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!