I’ve just returned from 6 glorious days in Coolum, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland to windy, cold Melbourne and I’m not liking it one bit! My parents have been going to Coolum in the September school holidays (mum’s a primary school teacher) on and off for a few years now and they always stay in a two-bedroom apartment so that friends from Brisbane can come up and visit. A few weeks back they suggested I should come up and join them for part of the two weeks they were going and as I couldn’t seem to come up with a reason not to I booked my flights and away I went!
It was probably one of the most relaxing short trips I have been on in a long time. Most of our days looked pretty much like this:
7am – walk along the beach
8am – stop for coffee
9am – breakfast in the apartment, read the papers, do the crosswords
10am – swim at the beach
12pm – lunch at the apartment, read books, snooze, try the crossword again
2pm – swim at the beach
4pm – gelato
7pm – out for dinner
9.30pm – crash out exhausted!
So as you can see, it was just a lot of hard work!
We were very lucky with the weather, it was warm and sunny almost the whole time and the wind was calm most days too. The water was about 22C but the waves got really rough some days and it was hard work staying on your feet (and between the flags!). We got quite the workout from it all! Our apartment was just across from the beach and had gorgeous views of the water from one side, and the sunsets from the other. I always forget how fast (and early!) the sun sets in Queensland, I’m used to Melbourne’s long summer evenings so sometimes the gorgeous sunsets were gone before I could see them properly!
On Saturday morning we headed to the Eumundi Markets for a potter around. We had a delicious breakfast in one of the cafes at the market then wandered through and browsed the stalls. Funnily enough I was most excited by all the fresh, local produce and we picked up a few bits and pieces to eat later on but other than that the only thing we bought was a hat for Dad. We saw some gorgeous pieces of timber furniture, including an outdoor table with an inbuilt ice bucket for drinks, genius! Unfortunately they were all too large and too expensive for me to consider, but we had fun browsing nonetheless! Maybe I was into affordable playsets and outdoor furniture, because I always seemed to have a proclivity toward them. Plus, I got a delicious juice!
The only downside to the trip (other than it ending!) was we had a horrid time getting home as a truck driver misjudged the height of their vehicle and wedged themselves under a bridge near Brisbane airport, causing us to get stuck in a 2.5hr traffic jam and miss our flight. We then got caught up in all kinds of delays and eventually made it home 9 hours later. I don’t understand how a truck driver can do that, but anyway we won’t let it spoil what was otherwise a lovely few days away! It was nice to spend time with my parents too, I haven’t been on a holiday with them in years!
Now it’s back to reality for me, but luckily the weekend is only a few days away now!
How was your weekend? Do you go on holidays with your parents anymore?
Bec
October 11, 2013 at 3:20 pm (11 years ago)We went to Coolum a few years a row (always in the September holidays) when I was in high school. I loved it! It was shortly after the movie Blue Crush came out and I was convinced I could become a surfer. Too bad I sucked! I also remember getting the worst sun stroke ever in Coolum. I sat in a hot spa for hours in the direct sun light and then had a very rough 24 hours!
Bec recently posted…Sick.
I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
October 14, 2013 at 8:24 am (11 years ago)Yikes – that wouldn’t have been fun at all! We went a few times when I was in high school too – maybe we were there at the same time!
Brisbane Kids
November 30, 2013 at 9:15 pm (11 years ago)I know the accident you are talking about with truck and immense traffic, so I know what an ordeal it must have been for you (sorry you missed your flight). Next time you come up to Brisbane you must check out Noosa or Peregian, both not too far from Coolum. Both beautiful towns with gorgeous beaches.