Hello All,
Just coming to the end of our relaxing week and now ready for the tour of New Zealand. Some jottings of our time in Sydney and in Noosa Head.
Sunday 2 March 2008 - 18:05
Location: Metro Hotel on Pitt
We got a day pass for the trains, buses and ferries today. Started by going to the Sydney Opera House - it looks great close up as well. A swimathon was happening next to the Opera House - swimmers were streaming out of the water. Then took the Ferry to Manly Beach. The weather was completely different to our last visit - warm and sunny. Loads of people there - surfing. Then went to the Sydney Botanic Gardens - seemed like a normal garden until we came upon several trees containing bats - they were making a heck of a row.... Would have hated to go through there at night. Also, the spider webs there are amazing - instead of a single web that we have in the UK, it is an intracate 3D construct - the spiders are huge.....
Wednesday 5 March 2008 - 09:09
Location: The Sebel, Noosa Heads
Monday 3 March - spent most of the day travelling - but all the arrangements went very smoothly - Noosa Heads just happens to be a 2 hour drive from Brisbane Airport. Waiting for the flight was interesting as the Indian Cricket team were travelling on the same flight (they were happy as they had just won the first of three One Day Cricket Finals against Australia). Spoke to the guy who was organising their flight arrangements - a bit of a nightmare because if India win their next match at Brisbane they do not play the third match at Adelaide - so they have to hve two reservations and then confirm at the end of the Brisbane match (I think that the Aussies won that one so they are going to Adelaide). The surprising thing for me is that I always think that all sportmen are super rich and that money is no object, but the team travelled in economy..... The transfer was as quick as possible but we have been used to the luxury coaches provided by AAT Kings - so the mini van bus used for this part of the journey was not quite as comfortable - but more than adequate for the journey. Actually got to Noosa at about 14:00 - plenty of time to unpack (properly for once). The apartment is very swish (so are all the others in Noosa Heads) - it has all the mod cons including a stereo system, DVD player; Combi oven and hob (so we get a chance to have a quiet evening in), a jaccusi bath and separate shower (a real power shower - would have lost all of my hair if I hadn't already!) and a washing machine (could catch up on all of the past weeks' washing. It has a lovely balcony with a big tree in front - the wildlife again surprises - the birds here are huge and look like a cross between a turkey, pidgeon and a vulcher..... The shops and restaurants are very upmarket (with prices to go with them!). Enjoyed a Mexican meal with a bottle of red (just for medicinal purposes Kamel)
Tuesday 04 March - glorious day today - basically mouched around (the purpose of this part of the trip is to chill) - got some shopping for some meals in - wandered along the coastal path and viewed the virtually unspoilt coastline. We seem to be very fortunate to visit places where thare is an event going on - here there is a long surfboard competition running from 4 - 9 March - so there are lots of surfers here - the boards are very different to those that we saw at Manley Beach in Sydney (those could be tucked under the arm to move) - they require a lot of strength to carry. But we saw some practicing today - there are some that have two people on them - and one we saw literally putting their partner on their shoulders as they were surfing - amazing......
Wednesday 5 March 2008 - 21:42
Location: The Sebel, Noosa Heads
Perfect relaxing day - superbly warm day - uninterupted sunshine. The day started at the seaside (went for a swim in the sea - water was warm - pure sand on the shore and in the sea - so different to our childhood beach at Hengistbury Head near Bournemouth) - then started to listen to a book sat round the pool.... Late afternoon went to see the surfers - not much surf but they still managed to get some runs in. Saw the sun set - the surfers were still surfing......
Thursday 6 March 2008 - 22:27
Location: The Sebel Resort, Noosa Heads
A day of two halves - decided to explore Noosaville this morning - fortunately took our umbrellas and it did pour down for about 30 minutes - still helped to shelter a lady from Melbourne who did not have an umbrella (our good deed for the day) - Noosaville was not worth the walk either..... The afternoon was spent relaxing on the balcony of our apartment - the sun peeked through more as the afternoon progressed. At about 16:00 we decided to go to the beach - the surfing competition had started - saw some wonderful surfing (we worked out that the two longest times that the surfer could stay up were added together to give a score - usually 6 surfed in a heat that lasted 20 minutes) - the last competition ended virtually in the dark (about 18:30).
Friday 7 March 2008 - 21:33
Location: The Sebel Resort, Noosa Head
Another excellent day - most relaxing (sort of) - I started the day early (07:00) - couldn't sleep so decided to see the starting group of the surfers (they start at 06:40!) - but when I got there I found that they were surfing from a different part of the beach - I therefore decided to go to the lookout point on Noosa Hill (Luguna Lookout) in Noosa National Park - it was up some 100 steps and a very steep hill - however the view was good. Met a guy there who had been well travelled - came from Surrey originally, had lived in Shrewton (one village from Durrington where I used to work) and then moved into West Country - married a Aussy girl - did 3 months in the bush - returned to UK where marriage failed so he returned to Sydney where he lives now - he is now trailing a caravan up the east coast ...... Any case then spent some time round the pool and then went to the beach - I went swimming - the sea temperature is 25 degrees celsius - marvellous... Then watched some surfing - some of the rounds were tandem - two riding a board, a male and a female - they did acrobatics whilst surfing - a sort of dancing on ice but on a surf board. Noosa was packed this evening - but managed to find an Italian restaurant for food.......... Oh by the way - the weather was perfect - little whisps of clouds, lovely and warm......
Saturday 8 March 2008 - 22:10
Location: The Sebel Resort, Noosa Head
Got into a nice routine - climbed to the Laguna Lookout first thing, then went to the beach, then went to the pool, then went to watch the surfing - really good surf today. Just such hard work relaxing........
