Narangba to Maroochydore

Narangba – Monday 4 July 2011

We are still in Narangba, I know the itinerary says different, and off to the Australian Zoo today.  What a great day, the zoo is something very special and we were lucky enough to see Terri, Bindi & Bob Irwin do the main display for the day, apparently this is a rare thing. 

Australia Zoo displays mostly Australian animals with lots of active Koloa’s, Kangaroos and of course the fantastic Crocodile.  Charlie the Croc put on a great performance on the day.  Apart from the Australian locals the Zoo has a great display of Asian Elephants and Tigers.



Terri feeding Charlie



Monument of "The Irwin Family"

 If you are in the region the Australian Zoo is well worth the experience.

Back at Narangba we went out to the local Tavern for dinner and had a nice dinner with our Bob, Linda and Emma.

Final Dinner with Bob, Linda & Emma

Narangba to Maroochydore – Tuesday 5 July 2011

Finally left Linda & Bob’s and on the road by 10am, mind you we only went as far as Maroochydore, which is about 1 hour away.  By 11:30am we were at the Cotton Tree Caravan Park and settled in for a couple of days.  

The park has 300+ sites and is full.  It is something very different to see a caravan park near to full in July, the place is packed full of Victorians and NSW, plus the other states, and here for 3 – 4 months.  They bring everything and set their vans up just like home, to the point of planting herb and flower gardens out the front.  Everybody has to outdo the next person. We decided that we are not that old yet!!

Each afternoon everybody goes down to the river each to watch the sunset across the valley, very spectacular.  We went for a great walk along the beach just before sunset, again it is different to see a beach busy in July, we enjoyed a nice 2km walk.

Eumundi & Noosa – Wednesday 6 July 2011

The van stayed at Cotton Tree and we went for a day’s drive out to Eumundi, to visit the markets.  Wow these are big market’s, we had visited them before about 12 year ago, but forgot how big they were.   We helped the out the Eumundi budget that day by spending lots but I have been informed it was all a bargain.

After the markets we headed across the Noosa Heads to walk along Hasting St and had lunch at a very nice café on the beach front.  It was a very pleasant afternoon eating, drinking and looking out across the beach and ocean.

Noosa Beach - July this is supposed to be winter

Sorry, forgot to mention that the weather was a very nice 22deg, I am reminded by Ryan that Canberra was ‘bloody’ cold, -1deg wind chill factor that day.

Home, to the van, to a great evening watching Queensland beat NSW in the state of origin.

Maroochydore – Thursday 7 July 2011

Another lovely day, 22 deg, but it was a cool night, got down to 4 deg, we started the day with the weekly domestics, washing clothes, car and van.

All jobs were done by midday so we went for a run down to Mooloolaba for a look around and lunch.  It was a nice relaxing afternoon.  We were home by early afternoon for a walk along the beach, then drinks on the water edge to watch the sunset over the Maroochydore River.  A nice end to a few very pleasant days in Maroochydore – tomorrow we are off to Hervey Bay for a couple of days.


Ready for the Sunset



First stage of sunset



Sunset reflection across the sand



The perfect Sunset across Maroochydore River