Swimming with the Whales
Did you know that the Sunshine Coast was the first place in Australia where you could go swimming with humpback whales?
Yes, SWIM with the whales!
There are not many experiences that are quite as thrilling as watching humpback whales in the wild so imagine getting pretty close to them IN the water…
It’s terrifying, exciting and magical all at once and a memory that will stay with you forever.
Now before you freak out, there are some rules and regulations that go with this adventure.
Before you depart, you will be fitted with a full wetsuit, flippers, mask and a snorkel.
Sunreef in Mooloolaba take out a maximum of 20 people on their whale swimming boats and only 10 people are allowed in the water at any time.
Electronic shark shields are compulsory, there’s limit on the number of people in the water at any given time, and there’s a swim-up limit as well – we got about 30 metres away as this one whale was breaching and playing around the boat. It was completely on the whale’s terms but still breathtaking.
We headed out at 8am for our 4-hour trip and within 20 minutes we had spotted some whales, a mother and a calf. These guys were on a mission so we didn’t swim with them but it was still incredible to see.
The second sighting bore better fruit. When the whale was about 100 metres from the boat, the engines are turned off and one group slips into the water with a guide swimming towards the majestic creature.
At one point, I was head down snorkelling and the whale breached. I didn’t see it but I heard not only the cheers from the guys on the boat but the vibrations and splashes in the water. It felt SO close.
We were so lucky on our day, we hung out with the same whale for hours, swapping groups so everyone got to experience it. Even when you weren’t in the water, watching the playful, up to 30-tonne animal from the boat was awe-inspiring.
The crew on the boat provided water, juice and snacks and were also full of fun and useful information about whales. There was not a single dull moment on our trip – especially when you consider the pod of dolphins swimming on the bow as we headed back to shore.
Sunreef’s Swim with Whales season runs from July until October and I will almost certainly be back next season for another dip!
Maleny Botanic Gardens
If you are looking for a fun day out with the family on the Sunshine Coast, Maleny Botanic Gardens should definitely be on your short list.
Along with over 6 kilometres of walking paths surrounded by some of the most amazing plant life, there is also an aviary where you can get up close with some stunning birdlife!
Stroll through the rainforest, cross the bridge to Zoysia Grass Island and wander the oriental inspired garden, all the while indulging your senses of sight and smell.
There are easy paths through the countless bright flower beds, past waterfalls and ponds, and the serenity is just wonderful. I am not much of a botanist so can’t name the plants and flowers but I can say that they are impressive.
You may also spy some sculptures and interesting figures around the gardens on your walks.
The aviary is home to about 300 magnificent birds, including Australian natives, peacocks, South American Conures, parrots and colourful macaws.
You may find yourself adorned with birds as their cares talk about the different species living here on the guided tours – definitely an ‘up-close’ experience.
Make a day of your visit and pack a picnic to enjoy. You are encouraged to get ON the grass in these gardens. This also means your kids can wear themselves out free range-style
Treat yourself with a Devonshire tea, served in one of the gazebos dotted around the gardens. What is better than scones and tea with those views for just $11?
One of my favourite parts of the gardens are the unbeatable views over the Glasshouse Mountains – a photographers dream!
For those less mobile, access is limited if you are in a wheelchair, but you can hire a golf buggy for $20 an hour and still enjoy the gardens.
There are picnic tables and seats in shaded areas for a rest stop or if you are just looking for place to soak it all in.
You can choose to just explore the gardens for $17 per adult (children under 14 are free) or add on a visit to the aviary for $33 for adults and $12 for kids.
Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum
When your legs are tired from climbing mountains and hiking and the weather isn’t conducive to hitting the beach, the Sunshine Coast region still has a few tricks up its sleeve.
One overcast day, we decided to head north to Gympie for something a little different. We planned to spend some time in the Gympie Gold Museum (after hitting up the markets right next door that are held on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday of each month for a coffee and a browse).
To give you a bit of background, Gympie has been touted as the "Town that saved Queensland from Bankruptcy". This is why we wanted to see a bit of the history behind this.
It all kicked off when James Nash discovered 72 ounces of Gold in just six days back in 1867. Today that would be worth just under $100,000.
With five hectares of land and displays in 15 buildings, you can definitely while away a morning or an afternoon here.
As you enter the first stop is where you can try your luck gold panning. We didn’t have any luck here but I sure had fun trying.
From there you will find a lot of mining relics and gem displays and even a fully-functioning steam-powered winding engine. While all cold and quiet on the day we visited, apparently they do fired this up on special occasions.
The other buildings in the museum range from old school houses to a blacksmith's shop and the displays include an old camera and movie room, a military museum, a railway display, a trophy room celebrating Gympie's sporting achievements, and a dairy display. Other attractions include horse-drawn equipment, a blacksmith and a 1931 Leyland bus.
