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!

Walking Noosa

We walked well over 8 klm yesterday - in perfect Queensland Autumn weather (22oC max) - along the Noosa Headland track, through the National Park and ending at beautiful Sunshine Beach.

We're just past Dolphin Point here - and we're in new territory - the spectacular Granite Bay......

 ... then we're at the most Northerly Point of the National Park .........

 before the coastline heads SE to "Hell's Gates" and the remote beach at Alexandria Bay.

 Coast view with magpie ........

 We saw some wonderful wildlife yesterday on our walks including hundreds of these beautiful butterflies, a small family of quails and a camera shy echidna. We caught a glimpse of dolphins off the beach yesterday evening too, but none on our long walk in the morning.

 This is a pic of Rob doing his Harrison Redford impersonation (but without the snake) on the track along Alexandria Bay...........

Alexandria Bay is obviously popular with naturists. There were quite a few people enjoying the beach today - quite naked - but we acted blasé about it ..... as you do ....... see if you can see them in the background of this picture.....

 This is "Lion Rock".......

 This is the point - almost at the end of the coast walk - where we get our first breathtaking view South, past Sunshine Beach - all the way to Mount Coolum in the middle horizon line. Very familiar territory for me.

 There are over 200 steps down to Sunshine Beach. I'm glad we were going down and not up.....

 We walked another 1.3klm along the beach before rewarding ourselves with an excellent coffee at the "Jam Cafe" at Sunshine Beach. We decided to catch the bus back to Noosa rather than face another 8klm walk back. The tracks are pretty easy going for us but the kilometres of soft sand walking are always the hardest.

We finished off a wonderful day meeting up with my friend Jane and her Rob for drinks - overlooking the beach (at the Boardwalk Bistro). Nothing could be better than time with dear friends, eating fresh Coffin Bay oysters, happy hour drinks and a superlative sunset view over Noosa Beach (and a dolphin sighting!). Thanks for arranging the best seat in the house Jane!

 We ended off the night at the dark moody and classy "Locale" in the French Quarter.  What a wonderful day!

Noosa perfect

We arrived in Noosa yesterday afternoon in pouring rain but woke up this morning (after the best night's sleep in a L-O-N-G time) to this........ 
Early morning Noosa main beach!

 .. and the start of a very laid back Malibu Club Surf Comp (for kids) in the flat rolling "surf" break to the east of the main beach..........

We left the kids to it and set off eastwards along the boardwalk towards the National Park, admiring the gorgeous beachfront views unfolding below...

 The decking looks brand new - all timber and polished metal - very sculptural .....

 I always feel happy seeing my first pandanus palm framing the view of the surf.

 We walked as far as Dolphin Point (about 3.5-4klm from our start point) along the stunning National Park coastal track......

 ....... where we stopped to admire the views out to sea, to the amazing sand blow cliffs of Cooloola in the Great Sandy National Park.

 Time for coffee on Hastings St on our return.... thanks to Claire for the recommendation .... Felix Espresso in the French Quarter fitted the bill - although their almond croissants were not quite the standard we are used to.

 .. and back to our apartment for some stunning sunny views and a late "proper breakfast" on the balcony. This is the first time we have stayed in no. 17 at the Lookout Noosa Resort. It's on the very top floor so the views are even more amazing than in our fave no. 10 - but the decor is not quite as stylish!!

 Great breakfast spot!

We took a drive this afternoon, along the Noosa River up as far as Tewantin. I always try to get my bearings on these visits - trying to reconcile (unsuccessfully) my almost 60 years ago memories of the Sunshine Coast of my childhood.

We ended up at the Heads of Noosa Brewing Company in the back blocks of Noosaville. The brewery had everything going for it: super cool fit out, live music, interesting beers, bar food with a focus on locally made/grown produce - but hardly anyone was around today and it didn't have a buzzy brewery vibe, unfortunately!

 We took another walk this afternoon, this time along the length of the main beach, right up to the mouth of the Noosa River. This is such a clean, velvet sand beach with sparkling pristine surf - Noosa perfect!

We need to walk up over 265 stairs, through a rain forest, to get to our apartment from Hastings St. We did that TWICE today (the second time was easier than the first!).  But we were rewarded with this stunning sunset view for our troubles.......

Can you get any more perfect than this???