George and Deborah's Great Adventures: 02/22/23

Sunshine Coast - Mooloolaba

The 1100 kilometer drive from Airlie Beach to the Sunshine Coast was similar to the stretch between Cairns and Airlie. The Bruce Highway continued to traverse green farmlands; with the coast ranging from ten to twenty kilometers on our left (east) and the Dividing Range on our right (west). As we traveled south the farms slowly transitioned from mostly sugarcane crops to cattle ranches. While some might describe the drive as boring, we found it interesting simply because it was all new to us.

We broke our journey into two days. Our overnight was in a wide spot on the road called Benaraby, just off the Boyne River around 420km north-northwest of Brisbane. Deborah found a recommended clean, small motel that served home-cooked breakfast and dinners (complete with wine) in our room.

On our second day on the road, we made our way to Noosa Heads. We pre-position ourselves to meet friends Don and Wendy the next morning. We were to meet them at the Sunshine Coast Airport after their flight from Sydney. We stopped for a fine lunch in the town of Maryborough, in a restaurant converted from the former heritage Customs' House.

Maryborough - Fabulous restaurant

After leaving Maryborough, our GPS took us on some backroads through cultivated pine forests before arriving at Noosa Heads, our destination for the night. We enjoyed some Australian-Indian fusion cuisine that evening explained and served to us by a young woman from France.

Appys at Noosa Junction Indian fusion restaurant/Gin Bar

The next morning we were off to the nearby Sunshine Coast airport to meet friends Don and Wendy whom had flown up from Sydney. We dropped the rental car off at the airport and greeted our friends before meeting our hosts for the following week, Jeff and Ray. Jeff and Ray are Don's daughter-in-laws. We were treated like members of the family and cannot thank them enough for their graciousness and generosity. They were our guides personally and as mentors as we explored some of the region on our own.

Dinner out in Mooloolaba with our hosts

The Sunshine Coast encompasses the coastal cities and towns of Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Marcoola, Coolum, Sunshine Beach, Noosa Heads, and Rainbow Beach. The nearby hinterland and inland locations include Gympie, Eumundi, Yandina, Nambour, Mapleton, Montville, and Melany.

The Mooloolaba Wharf is abuzz on Saturday nights

Jeff and Ray lent us their car and we drove into the hinterlands to visit the small hill towns of Montville and Maleny. Montville is a hub of quality art galleries and studios featuring works from established and emerging artists. We enjoyed a coffee and visited the shops and galleries.

Browsing the Montville boutiques and galleries with Wendy

We stopped at Maleny for lunch. Maleny is a rural community, perched high above the Sunshine Coast with amazing views of the Glasshouse Mountains and the Pacific We had a fabulous lunch on the patio and enjoyed the amazing views.

The view of Balmoral Ridge from our lunch spot

On the way home we stopped in the village of Palmwoods to visit Rick's Garage for a cool beverage and a walk back in time to the 1950s. We also took advantage of the stop to stock up on beer and wine to replenish Jeff and Ray supplies before we say goodbye.

Enjoying a Great Northern draft in Palmwoods

The Sunday before leaving, we took part in a "Sessh". Essentially, a Sessh is an afternoon at a pub or brewery that caters to families. Our sessh centred around visits to four different pubs led by Jeff, and Ray's son, Tim. We got to meet various members of the Mott family and spent a very civilized family day as long as you don't mind quaffing a pint at 11:30 am. We were home by four and everyone had a good time.