Also on display are memorabilia, documents, artefacts and photographs exploring one hundred years of history.
Entry is just $10 for adults.
Craft Beer & Cider Festival
When I heard that the Sunny Coast was getting a new beer festival I was pretty happy. Then I heard that it was going to be ON my birthday and my excitement levels really peaked – what could be more perfect?
The Sunshine Coast has a slew of craft breweries and this festival gave me a chance to sample them all – plus a few more from around the country – in one spot.
Despite a rainy forecast, the Saturday dawned hot and sunny (possibly next time a little more shade might be required…it is HOT in Queensland at the end of November peeps!)
Gates opened at 1pm and the day promised more than 160 beers and ciders from Australia and New Zealand available for tasting and with our tiny sample pots, I am sure I made a fair dent in that number!
Local brewers represented included Eumundi Brewery, Your Mates, Moffat Beach Brewing, Bargara, Brouhaha and Buderim Ginger.
You didn’t have to worry about cash on the day which was nice. Your entry wristband could be loaded with whatever money you wanted to spend and you just scanned it at the stands around the stadium for your food and drinks. No chance of losing it and at the end of the event (which finished up at a very respectable 9pm) any unused funds on your band could be refunded to you.
If the sample pot wasn’t quite big enough for you, or you found a tipple that really took your fancy, you could purchase larger drink sizes as well.
There really was a beer, or cider, or ginger beer, for everyone. I tried everything from heavy, malty flavours to lager-style, easy drinking brews and I probably missed a few as well. A girl can only drink so much!
In addition to the many drinks on offer, there were plenty of food trucks (think mexican, donuts and kebabs!), giant TV screens (for the cricket fans…) and live music.
There was room to set up your own picnic rug on the grass or if you were lucky, grab a free hay bale to rest your weary beer-drinking feet.
This was pitched as a family-friendly event and while there was a little for the kids to do and food for them to eat – I am not sure it is the right space for children – especially later in the day as a few of the beer taps ran dry and people got a little rowdy.
The icing on my birthday cake was that there was a lucky door prize and I happened to be one of the winners – definitely a first for me.
If I have one complaint, it actually started before we entered the Sunshine Coast Stadium – the queue was at least 20-25 minutes long and we had all pre-paid for our tickets and ‘express entry’. A more streamlined entry system should be looked into for future events.
Given this was the first year, there is room for growth and I will be back in 2018 to check it out all over again.
Mt Ngungun
It doesn’t matter if you are heading north from Brisbane or south from the Sunny Coast, you really can’t miss the Glasshouse Mountains.
It may be one of the hardest to pronounce - I am still not entirely sure how - but Mt Ngungun is probably the easiest of the bunch to hike up and the view from the top is spectacular!
The walk to the top of this mountain is just over 1.2km so there will be some steep bits and you will sweat – especially if you decide to tackle this is the humidity that is Queensland summer.
No matter when you decide to climb, you will be rewarded with 360-degree views of everything around you at 253 metres above sea level. You can spy Brisbane in the distance on a clear day and look out to the ocean as well the nearby Mt Tibrogargan and Mt Beerwah.
The path is well-marked and well-maintained and about half way up you will come across an overhang that looks like a cave. This is a good spot for a break from walking, the sun, or both!
I would recommend that you apply bug spray before getting out of the car and starting the hike as the mozzies around here seem not only extra hungry but huge!
Once you make it to the top, keep an eye on any smaller people you have brought along for the journey as there are some sheer edges with no barriers.
The summit is rocky but with enough spots to sit back and soak up the incredible views.
It is easy to see why this climb is super popular at sunrise and sunset – I want to do it again just to watch the sun come up from the east! I might have to pack a head torch just to make sure I don’t lose my footing.
We made our way down pretty quickly on my first visit as there was a storm approaching but that didn’t seem to stop the people we passed racing to the top – the walk is popular with those looking for a bit of fitness.
On the descent, we did spot some people making the trip down a little quicker – abseiling. It turns out abseiling clubs use Mt Ngungun as one of their practice sites with quite the highway going up and down the rock face.
Whichever way you go up and down, this is a mountain worth visiting.
Sunshine Coast Marathon and Running Festival
I have always believed that running is a great way to explore a place and an organised running event just means you have a few extra people exploring with you.
With a little trepidation – it has been a few years since I ran anything more than 7km – I decided to enter the half marathon event on the Sunny Coast.
