Noosa Heads - Maleny - Glasshouse Mountains (Qld)
(Monday, 06/29/2009)
Weather: very nice / Temp: 24 ° C / Wind: 1 - 3 HE
After the wonderful stay in Noosa Heads "will continue our journey south. Our next goal is the "Glass House Mountains, inland from which something lie. On the way we do with a Swiss cheese in "Maleny" short stop. The 'Maleny Cheese "is high-quality cheese and other dairy products here, which have in the relevant competitions have garnered many awards.
The matching similar road rises steeply and is partly rather small. The view towards the sea is impressive. The landscape around "Maleny has some resemblance to the" Table Land ", is hilly and densely wooded.
Weil is a relatively clear day today, we can see in the background, even the sea.
input "Maleny" has an unmistakable sign on the 'Maleny Cheese "out.
The building seems to be set relatively new and modern.
We are curious what to expect and whether Mark Bucher, the owner, are present. We should align him that is lovely greetings from our relatives Priscilla and Hans. As it turned out, he is currently on leave.
The "show dairy" makes a professional impression. Layer the yogurt machine is in use.
stand at the bar for tasting the various cheeses are available. The cheeses all taste great. We take this opportunity to buy us a Appenzell and a Gruyerkäse, as well as some delicious yogurt.
There is lunch time the same, we order the same two "Swiss raclette. Unfortunately, the sun places are limited. We can just catch two, because up here it's pretty cool and windy.
The raclette with potatoes decorated with cornichons and pickled onions is served really hot and tastes are excellent, a real "Swiss Raclette" just :-)
is only a few miles to the "Glass House Mountains Lookout. The view of the nine former volcanoes is terrific.
are the four most prominent mountains "Coonowrin", "Beerwah", "Ngungun" and "Tibrogargan. The "Mount Beerwah is 738 m the highest in the Vulkanpfropfen. The whole area has been eliminated as a national park and contains several hiking trails. We prefer this time the view point, which is also attended quite strong. Unfortunately, the mountains disappear in the little blue haze, which lies on the plane.
little surprised we have just been created by the huge villa at the top edge below the "look outs". Especially nice for the eye, this property with a great background in itself is not. A poor man would probably build here was unlikely to.
We leave this beautiful place and go further to "Glass House Mountains, where we want to stay.
Camping Glass House Mountains Holiday Village ":
follows now unfortunately our biggest error in the camp site selection since the beginning of our Australia trip. After we have informed us in two independent camping guides on suitable camping sites in the "Glass House Mountains," we decide for the "Glass House Mountains Holiday Village". The award is given to A $ 25.00 per night for a "Powered Site. Normally before we take a brief look at the campsite, this time, unfortunately not on our arrival.
When the man for a night A $ 35.00 calls, although we are surprised, but for now we think nothing of it. Maybe it's a great place. And then he gets a rude awakening. Our Parcel No. 66 is located in a meadow abhaldigen.
The places are mostly neither straightened nor do they have a concrete slab. Also on the environment and planting is being laid apparently have no value. The only exceptions are parcels supply (electricity, fresh water and waste water) and sanitation facilities, which are so far acceptable. In other relatively unkempt look of the whole camp out.
addition, two thirds of the places of permanent campers are permanently assigned. Many of them are written for sale. Why?
The adjoining room for campers behind us, resembles more of a dirt pile, as a "Camp Area". How much may have these well paid for it? "Unpowert Sites" are here that is only slightly cheaper than those with power.
little aghast we return to the front desk and ask why the price is so high and point to our current records from 2009. The man explains to us that have changed in December 2008, the owner and the price had been raised then. The new owner is the "Governement of Queensland!" We are stunned and immediately demand our money back because the place justifies the high price in any case. "No Refunds" is the customer-unfriendly response from the man. No comment on our part. We are really disappointed for the first time. This determines the price-performance not absolute. Luckily we paid only for one night.
clear conclusion: We can only advise against this camp. It is the least said a nerve, what is being driven with the campers. Then there's really only one answer: Steer clear of this camp.
Glasshouse Mountains - Redcliffe (Qld) (Tuesday, 30.6.2009)
Weather: nice / Temp: 22 degrees / Wind: 1 - 2 HE
For the first time We are glad that we can eat in our view this Büssli and loveless environment does not have to. With an uneasy feeling and almost fled leaving this camp, shortly after eight clock and go back to the coast. Retrieved from "Redcliffe" in which about 40 km north is from Brisbane, we want a "Whale Watching Tour Enterprises.
Book In "Redcliffe" first the tour for "Whale Watching Brisbane. The Vorsaisonpreise are sadly out of date and we pay just double the peak season price for this unique spectacle we do not want to miss. From this pier, we will start tomorrow at 09.30 clock and hope that we have another great adventure, this time with the whales can take home with them.
Then we go on camping search and this time it actually degenerates into a search. The first camp, "Scarborough Holiday Village", all seats are taken. We can hardly believe it when we arrive there by ten clock. We drive to the other side of "Redcliffe" where there are two campsites next to each other.
Unbelievable but true, is at two campgrounds on the input panel "No Vacancies". However, we ask the "Bramble Bay Caravan Park" to see if it would still be something for two nights free. After a lot of thinking explains the nice woman that she could possibly give us along the fence surrounding the "Power Site" if our Campervan was not too big. We look at the square. Fortunately, our Büssli is so small that the space is enough for us. We are happy and get yet a special prize :-)
like this relatively easy, despite our modest campsite us much better place than the one preceding. Just by even the compliant plants you can feel that the owner is concerned about the welfare of guests.
