Mount Nelson Climb

I started back up with school this month and am now settling into my 3 classes. A first year geology class takes up some of my Monday and has one lecture Friday. My second year Marine Geoscience class is for Tuesdays with an extra lecture on Friday. And finally, my second year Oceanography class is all on Wednesday, meaning I have Thursdays off.

The day before classes, I flew back from Queensland and then went out to meet the new International students that evening for dinner. It was a rainy day so not everyone attended but I did get to meet quite a few people, putting faces to names.

Since the classes haven't quite started putting out intense assignments, Emily (Swede studying full time), Jason (American studying 2 semesters exchange also) and I decided we'd climb Mount Nelson, the hill my house sits part way up. The walk was a very pleasant and easy one. There were 2 ways to climb, one needing transportation to the other side of the mountain and then climbing up, or the other way was to climb part-way through the park near my home and then take some other paths up to the Mountain top (which is what we did).

Mount Nelson is worth climbing, or visiting, as not only is the view awesome (especially on a clear day like the one we went on) but it also has a signal station and restaurant up top.

A snow capped Mount Wellington from Mount Nelson

View of Hobart from Mount Nelson

Another view of the city

These signal stations were used in the pre-telephone era as a means of communicating with the shipping traffic as they went in and out of Port Hobart. On top of mountains these stations would flash flags which could be then translated to different sayings. Later the station was used to communicate with those working at the penal colony in Port Arthur as well. Thus there were actually 6 arms used, 3 for sending messages to the marines and 3 for Port Arthur! Anyway the station still stands and now there is a nice little restaurant up top as well. We tried their muffins (which put me on a muffin baking craze) before coming back home. I invited my friends in for tea on their way back since I happen to be perfectly situated on the way down!

A beautiful view from the station, 340 m above sea level

A map of what we were seeing. Established 1811!

Flag signals. The last signal to be sent was one that said "Forgotten".

The never to really be forgotten signal station

Anyway I'm glad I was able to climb the mountain since it's so close. Perhaps a trip up Mount Wellington is now in order!

Queensland-Hello Sunshine Coast

 Caloundra is one of the larger places located along the Sunshine Coast. It boasts a lovely tree lined street with many shops as well as a popular boardwalk that runs up Kings Beach and around the point making it possible to walk a long way along the coast. On this side, one has perfect viewing of the large cargo and passenger ships headed to and from Brisbane.

View from Kings Beach of the Glasshouse Mountains

A memorial set up to remember those that died when the Hospital Ship Centaur was torpedoed by the Japanese in World War II. The survivors were found quite a distance from the ship,the location of which has only recently been discovered.

64 people out of the 332 on board survived the event

Mountains in the setting sun

On the other side, one can walk along a lovely pathway down Golden Beach, maybe spotting a few pelicans hoping to be fed by the fishermen, or venture into the mangroves which were pleasantly bug-less during the winter. 

Caloundra from Golden Beach

And with the sun setting

Path through the mangroves

Hello Mr. Pellican

Being fed by the fishermen 

North of Caloundra, Kawana and Mooloolaba are perfect touristy towns. Shopping malls, canal cruises, beaches and yummy fish and chips are on offer.

One slightly wet day we visited a Fish and Chip shop located close to where the canals meet the sea and hence they have the freshest seafood with the boats unloading their catch just behind the shop front. I had a delicious meal and tried some Mooloolaba prawns.

A wet but beautiful day in Mooloolaba

Some yummy prawns

On a sunnier day, we went back and took in the canal cruise. With only 4 people on board, out private cruise took us to see the homes of the rich and famous living along the canal’s edge. No point driving around to see these homes as they are all built to be seen from the water.

Mooloolaba mall thing/ docks 

Time for a cruise

Back in the day the canal area was actually all marsh land, but a building company decided to build canals and hence manage to salvage the land....However the locals would always remind potential buyers that the land had once been swamp land which prevented any sales from going through. It took a cyclone to rip through which was unable to damage the canals, and from then the prices sky rocketed as people finally felt secure in buying a plot or home along the canal system (this is all from memory so hopefully it's accurate even though it has been about a month since the cruise!).

Anyway, while taking the cruise, the guide points out all the fancy homes and jokes around a bit.

"This home won an award a couple years back."

Everyone turns to view the impressive home.

"At the time they didn't realize that the house had been purchased using drug money."

Shocked faces, head shake!

"....Well the owner is a pharmacist. 

And this home coming up is owned by....."

We cruised by homes with pools in the back and also inside, wine cellars visible through the pool's glass side, a home won in a raffle (the cheapest home for only a $10 ticket), one of the oldest homes built along the canal which had hosted many famous celebrities back in the day, and of course one of the homes of the late Steve Irwin. Their large boat is parked outside and only runs once a year to ensure that the motor is still working fine....what a waste!

Some fancy homes take 1

And take 2

Who owns this home?

