We stayed in Ballina for a few days visiting some friends with whom we had lunch at the riverside restaurant on the left hand side of the picture on the right. Ballina is a far bigger town than we remembered.
Friends Annette and John actually camped on the spot next door to us for the first night as they have a small campervan so wanted to enjoy the outdoors life with us briefly.
We were hoping for an outdoor bbq in true camping fashion but weather intervened and we used the excellent park facilities, indoors and snug!
We actually spent a lot of time at nearby Lennox Head mainly because the caravan park was on that side of town.(David liked Lennox Head because of their particularly excellent Gelato ice cream shop!).
On the left is the local civic centre in Lennox Head (where Cindy eventually found a toilet after a very anxious search!).
Up until this point we had been well into winter clothes but the moment we crossed the border into Queensland the air changed and we were into summer. (Our euphoria did not last long as of course it is winter in Queensland too and they have days of chill whether we like it or not!)
The Gold Coast (Tallebudgera to be exact) welcomed us with a lovely site near the lake which we lost no time re-exploring. Then walking under the road to the ocean side to take these two beach photos, on the left Surfers Paradise and right the doggy beach down towards Tweed Heads and below left back down river.
We had great pleasure in having dinner with friends Lyn and Felix. A fun night!
Friends Annette and John actually camped on the spot next door to us for the first night as they have a small campervan so wanted to enjoy the outdoors life with us briefly.
We were hoping for an outdoor bbq in true camping fashion but weather intervened and we used the excellent park facilities, indoors and snug!
We actually spent a lot of time at nearby Lennox Head mainly because the caravan park was on that side of town.(David liked Lennox Head because of their particularly excellent Gelato ice cream shop!).
On the left is the local civic centre in Lennox Head (where Cindy eventually found a toilet after a very anxious search!).
Up until this point we had been well into winter clothes but the moment we crossed the border into Queensland the air changed and we were into summer. (Our euphoria did not last long as of course it is winter in Queensland too and they have days of chill whether we like it or not!)
The Gold Coast (Tallebudgera to be exact) welcomed us with a lovely site near the lake which we lost no time re-exploring. Then walking under the road to the ocean side to take these two beach photos, on the left Surfers Paradise and right the doggy beach down towards Tweed Heads and below left back down river.
We had great pleasure in having dinner with friends Lyn and Felix. A fun night!
Maroochydore is always beautiful but the first photos are of Noosa where we met up with friends Beulah and Neville and Sandra at the Yacht Club for a delicious lunch.
David just liked this shot taken from the edge of the caravan park at dusk (evening drinks)..
We could fill a whole page with shots of the magnificent shopping centre in M-dore. It expands every year and every time you turn a corner you face another long corridor like an airport with an amazing assortment of shops. I think I will suggest to management at Hornsby they visit and learn!
Tallebudgera creek looking back to the road bridge and the mountains in the West
We watched a dozen surfers from the Maroochydore beach in front of the caravan park.
They were having a great time on these wierd surf boards with the "winged keels". Amazingly fast and manouverable once they get up on the wings with the surf board well clear of the water.
They were having a great time on these wierd surf boards with the "winged keels". Amazingly fast and manouverable once they get up on the wings with the surf board well clear of the water.
The Caravan and Camping show was open while we were on the Gold Coast. We have wanted to replace the caravan TV antenna since seeing a better one at a show two years ago, so decided to use the new train service from Varsity Lakes to the C&C expo at the show-ground in Brisbane. Bought a new TV antenna and returned on the train.
(1.1/2 hrs each way)
(1.1/2 hrs each way)
We managed to see friends from Brsibane, Peter and Chris. We enjoyed afternoon tea with them and caught up two year's worth of news as we missed them last year due to their big decision to take on a world cruise at that time. Unfortunately we just did not bring out the camera. Most remiss!