Around Noosa

We enjoyed a laid back day yesterday - all morning on Noosa beach - lots of walking and even venturing into the water enough to get my new swimmers wet!!..... then a drive along the river at Noosaville to find a late lunch spot with a view..... 

We found Jimmy Fox on Gympie Terrace fitted the bill perfectly!

 An added bonus was finding the excellent Amo Gelato just around the corner....nothing better than checking out life on the river while eating an (excellent) gelato for dessert.

 We didn't feel up to much more driving or exertion after that so Rob was super patient while I checked out the beautiful Zephyr Loungewear in Mary Street Noosaville (and did some shopping) before heading home for a really lazy late afternoon. We're on holidays after all!

We woke up this morning feeling revived and headed off early to Eumundi to check out the mid week markets. Unsurprisingly they haven't changed much since our last visit. However the food probably gets more interesting and the handmade crafts get less and less interesting each year.....

Rob took this pic for old times sake!.........

 We chose Japanese street food as our lunch choice. Granted we're in the region for a few days the markets were worth a visit for us. Eumundi is such a pretty village, the live music is always great and you can always pick up fresh food and interesting produce. I found some locally designed and made linen clothing to buy too - so we had a successful morning at the Eumundi Markets.

 We drove further SW from Eumundi then to beautiful Mapleton, high up in the Blackall Ranges with its panoramic views of the Sunshine Coast. That lion shape mountain in the middle of the far horizon is very familiar to me. It's Mount Ninderry near Yandina. As kids we always knew we were getting close to Coolum Beach once it came into view.

 The Mapleton Tavern is built in the distinctive old Queenslander style, but I preferred to keep it as background in this close up of the purple trumpet vine (I'm having fun with my new camera!).

 The Mapleton Falls National Park is a short distance from the township. The falls are part of Pencil Creek and drop a spectacular 120metres, but there wasn't a huge amount of water flowing down the falls today!

 A spectacular view of the Obi Obi Valley from the falls viewing platform ........

We started our forest walk with a snake sighting - TOO CLOSE for comfort. By the time I got this photo I had screamed, jumped in the air (I came upon it unexpectedly) and the snake had slithered right away from me (thank goodness!).

 It escaped into the leaf litter around this part of Pencil Creek.

 We walked the Wompoo Circuit today - an easy track winding through sub tropical rainforest and eucalyptus forest. The circuit is named after the Wampoo fruit dove that makes its home in this area. Peregrine falcons also roost near the falls cliff edges during August and September - but we saw none on our walk today.

The eucalypts (tallowood, blackbutt) grow tall in this forest!

 It was like entering another world in this part of the forest - massed Piccabeen Palms - growing well over 20(?) metres tall.......

 I thought my camera did well exposing for the harsh light contrast - taking this shot of these magnificent wild stag horns in the highest part of the tree canopy.

 Beautiful textures and layers in the forest...

 and patterns .....

 The Mapleton Falls National Park is only small, but what we saw of it today was just spectacular. So glad we did that!

Every evening we have enjoyed another spectacular sunset view from our balcony. I thought our glasses of chardonnay reflected tonight's amazing sunset perfectly (loving my new camera)!!!

 We're up so high here at the Lookout Noosa Resort but still so close to the buzz of Hastings Street. It looks it's glowing best at sunset!