Terri Irwin and family rarely use the home anymore....

Let alone the boat

If you were to head further north along the coastal road, you would come to Coolum Beach. We had made this a pit stop on our way up to Yandina. Coolum Beach is, as suggested, located right along the beach. It also boasts a beautiful boardwalk that takes you up the cliff side providing you with amazing views along the coast. It is definitely a must see (or a must stop!) as you drive along the coast.

Coolum Beach- you can nearly see all the way to Noosa

And a bit of the high rise apartment building

Boardwalk path with a lovely tree canopy

One of the more touristy things to do is head over to Yandina to visit the famous Ginger Factory and the Macadamia Nut Factory right across the road.

You enter the Ginger Factory from the store front, where you can pick up all sorts of ginger sauces, pastes, spreads, a ginger plant and of course candied ginger too! You can also taste all sorts of ginger mixes of ice cream at the cafeteria plaza. I tried ginger macadamia and ginger crème which were both delicious!! A train can take you around the site, or you can join a tour to see the actual factory. One of their more notable displays is actually their tropical garden which they have reclaimed with all types of trees and plants. A couple foot paths through the garden make for a relaxing walk. There are also some touristy stores selling all sorts of spices, special decorations, children’s toys and other knick-knacks. The factory now has a chocolate shop that offers a ride that looked very similar to ‘It’s a small world’ in Disneyland. They also offer some free samples if you stick around long enough!

Entrance

Meeting place if you want to join a tour

Yummy  ginger ice-cream!

Cool looking tree in their tropical garden

Right across from the Ginger Factory is the Macadamia Nut Factory. They have so many flavours of coated macadamia nuts to try and an informative display sits above the shop so you can learn all about the history of the macadamia nut.

My only Macadamia Nut Factory picture

Anyway, I had such an awesome time visiting my relatives in Queensland. I think that getting this break away during the semesters was needed a lot more than I would have thought. Studying away so far from home may not have made me totally homesick yet, but it is more stressful than you would think and this trip away was just the perfect pick-me-up!

Queensland -The "Interior" (Or as far interior as I got)

I flew from Sydney to Brisbane and arrived rather late in the airport. After getting picked up by the shuttle bus I was on my way to Caloundra, about an hour north of Brisbane and located along the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. Finally upon arriving at my lovely Aunt's and Uncle's home, my relaxation could begin!

During my time in Queensland I was taken around to many of the small towns nearby! Each small places had its own charm and I had a wonderful time overall. Instead of a day-by-day account I’m just going to focus on the individual places I saw.

Early during the visit, I visited Maleny, a small town located in the Blackall Range near to Caloundra. Maleny has a cute street with shops lined along it. I tasted a couple sweets at the bakeries and received some lovely wood items from a timber gallery.  As there is a lot less logging now of the native timber, a lot of the wood pieces are actually harvested from already fallen logs or recycled from previously cut timber.

A wet Maleny

 On the way to Maleny, there is a very picturesque view of the Glass House Mountains from Mary Cairncross Park. However it was a rather rainy day so views weren’t quite as good but still impressive.

The Glass House Mountains

To Captain Cook, as he voyaged north up Queensland’s coast, the funky looking mountains he spotted reminded him of huge glass furnaces or glass houses from home. I guess the name stuck, and now the mountains (which are the lava cores from inside a mountain and have been exposed as the rest of the mountain eroded away) are a notable landmark.

Wet and cloudy view of the Mountains

And a sunny view

On a much sunnier day closer to the end of my visit, we ventured back up to Mary Cairncross Park, and this time took in the nature walk through one of the few preserved sections of rainforests in Australia. The walk was great and very easy for all. The trees were beautiful, the sounds of nature fabulous and it was definitely well worth a visit and the small gold coin donation to keep up the maintenance and regeneration efforts.

Entry to the Park

Tall trees

Crazy roots

Twisty branches

Leafy Palms

And a fibrous root system?? Weird!

An aerial of the small amount of remaining rain forest and the path through it

Slightly after the turnoff to go to Mary Caircross Park, this is the opportunity to head off to Montville. The road to Montville is quite scenic with amazing views  of the land below and back to the coast. Montville is a perfect tourist town with the main street through town lined with shops on either side of the ascending road. 

Pedestrian pathways run parallel to the road, making easy access for store hopping and the shops, set back a bit, usually have their wares for sale displayed up to the edge of the path. There is just the right number of coffee shops and restaurants mixed in with the leather shop, kitchen wares store, shops with random assortments, metal items, and the traditional Indian clothes and items boutique. A small park, the public washrooms and a great scenic view seem to compile the rest of Montville, although there must be somewhere for the residents to hide, somewhere behind the shops perhaps when all the tourists flock to the streets.