Taking place towards the end of August, the idea is that this is a cooler time of year to run, but coming from the south, this winter was the warmest I have ever experienced so training was a little harder and it was definitely warmer on the day than I anticipated…
One of the best things for me was that a local group – associated with radio station and event sponsor Hot 91.1 – organised a free running club 12 weeks out which ran part of the course once a week. This meant was not only was I training with other people (essential), I was also getting to know what most of the course would feel like.
Even though this would be my 5th ever half marathon, the hard work beforehand never gets any easier!
The run was certainly very picturesque – starting at the Alex Beach Surf Club just on sunrise.
For the run itself, the one and only hill is pretty much right at the start. For me this is a good thing because I can get it out of the way and the back 10km are mostly flat – and this is where I generally feel the pain.
The run takes you south at first, from Alex to Mooloolaba along the beachfront before heading back north and along the South Maroochy River.
The beach and river front streets are closed for the duration of the event so runners have plenty of room to move.
Given the hotter day, I stopped at more of the drink stations than I have in the past and I was very grateful for the frequent hydration options.
To be honest, twenty one kilometres is a long way. Running that far requires patience and persistence. There's a lot of time to talk to yourself - in your head, not out loud because that would make you look like a crazy person, plus you want to make sure you are breathing properly. But that’s the good thing about an event like this, there are hundreds of other people right there doing the same thing and people on the sidelines cheering you on. The atmosphere definitely helps you get to the finish line.
Once over the finish line, my friends and I celebrated our achievement with something cold and bubbly - it is tradition after all!
I was definitely not in the running, but 2017 saw Australia’s fastest male and female distance runners will not only vie for line honours at this year’s 7 Sunshine Coast Marathon, but a $25,000 pay day if they break the country’s long-standing half marathon record in the Red Hot Half.
The event just gets bigger and better every year and if 21.1km is too overwhelming for you, there are five distances to choose from including 2km, 5km, 10km, 21.1km half marathon or challenge yourself to the full 42.2km marathon.
Strawberry Fields
Right now it is Strawberry Season and there is nothing better than being out in the winter sun picking your own to take home and devour.
Luckily for Sunny Coasters, you can definitely PYO (pick your own) down at Strawberry Fields – and it certainly tastes sweeter.
Located just east of Aussie World, an hour picking some berries is the perfect family activity. Given the sheer numbers of people there on the day we visited, it is clearly pretty popular too.
The plan is simple, grab a tub and wander to the allocated field and get picking – you are charged by weight so it is up to you how much you fill the tub.
The price is a little more expensive than some shops at this time of year - $16 per kg when we were there - but you get the freshest possible berries!
My motto was 'the redder the better! I even managed to take home a whole kilo of goodness. The hardest part was not shoving a sample in my face before paying up!
The farm site offers more than just strawberry picking too. There is shop and café as well as a large playground complete with its own set of swings and a slide, shaded and sunny sitting spots for when the kids get bored of hunting for the perfect berry.
Get your fill of all things strawberry with ice cream and milk shakes galore on offer – not to mention a lunch menu for a savoury break. They also stock a range of local crafts and locally grown produce to complete your picnic.
Picking season runs from June to November each year.
Booloumba Falls
I am a sucker for a good waterfall and Booloumba Falls in the Conondale National Park does not disappoint.
About an hour and 15 minutes’ drive from the coast, you will need a 4WD for the last section of road if you only want to do the short walk to the falls as there are a couple of rivers to cross.
If you just want to hike to see the falls, an easy 3km return walk will take you there and it is worth every step.
Following a well-defined track, you will walk through tall open forest before coming to one of the clearest creeks you have ever seen – and that is less than 1km into the walk!
This walk is perfect for families and children as there are no big hills to walk up or down.
After you finish exploring this creek area, the walk veers away from the water but before too long, you will hear the rushing sound of running water and you know the falls are close by.
The track ends with a lookout over a dramatic gorge – making you realise how small we actually are.
From the lookout you can walk down to the main pool of the falls and scramble over rock pools to see the larger falls going down into the gorge.
There is even what looks like a private lap pool further down if you are keen to (carefully) make your way down the rocks – everything is pretty steep around here.
The main pool is deep and around 15m wide allowing a swim and a natural shower which we didn’t attempt on this July day but if I return in the warmer months, wild horses couldn’t keep me out!
The walk itself will take you a leisurely 2 hours (or less) and you can make time at either end for a picnic.
Given the river crossings and the steep dirt roads to make it out here, I probably wouldn’t try and visit in wet weather. I did see a sign saying a section of the road is closed off during heavy rains
Make it a longer stay and try some other walks in the National Park by setting up camp somewhere nearby.
At Booloumba Creek there are several pre-bookable camping areas. You will need 4WD to access all the campsites and the swimming hole. There is 2WD accessible free camping in the Charlie Moreland camping area in the nearby Imbil State Forest.