk in the National Park spotting a single koala high in a tree. We got back in time to meet with Mike and Sonia for a long lunch at Gaston's. We stayed home for dinner of cold cuts and cheese.
Monday June 17
Up early for the ususal brekkie of fruit, yoghurt and cereal. After a bit of laundry and chores we setoff on a walk through the National Park to Sunshine Beach. After 2 hours in wonderful sunshine we arrived at the Surf Club where we shared a veggie sambo and a drink then took the short-cut track back to Noosa - about 1 hour. It was time for sunset viewing at the Noosa surf club then home for showers and dinner at Bistro C - sort of a 7 out of 10 experience.
Tuesday June 18
Another perfect day - sunny and cool, high of about 20C. After breakfast we took a driving tour of the hinterland stopping for a short walk at Fig Tree Walk in Kenilworth. We drove through Melany (a bustling tourist town then onto Montville where we had lunch in at the Poet's Cafe (a place we had visited with my mother 10 years earlier). Then it was another short walk at Gardiner's Falls and back home. We had dinner at home so Dieter could watch the soccer - Australia vs Iraq, another must win match.
Wednesday June 19
We stayed in Noosa and had lunch at home then did a boutique crawl along Hastings Street where I scored some pants, a skirt and a blazer. After a fives at the Surf Club we went home and showered - Mike and Sonia joined us for an excellent dinner at Season.
Thursday June 20
We did another drive to the hinterland - stopping at Kondalilla National Park where we did a great walk to the falls - about 2 hours with many steps. The weather was perfect - sunny and a bit cool, max of 19C. We had lunch in Montville again - this time at the Montville Pub where we shared a burger. We stayed home for a quite dinner of cold cuts.
Friday June 21
Last full day on this trip - as forecast it was a cold and rainy day so we spent the morning hacking about before attempting to go for lunch at Ricky's; alas, it was closed for a privte function so we opted for the bar at the Sheraton where we shared a club sandwich. We lazed about the rest of the day - starting to pack up for our departure the following day.
Saturday June 22
We awoke a beautiful sunny day - but it was time to go home. We checked out as required at 10am and drove to Brisbane. As our flight to Sydney was only at 3:30pm we decided to stop at the famous Brekkie Creek Hotel for lunch. Well the hotel was not only booked out (which may have had something to do with the Lions vs the Wallabies match that evening) but it was also a major let-down. We were out of ideas so we headed to the airport with a plan to have a free lunch at the Qantas Club which worked out just fine. We landed in Sydney early at 4:45pm in a raging rain storm but arrived home just after 5:30pm thanks to the new limo service we had decided to give a try. After unpacking we had dinner at Fratelli's - the weather was too bad to venture any further. So diet starts tomorrow - over and out.