Our last hurrah in Australia has been blessed with fantastic weather as we continue to enjoy lots of sunshine and warmth in Queensland. The weather has been ideal for exploring some of the beaches in the area and we have enjoyed our excursions to the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.The Gold Coast, is the more commercial area which is located south of Brisbane and its star resort town is Surfer's Paradise. This is a beach area which largely tries to imitate Miami and Honolulu at the same time. The sand is exquisite here but huge condominium skyscrapers tower over the beach, unfortunately blocking out the sun at times. Amusement parks and arcades abound in this area.
On the other hand, the Sunshine Coast, located north of Brisbane is not as commercial and beaches are not as busy. It is the more popular choice for families seeking a nice spot for a vacation. Beaches on the Sunshine Coast are popular but are not as crowded as those on the Gold Coast.
A highlight of our stay in Australia has been the various visits to Wildlife Parks and Sanctuaries. While there are many of these in the country, each park has its own unique features. At the Corrumbin Sanctuary, on the gold coast, we discovered something truly unique in the lorikeet feeding ceremony which takes place every day in the morning and at sunset. At the sunset ceremony, we witnessed literally hundreds of lorikeets gathering in the trees and swooping down en masse to feed from the metal plates filled with milk, honey (and another substance) held in hand by visitors to the park. As you will see from the photos, these birds come down very close indeed and it is incredible to see these colorful creatures at close quarters.
We have only a few days left in Australia but be assured that we will make good use of the time we have left.
1. The Lagoon, Brisbane Botanical Gardens, Mount Coot-Tha2. Honour Guard and Band rehearsal for the opening of the Queensland State Parliament in front of Parliament House, Brisbane
3. Surfer's Paradise, The Gold Coast
4. The Gold Coast
5. Lorraine at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast
6. Trevor on the Sunshine Coast
7. Lorraine feeding Lorikeets at the Corrumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast
8. A Platter of Lorikeets, Corrumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
9. Trevor is attacked by a giant snake
10. Kite Surfer on the Sunshine Coast. Glasshouse Mountains (so called by Captain Cook) are in the background
11. Kookaburra sitting on a fence at the Brisbane Botanical Gardens
12. Termite Control, an essential service in Queensland
