Day 5: Maroochydore and the North Noosa Coast
We woke up in Maroochydore to cornflower blue skies
We were told to dress for the beach and to be ready for a 9am departure. We drove north for about 30 minutes and caught the car ferry at Tewantin by Noosa Heads . Little did we know what an adventure awaited us!
After the quick 5 minute crossing we stopped to let air from the tires, apparently necessary to get on to the beach.
Driving through the bush on unmade roads we suddenly veered down a track, we were straight for the ocean and at quite a speed to prevent us sinking into the sand.
We were in the Cooloola Recreation area north of Noosa in the Great Sandy National Park with nothing but a breathtaking shore line and the ocean. It was spectacular!
About 60km of pristine beach and gently foaming waves curling on to the sand stretched before us.
An amazing connection with nature.
Just us in a 4 Wheel drive by the ocean.
It was as if we’d been transported to some undiscovered place
surrounded by just the beauty of the land and sea. Although completely different and far away, the connection with the wonders of nature reminded us of our trip exploring some of America’s national parks, particularly Yellowstone.
When we could drive no further we parked and headed up the 2km trail to the lighthouse at the top of the cliff. We were at Double Island Point named by Captain James Cook on 18 May 1770, during his voyage of discovery on the Endeavor when he was chartering the east coast of Australia.
We climbed higher and higher, looking down from where we’d driven, the view was sensational.
Double Point Lighthouse
The lighthouse has been protecting these shores since 11 September 1884 when it was built by the Queensland Government. It is a great example of a round, timber framed, galvanized, iron clad lighthouse, unique to Queensland. It was originally fitted with a 3rd Order lens and oil wick burner. In 1923 this was changed to kerosene. Up until 1933 the lighthouse keepers worked four-hour shifts between dusk and dawn. In 1933 the lighthouse was converted to electricity and the keepers’ watch reduced to two people, each taking a six hour night watch. The lighthouse was upgraded several times and automated in 1991. Today it is powered by solar electric panels.
From the summit we could see Rainbow Beach and in the far distance, Fraser Island now known as K’gari , the world’s largest sand island with about 100km of beaches.
We made our way back down the cliff side stopping to admire the turtles diving into the waves. It was a bumpy drive back down the trails, passable only in a 4×4 vehicle. We stopped for lunch at Rainbow Beach, looking back across the view we’d been admiring from the top of Double Island Point.
Our incredible day ended by the beach in Noosa after a stroll around this chic resort destination.
Day 6: Brisbane on the Gold Coast
We watched the sunrise the next morning from the deck in Maroochydore. Today we were leaving for Brisbane , 100km south on the Gold Coast.
Our friend’s gorgeous apartment had yet another incredible view, this time of the Brisbane River.
Walking beside the river there were few reminders of its historical past, dating from 1799, just the remains of the original peer.
When Brisbane was initially settled it was a penal colony for British convicts sent from Sydney. However in 1838, pressure from free settlers who’d discovered Brisbane’s great fishing, farming, timbering and opportunities led to it being designated as an area for free settlement in 1842.
Some of Brisbane’s colonial buildings have been preserved. We walked passed this former government building. Today Brisbane is a beautiful, modern and vibrant city, we wished we’d had more than twenty four hours to explore….next time!
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