View from Montville

Another angle from Montville

A Montville street and pathway

 If you were to continue driving along that road, you would eventually come to Flaxton and the Flaxton Barn. The Barn is actually an odds and ends type shop, carrying antiques, brand new kitchen supplies, jams, door mats and other household items. I picked up a wavy vegetable knife that gives your veggies that fancy edge you normally only see in frozen vegetables, fancy restaurants or on crinkle cut fries.

And that sort of sums up the places more interior located that I visited during my time in Queensland!

Goodbye Sydney

The rest of the time in Sydney can be more easily written in a single post.

Saturday we had wanted to see the Blue Mountains but as there was some work being done the route was made rather confusing. We had also slept in too late to be able to see much. Instead we caught a ferry to Manly which is a rather pleasant ride away. Manly is very touristy and we browsed through an Aboriginal art shop and then headed to the beach with our packed lunch and some books. There is a nice walking path with many benches one can sit and enjoy the view from. After a relaxed afternoon we jumped back on the ferry and met my cousin for dinner. We enjoyed a delicious dinner before running to the station to meet Eric, who would be joining Nya for the rest of her trip. Even later that evening we caught a bus and went to Bondi beach which was deserted during the night. I had been told to go see the beach, but unfortunately during the night it is rather dead and it was the only time we made it out this way. We met up with the Patisserie working Swedish girl and gave her some Swedish cookies we had found at IKEA by way of thanks.

See you later famous landmarks!

Taken from the walkway at Manly

The next day we took Eric on a quick tour of the city. We had a huge lunch at Chinatown for a reasonable price, and then went on to the Sydney Aquarium which is located near Darling Harbour (the red square above the bridge in the last post). The Aquarium was pretty cool and we all saw a platypus for the first time as well as a Dugong!

Whoa! Now that's a BIG fish!

The clearest photo of the platypus

The Dugong

The next and last day I ventured far away to some place inland to drop off my friends bag I had agreed to take for her. The trip? Long and boring! However I did notice that a huge number of Australians had solar paneling. Not only for their hot water (which is the only way it is now sold) but additional panels as well! "Good on ya" I would like to say...and why can't we see more at home?!!

After getting back a couple hours later, we took our packed lunches to the Royal Botanical Gardens. First we mosied around the governor's house and well manicured lawns (square below Opera House) before venturing to the garden's tip named Mrs Macquarie's Chair (other square in the park). From here, great views of the Opera House with the Bridge in the background can be seen! The gardens were very pretty to wander around and walking to the point took no time at all.

Governor's House

The back gardens

From Mrs Macquarie's Chair

Eventually it was time to say goodbye. Bye to Sydney and bye to the last of my international friends. As we took the train to the airport, (this time only $10) we were getting off at different stations and a goodbye on a crowded train is rather awkward and not recommended! Then I was by myself again finding out they had cancelled my flight to Brisbane but luckily I was put on another flight an hour later. At least I hadn't booked with Tiger!

Other hints and tips about Sydney:

• I've already mentioned the free buses that one should take advantage of. Bus #555 loops around the CBD but there is also another bus, bus #430 that does a loop from Kogarah...wherever that is.
• Too see this --> awesome miniture of Sydney, head into a building across from the Train Station at the Circular Quay on the Opera House side. You can't miss it as it takes up the main portion of the floor in the middle of this building.
• For those students travelling interstate unfortunately you don't qualify for the concession rate because the NSW school board or something helps fund the transportation costs...so even though you're a student you have to pay the adult rate. (Although we may have succeeded in the concession price for some train tickets as they were bought at machine.....)
• I would not plan on a week in Sydney...as mentioned we did just about everything in the first full day. Four days is just about perfect, our schedule was a bit off due to us needing to meet up with Eric and then redoing some things we had already seen so he would still get a good experience.
• One thing we wanted to do was see something at the Opera house! And no, it would not have been outrageously expensive. On the website look for shows with concession or under 30 rates...this means if you can prove you're in school or under 30 years old, for some shows you may qualify to buy greatly discounted tickets around $30! Not bad at all!  Unfortunately for us, none of the shows really worked into our complicated schedule.
• Be warned that many of the buses require you to prepay for your ticket. This is rather annoying as you can't just jump on a bus for a spur of the moment type trip.
• For fantastic views of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge...take the elevator outside the Circular Quay Train Station and you'll arrive on the overpass high above the crowds below.
• I was also told to look for Adventure Travel Bugs at Kings Cross. They have free membership and apparently have great tours and you can go in and use their internet for free. Since we didn't end up having time to do any tours, nor did we need their internet I never bothered looking for it.
• For those wanting to cross the Harbour Bridge...you can walk across using the pedestrian foot path without doing the climb. I was curious as to what was so exciting about the bridge as it's not really much to look at. According to Wikipedia  it's the world's widest long-span bridge.
• Sadly the Opera House is not lit up in cool lights every night like seen in photos ...in fact it is a bit of a let-down when viewed at night. If any Opera employees or government officials read this, I would like to officially suggest turning on a few spot lights, even if for just a few hours. Thanks.