We left Hervey Bay and travelled 220 Km down the Bruce highway to Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. Having already seen Noosa and Coolum on a pervious holiday without the van we decided we should explore the likes of Caloundra and Mooloolabah. I have booked us in for 6 nights on a powered site at one of Australia's newest caravan parks the Big 4 Caloundra Waters. Fantastic location right on pumicestone passage and across from a Coles and Woolworths with the main greet of Caloundra on the corner.
The park offered a jumping pillow and playground, pool with water slide, lovely camp kitchen with great amenities all nice and new
Today we headed into Marchoodyore to do some shopping then came home to let A have his afternoon sleep. While A was sleeping J and I headed up the Main Street of Caloundra for a look and afternoon tea at Bakins Robbins. J spent his birthday money from Nanny and Pa at the RMW store buying a shirt and hoodie jumper.
J and I shared this sundae. Massive sugar rush for J so I them let him run it out at the park
Tuesday 16th July
We decided to spend the day exploring the Sunshine Coast hinterland. We have heard many good reports about the Kenilworth Maleny area so was keen to visit.
First stop was Mary Cairncoss Scenic Reserve just out of Maleny, which is a 55 hectare subtropical rainforest looking out over the Glass house mountains. There is a great information and education centre and several walking tracks as well as a cafe and they offer guided tours. With A still in a stroller for long walks we chose to do our own tour along the rainforest track which is wheel chair and pram friendly and is only 2km in length. Entry was via gold coin donation per person. One thing I love when visiting the rain forests or any forest is just to sit and listen to the bird life and the serenity, something that I now J also suggests. "Stop and listen "
The view from the cafe looking towards the Glass House Mountains
Just one of the many boardwalks at Mary Cairncoss park
Next stop the Maleny Cheese. Today there were making yoghurt. They have a great cafe that looks over the factory so was a prefect stop for morning tea especially being children friendly with a little play area. I'm a big cheese fan so had to try today's choices and came home with herb and garlic feta and a Tuscan cheddar.
Next stop was the township of Maleny. This was like heaven for me. Purchases were made at the Maleny Maple street co op. With A gluten dairy soy fructose corn and egg introlerant it was great to be able to buy up in bulk all my ingredients I use to make his bread. Thankfully we have plenty of storage in the caravan for dry goods. I do really wish we had something like this locally at home. I think I will start enquiring just where the closest one is. Then the Butcher who made gluten free and preversative free sausages, and from a lovely clothing shop some organic summer cotton elephant pjs for the boys. I could hardly resist when A saw them and yelled "Brrooo" his impersonation of an elephant.
We then drove to Kenilworth. We were originally going to camp a few days here then a few days down at Caloundra but decided it would be easier to camp for the 6 days in the one spot and do a day trip up. As we drove into town we spotted on the right the free camp at the show grounds. (Camps 7, QLD 161) lovely spot with power, water, showers and only $15 per night we were told. Across the road was the Kenilworth Cheese factory thou i was all chesse out and a playground that the boys had a ball playing at. Wishing we had of stay up here now. Oh Well next trip.
Main Street of Kenilworth
Wednesday 17th July
Today Four In the Van and The Little One Said became Five in the Van and the Little One Said. First up we spent the morning up to the Eumundi markets. What a great place with so many stalls. Love coming here when we come up the sunshine coast. The boys came home with some wooden musical instruments, I bought two dresses and of course some fresh pineapples and avacodos. We the headed to the Sunshine Coast airport at Maroochydore to pick up my sister who had flown up from freezing weather in Victoria to spend some time in the sun with us. She stayed in the van with us as our lounge and table drops down to become another bed if need be.
While A had his afternoon sleep J, I and my sister heading along the boardwalk from Caloundra to Kings Beach and found Kings beach ocean pool. WOW what a fantastic free public pool with wheelchair access. Think we shall come back tomorrow with our bathers for a swim. Thou no bathers didn't stop J, he stripped down to his jocks and jumped straight in then after a short swin we headed back to the playground which was just past where the pumicestone passage mets the ocean.
Thursday 18th July
After a bit of a lazy wake up we drove up to Moolalabah for a look around. Such a vibrant Main Street overlooking the ocean. We decided to have brunch / early lunch and enjoy the beautiful weather with the sun shinning. Back home while A was sleeping we headed up to Kings Beach again with bathers to soak some some vitamin D while J went swimming again.
J in Kings Beach Ocean Pool
Friday 19th July
As we hadnt been along the boardwalk to the right of the caravan we decided to spend the money exploring the boardwalk down to Golden beach but only got to the playground 3/4 of the way there. The boys as usual had a ball playing until it started to spit then it was a made rush back to the caravan before it really started to rain
pumicestone passage looking back towards Caloundra and the Ocean near Golden Beach
So with a very wet afternoon it was movies in order before having gluten free fish and chips for dinner from the fish shop next to the caravan park.
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