Australia's "Sunshine" Coast

Stunning Lake McKenzie on a clear day :)

Sunshine Coast you say? Yes, please!!  After weeks of being immersed in the wettest November in Australia’s history, we were ecstatic to arrive in Brisbane on the famous Sunshine Coast.  Ask any Aussie you meet and they will tell you that December on the Sunshine Coast is simply the best time to visit—beautiful, long summer days with not an ounce of humidity or precipitation.  Throughout the course of our five day stay in Noosa, a quaint beach town just north of Brisbane, we experienced a mere 30 minutes of sunshine.  However, it was going to take a lot more than a little (or a lot) of rain to hold us back from experiencing all that the “Sunshine” Coast had to offer.



First dingo spotting



I spent my first full day in Noosa walking along the Coastal Trails of Noosa National Park.  A six kilometer stretch connecting numerous sandy white beaches together, it offers a spectacular view of the water and many of Australia’s famous water sports.  Not only has Noosa become somewhat of a surfer’s paradise, but also the newest sport of paddle boarding has taken off as quite the rage.  Along my trek I spotted my first wild koala, grazing along the coastal eucalyptus trees, and a school of dolphins jumping in and out of the water for a little play time.  Truly a treat to go for a stroll and run across this wildlife!

Our full day trek took us to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the entire world.  We hopped on a fifteen minute ferry ride across the sharkiest waters in all of Australia.   I’ve never taken the parental advice of “keeping all arms in the car” as serious as this journey across the land of the great whites.  We arrived on land with all of our limbs and hit the beach.  Not for a swim mind you, as we had no desire to recreate the thrilling Jaws scenes, but for a drive along the sandy shores of 70 Mile Beach.  As the rain continued to pour, the beach ride provided a thrill equivalent to that of a roller coaster—unexpected drops, turns and screams.  After the beach ride and walk through the rainforest in our raingear/swimsuits, we ventured to Lake McKenzie, a stunning lake with crystal clear blue waters and massaging sand on your feet.  Lake McKenzie was not only the prettiest lake I have ever swum in, but also the warmest J A perfect combination on a cold and rainy day. 

Shipwreck on Fraser Island

We spent our last day visiting the Gold Coast, just two hours south of the Sunshine Coast, for the famous water park Wet n’ Wild.  And oh boy, was it wet (both from the water park and the pouring rain)!  We were banging on the doors as they opened the park at 10 am and hit every single ride we could until 4 pm.  Not only did we take on the Black Hole, Kamikaze, Tornado and the Aqua Racer, I officially survived the scariest water ride of all time—the Aqua Loop.  Don’t let the subdued name fool you, this shit was crazy!  The party finished back at the apartment with a pizza dinner and a make your own ice cream sundae dessert J Definitely the best 7 year old birthday I’ve been to in years and years!  Off to Melbourne we go…