Almost Home

Tallebudgera Creek on the Gold Coast was our last campsite before heading home on Tuesday (7 Sept). As a finale to our trip we spent Monday at Seaworld (we are all really just kids at heart). The weather was wonderful, the dolphin, pirate and seal shows were very entertaining. The aquarium and polar bear display were amazing and Di, Joyce and Carol even went on some of those crazy rides!

So, it is with heavy hearts we pack up our gear, roll up the hose, electrical lead and drain hose, wind up the supports and hitch the caravan to the car for the last time and head south. It has been a wonderful time away - all too short!

The Sunshine Coast

Mooloolabah Beach and Point Cartwright

Graeme

Thursday, Friday and Saturday (2 to 4 September) we booked in to Mooloolabah Caravan Park on the Sunshine Coast. This location was very handy to the Mooloolabah shops and clubs as well as the beach. Di and Joyce had a wonderful swim (the most enjoyable of the entire trip, they say) on Mooloolabah Beach and John, Carol and I had a good 8 km kayak across to the Mooloolabah River mouth near Point Cartwright then down to the marina and along one of the canal estates that proliferate these coastal communities.

John and Carol

On Saturday we travelled up to Gympie to take a trip on the Valley Rattler, a half-day heritage steam train ride with live entertainment and an historic re-enactment. A truly great day out!

The "Valley Rattler" at Old Gympie Railway Station

Hervey Bay and Whale Watching

Early morning on Hervey Bay 

The last couple of days has been spent at Hervey Bay. Yesterday (Wednesday 1 September) we spent half the day whale watching on the good ship, Quick Cat II . . . and we weren't disappointed.

"Tharrr she blows!"

It was an early start from the Hervey Bay marina as we headed off at 7 am. First stop was Kingfisher Resort on Fraser Island to pick up more passengers then it was out into the Bay.

Breaching Whale

Whale Fin Slapping

Whale swimming under our boat

We saw many whales with calves and at one stage a large whale swam right under our boat. We witnessed a whole range of whale antics: fin slapping, breaching and expelling air through their blowhole. Joyce and Carol, between them, took hundreds of photos with their fancy digital SLRs. They are truly a marvellous animal to behold (the whales, that is, not Joyce and Carol although they are marvellous in their own way!).

Joyce, Di and Carol - keen whale-watchers