May/June 2021

Gold Coast

It was our first flight in over 2 years so you can imagine we were a little bit excited but reassured about COVID safety as we wore our masks for the whole flight (except while eating/drinking). Queensland was the destination for a month. I was looking forward to getting some warm Queensland sun as well as visiting my brother Bill whom I hadn’t seen for over 2 years.

We flew out on Tuesday 18 May and we never envisaged that by the following Friday, Victoria would be in another COVID lockdown! Number 4! We were there for the last 3.

First stop for us was the Gold Coast. After an enjoyable catch up with my brother, Bill, Ruthie and I finished off with a swim and spa back at the hotel. Who would have thought that we would be enjoying pool time in winter. Obviously the locals could pick that we were “Mexicans” (Victorians who escaped over the border).

We find the public transport on the Gold Coast so easy to navigate so when we had to get to Mudgeeraba , the bus was the go. That was the easy part but trying to find a way across all the spaghetti roads to get where we going, took just as long as the bus trip! It was however, well worth it. At the Wallaby Hotel, we caught up with some musical acquaintances we first saw on a music cruise in 2016 and have seen several times since. What a great night it was, singing and dancing the night away. If ever you get a chance to see Bloom (with James Morley), do it! We chose an Uber rather than a bus home.

We met up with a friend (Fergie) from our home town. He took us to the Gold Coast races on the Saturday. Apart from losing money, a good day was had by all.

While all this was going on, we were also fitting in Blues on Broadbeach which is a 4 day musical event. It was great to rock out to the variety of music on display. I found it funny that the overall headline act was Wolfmother. Blues? Hmmmm but I guess you’ve got to take what you can get during these COVID times.

BRISBANE/MORETON ISLAND

A quick tram and train trip and hey presto, we were in Brisbane. The Great Southern Hotel was centrally located and our view looked over a major redevelopment. We were fascinated by the multi crane movements happening and amazed they didn’t get tangled amongst one another. The walk through the Botanical Gardens was beautiful and soul soothing. Also a nice walk along Southbank and across the Storey Bridge. We found a pub for dinner and it had a solo guitarist performing. Yes, before I could blink , Ruthie was up dancing with the locals.

A ferry trip to Moreton Island was next and we spent 3 days at Tangalooma Resort. Lots to do here. The first night we fed the wild dolphins. They are such beautiful intelligent mammals and they have a long history of coming to the pier to be fed nightly. Even though we only fed them on the first night, we went back to watch the feeding the next two nights. I couldn’t get over how very passionate the young staff were about the welfare of the dolphins. The second day we went on a four wheel drive desert safari. Moreton Island is the third largest sand island in the world. The best fun was tobogganing down the giant sand dunes. Ruthies shrieks of delight could be heard all the way back on the mainland. There were many water activities as well as ATV’s through the sand dunes.

SUNSHINE COAST

After arriving back in Brisbane, the next adventure was about to begin. These two sixty something year olds hired a campervan and set out driving north along the coast. I couldn’t get over how many caravans and campervans were doing the same thing as us. With Covid not allowing overseas travel, many Australians were exploring their backyard. Our first stop was Noosa and although our camp was out of town a bit, we explored some of our old haunts from previous visits. After a couple of nights there we moved on to Hervey Bay. On our way we stopped at Maryborough. What a beautiful historic town on the Mary River this is. The town just has a nice vibe. Ruthie was very excited to learn that the author of Mary Poppins was born here. Our camping spot at Hervey Bay was right on the beach. Unfortunately we were a month early for the whale watching. Some beautiful walks along the beachfront and the 1 kilometre pier built up quite a thirst and hunger.

A drive through Tin Can Bay and we landed at Rainbow Beach. Again our camping spot allowed us to open the tail gait and gaze at the ocean’s breaking waves.

Another drive and we camped at Cotton Tree Holiday Park in Maroochydore. Again ocean and river views out of the back of the van and great walks along the esplanade. We walked all the way to Mooloolaba to get our seafood fix and the prawns at the fish market did not let us down

It was now time to return the campervan to Brisbane. Nine days was fun but I was looking forward to a normal bed and home comforts.

We took a train and tram back to Surfers Paradise, then a self contained apartment in Broadbeach. We realised with glee, this was the first time we had a couch for our whole trip! Woo hoo. No more watching TV from the bed As luck would have it, Cooly Rocks On, a music and muscle car event in Coolangatta, was on. Lots of attendees dress in their rockabilly clothes and there is dancing in the streets to the music coming from multiple venues. Put that alongside the throb off the muscle car engines and you have a very entertaining event.

Our time to fly home was getting nearer. We were now staying in Coolangatta as our flight home would be an early start. Two days before we’re due to fly, our flight is cancelled and then our re-scheduled flight is cancelled also. We don’t seem to get a lot of Melbourne news in Queensland but we do know that Melbourne is coming out of a Covid lockdown. Maybe we should just stay here?

In our lifetime travels, we have been to some remote areas and third world countries but the Wifi in Queensland is the worst I’ve encountered. I’m not sure why this is. Maybe too much sun! Whilst there were many caravans and campervans on the road, we found many places eerily quiet. This is maybe due to the lack of international travel. Many shops were closed yet others were advertising jobs and finding positions hard too fill.

The winter weather in Queensland is just sensational. The ocean temperature here is warmer in winter than it is in summer back home at Cape so we thoroughly enjoyed the swimming. We find we are a lot more active and have really enjoyed the long walks and just chilling out. As much as we miss our family and friends, we know that we’re going to freeze our asses off when we’re back in Melbourne.

We finally got a flight back to Melbourne via Sydney. As Greater Sydney had COVID cases, we were met by the Department of Health in Sydney. Our declaration was all in order and we were clear to go home. At the baggage carousel we were met by a channel 10 reporter and cameraman. This was the first day this check was in place and they wanted feedback on how easy or hard it was. Ruthie gladly volunteered for an interview. That night her phone started going berserk. She had appeared on the Channel 10 news, and again the following night and then again on The Project. This was far from the highlight of our holiday but probably what it will best remembered by. The COVID times we live in.