Awesome Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast is really an awesome tourist place. It is just one hour drive from Brisbane and Glasshouse Mountain gives a very beautiful scene on the left side on the way to the pristine coastline and lush hinterland. Timber plantation on both sides of the motorway provides the cool picturesque that make the motorist trip enjoyable.

And last Sunday, CJ and I headed to the Sunshine Coast. We’re a bit excited as we woke up around 4AM, but nah, it was mainly because we’re going to drop-by brother-in-law, G, to the market on the way. And yet, it gave us an early start. CJ chose to go the scenic way instead of using the motorway or the highway. We first stopped at Caloundra, the first town in the Sunshine Coast. The sand dunes make the place hilly. There was one point on the road where you can see the entire town with all its high-rise building, the ocean and the villages. The town is facing the Pacific Ocean and big boats and ferries are visible from the coast. Huge Pacific waves were lapping to the rocky coast. Water splashing all over was really a relaxing view. Tourist units are lining on the coastal residential area but the place seems to very peaceful and quite.

After seeing here and there, we took-off for the next town. But oh boy, we’re lost. CJ can’t remember the name of the street. We were using the short-cut way. But after a series of turns, stops and round-abouts, we were heading to the Mooloolaba, the next town. CJ intended us to the stay on the beach there for a while and maybe wander a little further.

We first looked for a parking area in Mooloolaba and found one close to the beach. We head-on to the beach and had our breakfast, seafood salad and coke. It was a bit early, and people were already splattered all over the beach, walking, jogging, surfing, swimming and some are just lying on the sun getting sun-burnt. I dipped into the water a little, but with no intention of swimming. CJ was left on the picnic table, the watch-dog for our stuff. Hehehe.


We stayed on the beach for almost an hour just sight-seeing, enjoying the sun on our skin and the sound of the water washing over the sand. We had a good view in-front of us. The long stretch of beach is quite a scene.

Another stop-over on the same town, was the Underwater World. It is the largest aquarium and oceanarium in Queensland. In there, are over 25,000 weird and wonderful sea creatures. The first stop inside, was the stingrays and other rays territory. There is a Honda car aquarium with small, beautiful and colourful school of fish. I have seen sea creatures that I have never seen before like, sea-dragon, stone-fish, saw-fish, jellies of different kinds, and many others. With their numbers, I can not remember all of them. LOL. I also saw the biggest live fish in my entire life. They’re really beautiful but also smell fishy. Hehehe. We watched the seal encounter where they perform different tricks. The seals waved, perform mischievous tricks, kissed the guest, and what have yous. The Otter show was not really that funny except the story told about them. They’re not in the mood to perform, they just want to eat but hey, they are really very smart animal. Our last stop inside was the Dinoworld. I thought the Dinos are alive because they’re moving. Silly me, of course, they are just electronically operated. Hehehe. But they really look like real.

The highlight of our trip inside was in the sea tunnel with the sharks. The tunnel is made of 250mm glass. The curvature decreases the size of the creatures inside in 30% and the tank has 1.5 million liters of sea water. Can you imagine how big it is? And the tunnel is on the third lower level of the place. The sharks are really wonderful creature. It was my first time to see them though so I was really amazed. It was just so disappointing that our camera battery was not fully charged and it was already flat when we were in the tunnel. Nevertheless, we have some few good photos.

We had our lunch inside the Underwater World though I don’t really feel like eating because I can smell Otter and something fishy anywhere. CJ even reckon that he smell like Otter even when we’re already outside. Hehehe.

After all the excitement, we already felt exhausted and sleepy. We then decided to head-on to the next beach and find a good place for siesta.

We drove for another hour, passing by the next town, Maroochydore. We didn’t make a stop there but just drive slowly and just have a look around. We use the coastal road so trip was still relaxing. The sun was not so hot and the wind was not so gusty. It was a perfect afternoon for wandering around and enjoying what the nature has to offer.

Our last stopped, was at the Coolum beach. I had first to find a loo as the drinking of cola was making its way over me. Our purpose was to find a shady part, lie down and have a siesta. Well, almost all of the tree shades were occupied so we went down the beach. Like the Mooloolaba, Coolum beach was also full packed. There were lots of hot-air balloonist and wind-surfer. It was a very long stretch beach of almost 5km. CJ and I found a nice spot, spread our towel and lie down. It wasn’t long after that I had fallen asleep and CJ as well.

Coolum beach will be inked in my mind. It is on this beach that I did the most daring thing in my life, so far at my age. Hehehe. Guess what it was? LOL.

Half-hour before 5PM, some people were already packing-up and leaving and so were we. Again, I dipped into the water before going our-way up to the parking area. CJ didn’t as it was already too cold and he was just being cautious.

I am starving again after the siesta, so we decided to have a big ice cream treat. We went to the Turkish food shop and bought sorbets and baclava, a Greek food. They’re yummy.

Seems a storm was brewing up and so we also head home. This time, we use the motorway for a faster trip. We arrived home few minutes before 6PM. We were tired and exhausted but we had a grand time.

It was indeed a chill-out Sunday treat.