More of our adventure with Tracey, Kim and Julia

We had so much fun, saw lots and did lots. After seeing Bald Rock just outside Tenterfield we drove on up to Stanthorpe,QLD, a huge apple and now wine growing area where we spent the night. Was it cold, the night got down to 4 C! One reason why it is such a good apple growing area, because of the cold. The next morning we bundled up and drove north through Warwick to Toowoomba where I haven’t been since 1984! Let me just say it has GROWN! Anyway, the lookout park that I had been to all those years ago was still there, and still had its incredible view of the land in the west. The rest of the area was all houses, at least some things stay the same. After lunch we pointed Em north towards Kingaroy for the Bunya Mountains National Park. This park has the world’s largest remaining bunya pine rainforest. These trees are the most amazing, the girth is more than Steve or I together could wrap our arms around. We couldn’t do all of the walking trak that we wanted to because of the time and a rock fall that had closed off a huge portion of the track. If nothing else, the girls got to see lots of wallaby’s in the wild vs. in a sanctuary.



The next day we left Kingaroy and headed north east to Gympie and then south to Noosa Heads for two nights. We went to the Eumundi Markets, so cool. They have been around now for over 30 years and have over 500 stall holders. I don’t even know if we saw them all in the 2 hours we were there. Then on down the highway to Yandina, home of the Ginger Factory where 90% of the worlds ginger is produced. We stocked up on ginger and ginger products. Then down to Mapleton where we did a small waterfall walk. Then we flew back up the highway to get to Mt Timbeerwah for sunset. As we were racing up the path the fog was rolling in from the ocean, the rain was starting, but a did get a glimpse of a sunset, just the tail end.



The next morning off to Brisbane via the Glasshouse Mountians that unfortunately were socked in with low clouds so we really couldn’t show them off to the girls, they had to take our work for their majesty. Then down to Brisbane for last minute shopping in the CBD, the Queensland Museum of Science and South Bank which is a redevelopment of the old 1980 World Expo site that is full of water gardens, a beach, cafés and restaurants. Brisbane has come along way in the last 20 years.



Yesterday was sadly saw the girls off at the airport and we continued our adventure homewards. We stopped at Tamborine Mt. , where I used to live in work. Last year we had driven through and I was blown away by the development on the mountain, this time I was ore prepared for it so we had more fun. I took Steve to Curtis Falls, just down from where I used to live and it was as beautiful as ever. Then we did SkyWalk, which is new, a tree top walk through the rainforest, as usual, the heavens opened up and we got soaked. Got some good pictured anyway. Then homewards to decompress and get ready for our next adventure.

On the Road

I know it has been awhile since we have posted a blog, but we have been busy being tour guides with Steve’s sister Tracey and girls Kim and Jules. As you can imagine we have been filling their days with activities, showing them the best of what we know. They have experienced surfing and Jules is now a grommet (a term for a young surfer), we went to Currumbin Bird Sanctuary. For an up close and personal experience with Koalas, Kangaroos and other Australian wildlife. We walked up to the lighthouse at Cape Byron, and over Broken Head to see the whales and dolphins that are migrating north.

Now we are on a 5 day adventure over the Great Dividing Range for a bit of different landscape. Yesterday we climbed Bald Rock, just on the New South Wales border with Queensland. It is a huge granite rock. No, let me rephrase that, it is the largest inselberg in the southern hemisphere and it is truly amazing. It has balancing rocks, and a panorama that well, pictures will only start to tell the enormity of it all. Then we are off to Bunya National park and the Sunshine Coast then Down to Brisbane. I hope that the rest of this adventure is as good as Bald Rock.

On top of Bald Rock

Bald Rock Scene

Surfin' Mama

Grommet Julia

Surfin' Chicks

Adventures with the Family

We are all enjoying wonderful weather, temps in the upper 60's - low 70's and clear blue skies. What a great time for my sister and my two nieces to visit. They love the beach and we've been to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Crystal Castle, which sounds worse than it really is (poor marketing). We've driven the hinterland and the coast and we'll be taking a bit of a journey next week to see more sights. Today it is surfing lessons for my sister and niece, Julia. I've a bit of a bum wing so no surfing for me - plus I can't see without glasses so I'd be very dangerous on the water.

Lorikeet at Currumbin

Julia at Tallow Beach

Petting the Koala at Currumbin

More of the Currumbin koala

Happy Days!

Steve

Cool and Raw

The weather is definitely colder and wetter than we've experienced in Australia before. There seems to be a bit of a persistent weather system causing all this and there are places experiencing record colds. Must be all the "warmth" in Canberra within the Labour party causing it. For our readers outside Oz, the Labour party recently had a "Night of the Long Knives" and after a particularly nasty internecine battle, a new PM, Julia Gillard, came out on top. The entire country is rather appalled at the cold-bloodedness of the entire affair. Thus the weather, I suppose.

On a happier note, we had guests last weekend from up in the Brisbane area and we were able to show them around. And in a few days, my sister, Tracey, and her daughters will arrive for two weeks! Hopefully the weather will cooperate and they'll see how magical this little corner of paradise is.

We wish we could trade some cool and wet for the heat that is baking the US, but hopefully we'll warm and you'll cool and all will be well.

Cheers,

Steve and Allie