Noosaville - Sunshine Coast

Decide to make our next stop Noosa.  It was only a short trip but there were a few things in the area we still wanted to do and this was a good base to do them at.  When we arrived we pulled into the Noosa River Caravan Park.  We arrived at just the right moment as we got the last site available.  We had arrived the same weekend as the Audi Food and Wine Festival. 

Sunset no 60 and still not sick of them

The Big Pelican - Noosaville

We toured on our bikes and had ice cream with all the beautiful people.  The next day we visited the beach.  The waves were last minute dumpers and Jordan scored a blood nose and a grazed hip from two decent dumps.  They were great wave to body surf on but each time I did I had to remain in the water until I had readjusted my top so I did not show my boobies to everyone....lol.  We later found out that the beach is known as the neck and back injury capital due to the late break.  The kids had an absolute ball digging out seats in the sand and playing games on the beach. 

Main Beach - Noosa Heads

I hope they're in the right place!

Building sand seats

Eumundi Markets
We visited the Eumundi Markets and were surprised at how large it was.  It took ages to zigzag our way around all of the stalls.  They had jewellery, art work, food, soaps, photographs, clothing, footwear.  Everything art and crafty.  But there was only a small number of things for the kids which seem a little odd.  We had lunch at different parts of the world and bought some amazing sauces and texta.  We left Eumundi just after 2 and travelled to Buderim to visit the ginger factory.  There we rode on the ginger train and wandered around the small shops.  Next we went to the Big Pineapple only to find out that they were no longer open.  The poor pineapple had seen better days.  I think the Prawn and Pineapple may be in the BIG Heaven.

Standing in front of the Wishing Tree at
Eumundi Markets

Great Scott! Very funny performer.

Body Art Exhibition 6.30am start.
Brrrrrrrrrrr

 

Buderim Ginger Factory Train

Oh the poor Big Pineapple!

Had a relaxing day with the kids playing with the neighbours kids.  We went for another ride in the afternoon and the kids played at the park which they really enjoyed.

Fraser Island

Our early start.  The sun isn't even up yet!

The final day before leaving Noosaville we actually did a tour around some of the major sights of Fraser Island.  The largest sand island in the world.  It is an amazing place.  We boarded the 4WD bus at 5:50am and drove the 1.5hour trip to Rainbow Beach to pick up a few more excited travellers.  We were able to ride in any seat in the bus and were asked to rotate our seats often.  Austin rode with Nigel in the front seat of the bus with our tour guide Rob as we disembarked from the ferry that took us over to Fraser Island.  Nigel said the whole time he was in the front he could not wipe the broad grin off his face.  It was so much fun driving along 75mile Beach.  The wave crash beside us and the bus ploughing through the receding water.  Our first stop was morning tea on a near perfect beach for morning tea and a walk around.

Austin in the front seat with Dad and Rob the tour guide

Driving along Fraser Island 75 Mile Beach

Morning tea stop! Still a little cool.

Once back in the bus we continue our journey towards Lake Mackenzie via Eurong.  One of the two holiday resorts on the island.  Our trip through subtropical rain forests was beautiful and looking at the amazing size and height of the trees was dumbfounding.  The kids had a great giggle of the Blackbutt trees name as you can well imagine.  But at least they were listening and interested.  Logging was one of the industries which use to be part of the islands trades.  They made a point though that if they cut it down they replanted new trees in there place.  The history behind the logging was very interesting really.  They also mine minerals off Fraser Island but that was also stopped.  Now it is a protected national park and even tourism operators are only allowed limited access to the island.  As we neared Lake Mackenzie we had a brief glimpse of it between the tree and it was quite amazing to see the aqua waters glistening in the sunlight. 

Walking track leading down to Lake Mackenzie

Our first glimpse of Lake Mackenzie

We wandered down a track and it open up to the sparkling blue waters.  Unfortunately the rain clouds glide into the area and a drizzling rain started but that did not stop us taking a dip in the crystal clear fresh water of the lake.  It was a little fresh at first but once in it was amazingly fun and refreshing.  The kids splashed in the clear water and Jordan and Nigel paddle to deeper water and floated effortlessly. 

Look at how clear the water is...every wrinkle still in place!!

Family at Lake Mackenzie

 

We continued our drive to Central Station.  An original logging camp located in the middle of the island where we walked along Wobegon River and looked at the ancient ferns and twist vines and trees.  The walk was followed by and amazing BBQ lunch. 

Hiding inside a burnt out tree

Wobegon boardwalk

Ancient ferns found on Fraser Island

How much fun can we have climbing this tree?  It has an inbuilt ladder.

First Bulldozer used for transporting

 

Our next leg was a drive back out to Eurong then north along 75mile Beach, where finally we sited our first dingo.  A very scrawny female.  She wandered along and stuck around for a bit so we could take some photos then continued our journey to The Pinnacles,Coloured Sand.  The wind erosion and the sand colours were quiet exquisite.  The HH Maheno Wreck.  The ship was wreck on the beach 74 year ago when its tow rope broke in a cyclone and  was smashed on the beach at Fraser Island.  I found it a beautiful place to take amazing photos.  I was definitely one of the highlights of the trip for me. 

Scrawny female dingo on Fraser Island

The Pinnacles - Coloured Sands

Beach adjacent to The Pinnacles

HH Maheno Wreck on Fraser Island

Afternoon tea was served up at Eli Creek.  A fast flowing fresh water creek that is said to contain 40 year old rain water that has filtered through the island sands and end up come down this creek and the many others dotted around the island.  I walked the boardwalk and considered floating back down the creek to join the others but with camera in hand it was impossible. 

The cool refreshing water of Eli Creek.

That was our final stop on Fraser Island.  Jordan and I were lucky enough to get the front seats of the bus on the way home and we got to see lots of amazing things. It was a great place to sit and Jordan absolutely loved it.  We reach the ferry in the nick of time as the tide was quickly approach  it full height and the bottom of the island would have been impassable.  Kaleb climbed on board the front of the bus to go back to Rainbow Beach and loved the really rough trip that we had to take to get there.  We arrived back at Noosaville at 5:45pm so it was a very long and tiring day but one not to forget to easily.  The kids were so great on the tour and just amazed at everything they had seen.  Nigel and I were so proud of how they lasted the day with not one complaint.

Fraser Island 75 Mile Beach

Ferry waiting for us to head home!



Our exhausted boys!