Sunshine Coast, Queensland

It’s been a while since I last posted. Blame a lazy ten days on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland while catching up with some mates from home.

When we crossed the border into Queensland, the landscape changed almost immediately. Forests became more dense, its foliage greener with broader leaves, and palm trees appeared. Everything became more colourful, such as birds and butterflies. In the towns, supermarket carparks provided awnings for shade, and houses were built on stilts. We drove through Toowoomba, the 2nd largest Queensland city after Brisbane, and 2nd largest inland Australian city after Canberra. We stayed a couple of days at the charming little town of Esk, population about half that of Tenterfield at two thousand people. Nearby were lakes Somerset and Wivenhoe that were created by dams to provide flood mitigation and water to Brisbane and surrounds, but had also created beautiful views and picnic areas. Picturesque was the adequate description. Then onto the multitudes of Maroochydore.

Lake Somerset, near Esk.

It was our first time on the Sunshine Coast, and we came away after ten days with a good insight into this burgeoning place. Not as “highrise” as the Gold Coast, but it won’t be long before it is. Dozens of cranes hovered over new buildings, and some of the structures had huge footprints. The thousands of businesses sold either accommodation, clothes, alcohol or food – and real estate. The beaches were certainly spectacular, as were the sunsets, so you could look out to sea while sipping your latte or wine before retiring to your million dollar apartment or cabin cruiser parked in the marina.

Sunset over Maroochydore.

Our caravan park (Cotton Tree at Maroochydore) had a large Tasmanian contingent, and three of them just happened to be our close mates from home, so a splendid time was guaranteed for all. We also caught up with Brisbane friends we met last year on the European cruise, and also a former workmate of Anne’s. Our park was packed, as were all the caravan parks up and down the coast. Some were there for the long haul – three months at a time, paying $50 a night. We’d heard about the winter mass exodus of southerners to these parts – it was quite extraordinary.

Our restaurant in the forest for our anniversary.

You don’t come here to get away from crowds. As well as people, there were lots of bikeways, shopping malls, parklands and multi-lane motorways. Surf clubs provided meals and poker machines while monitoring the beaches. Man-made canals brought private boats to the back door of some luxurious homes. We all went to a fabulous restaurant in the middle of the forest by a lake for our 39th wedding anniversary. We went to the famous Eumundi market, arriving early to beat the rush, and the carpark was already near-full. Many times larger than Hobart’s Salamanca market, thousands flock to this shopping treasure-trove twice a week. It was an eye-opener for us, as was the entire Sunshine Coast.