Noosa, Australia

We've spent the past week in Noosa on Australia's Sunshine Coast. The Noosa river winds through town, the ocean beach fronts the main street, and just off the beach is the Noosa National Park. For us it was the perfect spot to relax a bit before some fast paced months ahead in Sydney, Japan and China. 

We were lucky to stay in a new home right on the river.   Across the river was a nature preserve.  The sounds of singing birds woke us every morning - a much better way to wake than the iPhone alarm!

We had kayaks and paddle boards on our dock and we paddled every day. One of those days I flipped my kayak and got an early morning bath.  (Unfortunately Carol didn't have her camera so we didn't get a photo. Darn it!)

Allison

Our first day we relaxed at home and had lunch and dinner outdoors on the deck.  

 The river was full of sea life.  We saw a few types of jellyfish while paddling.  One was incandescent blue and the size of a football. 

This leopard ray off our dock swam in just before dinner one evening.

We had a blast in this small boat we rented for an afternoon. We beached it on a sandbar and sunk in almost to our knees in the  wet sand. As the tide moved out we had to make a quick exit!

Given my extensive history and experience with boating, I was given the honor (and responsibility) of first to drive.

Allison at the wheel

Cameron sinking into the sand

One evening, Allison and Carol chose the seafood platter to share. Allison was all set to dig in

On two different days we hiked in the Noosa National Park.  We are so impressed with the trail systems and national parks in both New Zealand and Australia.  The coastal track in the Headland section of this park is not to be missed. Photos below:

About an hour hike along the coast, we came upon this nearly deserted beach. It was about a mile long and there were only about a half dozen people in sight.

Noosa also has a popular beach filled with sunbathers and surfers. Hastings Street lines the beach.  We spent an afternoon shopping here and we all bought some much needed new clothes.  We'll be packing up a box of clothes and shipping it home from Sydney.

On another day we upgraded to more of a stylish cabin cruiser. In Noosa, they call this a BBQ boat (note the gas grill on deck).

Cameron at the wheel.  "Doesn't this thing go any faster?!"

We're off now on a two day drive to Sydney.  We'll spend one night in a small town along the coast -  Coffs Harbour.  As we're sure most of you know, Coffs Harbour is famous for having the largest banana in Australia.  So we are excited to see that!