Cheap Travel Insurance

If you’re off on holiday anywhere these days, particularly overseas, it’s a good idea to purchase travel insurance before you go. There are some hideous (and sometimes bizarre – like the one about falling in a toilet) horror stories on the Smartraveller website. My advice is to check out the Travel Insurance Australia comparison website. On there you will find policies for different insurers so that you can compare prices. And the biggest plus is that all of the policies are discounted so that they’re cheaper than buying direct from the insurer. How they do that is anybody’s guess but it’s the simple truth.

I Like it Here a Lot

If  you’re one of the people that has come to the Sunshine Coast on holiday and has decided that you either want to live here or invest in property here then I’ve found the builder for you. Queensland Home Builders are project builders with a difference. They can arrange everything from home designs through to finance and conveyancing. And the best bit is that they’re affordable and their houses are energy efficient.

So, give them a buzz and make your home on the Sunshine Coast a reality.

Oz Skydiving – Sunshine Coast and Brisbane

Some people like the thought of dropping from the sky at 120mph. So why not book your adrenaline rush with Oz Skydiving. Oz Skydiving are tandem skydivers and operate out of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Bribie Island. They’re also trying to organise heli-skydiving so watch their space.

Coolum Beach Surf Club

I just thought I’d give you all a heads up on Coolum Surf Club. It’s in a cracking spot, high up overlooking the surf beach but only about 60 seconds to the sand. The food is good and plentiful. The beer is good and plentiful. All in all, it’s a good place to refresh yourself after a hard day at the beach.

Pomona

Nestled at the foot of Mount Cooroora, Pomona is a relaxed country town with some pleasant easy walking tracks around the delightful parks. Pomona was first settled in the late 1880s and the railway that arrived in 1891 started the expansion of the agricultural industries. Originally known as Pinbarren siding the name was changed in 1906 to Pomona, named after the Roman goddess of fruit and orchards. In 1909 Pomona was the administrative centre fro Noosa shire. The town prospered and declined along with the changing agricultural industry.

Pomona is located about 25 minutes from Noosa, just beyond Cooroy. The drive is very pleasant and can be linked as part of a circuit to include Boreen Point on the return journey. There are many historical attractions along with some pleasant cafes.

Distance From State Capital: 166km
Nearest Main Highway: Bruce
Nearest Airport: Sunshine Coast

Peregian Beach

About 13 kilometres south of Noosa, Peregian Beach is one of a string of lovely beaches which form the justifiably praised Sunshine Coast to the north of Brisbane. Just over the sandhills at the southern end of the beach you’ll find Peregian Environmental Park, an area of wallum heath which bursts into a colourful profusion of wild flowers in spring. On the western side of Peregian Beach is Lake Weyba National Park, and Lake Weyba itself, which feeds into the estuary at Noosa Heads. Nearby, too, is the Noosa National Park with its rich mix of coastal heath and scrub and stately rainforest which provide sanctuary and support for a wealth of native flora and fauna.

This whole area is a paradise for those who love fishing, boating and surfing…not to mention the renowned ambience and sophistication of Noosa, just up the road. It is a hassle-free drive to the Sunshine Coast, southern beach resort attractions and to the picturesque villages scattered through the waterfall pocked rainforest of the Blackall Range hinterland.

Nearest Main Highway: Bruce
Nearest Airport: Sunshine Coast

Palmwoods

Set in the heart of an arts and craft hub which typifies Queensland’s Sunshine Coast hinterland, the small rural town of Palmwoods is at the crossroads of the region’s tourist network. Set in a mosaic of avocado, custard apples and pawpaw orchards, orange groves, banana plantations and sugar cane farms, Palmwoods is only a few kilometres south of Nambour and is within comfortable driving distance of such tourist traps as the ginger town of Buderim and the charming Blackall, Range villages of Maleny, Montville and Mapleton.

Complete with village green, art gallery, stained-glass studio and museum, Montville is just 10 kilometres from Palmwoods and is the south-eastern gateway to the Kondalilla National Park. The mountain park is graced with a cliff-top picnic area, swimming pool and matchless views over the Koondalilla Falls which tumble into rugged terrain dressed in ancient forests of cedar, mahogany, bunya and hoop pine. Five kilometres to the south of Palmwoods, the village of Eudlo is distinguished by a Buddhist monastic retreat.

Distance From State Capital: 95km
Nearest Main Highway: Bruce
Nearest Airport: Sunshine Coast (20km)

Noosa River Cruises

I had a go at a local Noosa river cruise the other day. It was a nice sunny day and I thought why not? I decided to go on board the M.V. Noosa Queen which operates out of Noosa Marina in Tewantin. I have to say here and now I’d recommend it to anybody. Chris and Kate, the hosts, were brilliant as was the catered lunchtime buffet that they put on. To top it off they’ve got a licensed bar so a few beers slid down nicely in the sunshine.

Chris was telling me that the boat is licensed 24 hours a day and is open for private hire so here I am thinking what a cracking place for a Christmas or New Years party it would be.

Noosaville

Noosaville is located on the Noosa River and is the departure point for cruises along the Noosa River System to Lake Cootharaba and the Everglades. All aquatic sports and hire facilities are available from catamarans to house boats, and a diverse range of budget and moderately priced accommodation is offered.

Distance From State Capital: 170km
Nearest Main Highway: Bruce
Nearest Airport: Sunshine Coast

Noosa Heads

Noosa is the heart of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and offers the discerning traveller a sophisticated and indulgent holiday. Noosa is definitely one of Australia’s premier destinations. 

Noosa is renowned for its proliferation of the finer things in life. On Hastings Street, enjoy alfresco waterfront dining from Michelin rated chefs. Relax at the hands of an experienced masseur in luxury accommodation or simply lounge the day away at the beach. Whatever your penchant for a relaxing holiday, you’ll find it at Noosa. 

Make sure to explore the Noosa National Park and its several walking tracks. Discover the beautiful surroundings as you enjoy lookouts to the nearby beaches where you can witness surfers braving the waves. Wander through the walking tracks that wind through the heart of the forest where you’ll be encompassed with the beauty of the eucalyptus gum trees. And make sure to look up to the treetops occasionally, as koalas are often spotted climbing from branch to branch. 

Many of the activities that Noosa offers surround the water. Noosa’s Main Beach is a protected beach with gentle surf and a great spot for beginners to learn. But nearby Sunshine Beach offers more advanced surfers some great breaks. Then there’s the Noosa River that is popular for canoeing and kayaking and the numerous tour operators that offer scuba diving lessons/trips too. 

Now for a little history, Noosa is the name for a collective group of three areas surrounding the Noosa River: Noosa Junction, Noosaville and Noosa Heads. Noosa Heads is the most commonly referred to because it is home to the renowned Hastings Street and many well-known resorts.

Distance From State Capital: 170km
Nearest Main Highway: Bruce
Nearest Airport: Sunshine Coast