"Redcliffe" has a pleasant promenade with cafes and shops, perfect for strolling.
us is "Redcliffe" mainly as a springboard for the "Whale Watching Tour. After a lunch at "Sizzler's", we wear on our little spot on the campsite back and enjoy the warm afternoon sun.
At sunset we walk a bit along the beach promenade, which lies just outside the campground.
This provides about 15 km long coastal itself as a jogging track at almost. Ideally's is no longer really.
Opposite, on the other side of the bay, we can see in the distance, the skyline, "Brisbane".
Today, we call the basis of our recent experience with camping a "Powered Site" reserved to the central campsite Newmarket Gardens Caravan Park ". Learn from mistakes ;-) We had live in "Melbourne" ever had space problems and / allowed for a night in a "bungalow".
We enjoy the beautiful sunset on a bench in the park, the world is for us in order again :-)
Redcliffe - Whale Watching Tour (Qld) (Wednesday, 1.7.2009)
Weather: very nice / Temp: 25 degrees / Wind: 4 - 5 HE
We start our tour today jogging to the southernmost corner of "Redcliffe" with a fabulously beautiful sunrise. To come forward to take away that today is one of the most impressive be, since we "trip around Australia in our are.
in time we go to the center of "Redcliffe" into it to get any parking problems, because the full-day courses vis-à-vis the police building are limited. We still have a little time to walk along the promenade.
Our cruise with the fast motor catamaran "Eye Spy" to the "Moreton Bay" includes a generous "Lunch" and a "Morning and Afternoon Tea with snacks, tea and coffee.
Our lovely "Captain Kerry Lopez is the only woman who in the South Pacific a "Whale Watching Tour".
The "Eye Spy" is 30 m long and only 7 years old. It has a modern infrastructure with sufficient toilets, comfortable upholstered seats and interior space on three decks, without the need for passengers to step on each other's feet.
The hard-working crew of a woman and five men, is concerned for the welfare and safety of the guests.
After all the guests on the deck can be ready to go. Cast off!
sovereign control our captain the ship away from the pier out to sea.
race with 30 knots in the direction we "Moreton Iceland" going on.
yet we are all excited about what we expect.
Soon, the so-called "Morning Tea" is served.
The lake is still relatively quiet. For today, 20 knots are forecast wind. So it can still be pretty rough, as soon as we get from the cover of the "Moreton Iceland. In the distance we can in the blue haze just still perceive the "Glasshouse Mountains. They look out from here actually like glass houses.
vanishes gradually the Mainland on the horizon and the wind increases.
We feel a fiddle, but that was made far from the only one. Some guests have now become somewhat paler in the face and sit oddly bent over the railing. The "Crew" spread suddenly so ridiculous paper bags. Well, there you go. Many have become seasick and have to vomit. The team has their hands full, wipe the vomit constantly to the deck. We escape up top deck, scattered apparently only experienced sailors. After 30/20 years of windsurfing, we count ourselves to :-)
In the shelter of the offshore reef of "Moreton Iceland" we run back into calmer seas. The location is relaxing, but only temporarily.
We marvel at the white sand beaches and huge sand dunes of the uninhabited island, which is excreted as a national park. "Moreton Iceland" has with the 280-meter high Mount Tempest "one of the highest sand hills in the world. Briefly, we sift even a few dolphins, but unfortunately vanish quickly.
we go "back board" around the island and gradually fall from the cover open in the swell. The wave has now two meters achieved and our ship is moving in a lurching roller coaster. The plagued by seasickness guests the ensuing spectacle hardly really enjoy. Suddenly cried the captain: "Whales direction 11 clock in sight!" All eyes wander stretched in this direction and we actually experience our first Walkontakt. The typical fountain when breath is clearly visible.
The fascinating "Humpback Whales" get in their migration to and from the "Antarctica" at the "Moreton Bay" is over. It is estimated that each year about 14,000 whale along the Australian east coast from south to north, and during September / October again back to "Antarctica" wander. Our "Captain" makes every effort to us in time to draw attention to other whales.
recognize Soon, the passengers themselves, where each appears a whale. There are more and they come closer and closer to our ship.
whole groups join us once left, once right the ship. It is an absolutely fascinating experience, this largest of all animals to be so close.
may actually ships do not park closer than 40 m from the whales. Since whales but curious animals, they come by themselves in the vicinity of the vessels, to see what's going on.
now and they also make great leaps straight into the sky and can be sideways into the water. Such an event to capture a picture succeed me, unfortunately, since it is usually unexpected and to an undetermined location.
Sandra and Frank from the German Radebeul made the same trip as us. They had, as the following photo series shows a somewhat happier hands, as we do.
The tail fin is a typical feature of the whales.
At least 30 of 14,000 whale, migrate through here every year, we have seen today :-) The largest number of these fascinating mammals is the first in about a month on the amount of "Brisbane" be. And we can not wait unfortunately.
As if they would be "Goodbye" said waving to us with the fin.
We are extremely grateful and satisfied that we was permitted to do something great and exciting.
relaxed we connect the hour drive back to the port of "Redcliffe" on, past the imposing sand dunes of Moreton Iceland.
It was a good decision, "Whale Watching Tour" of "Redcliffe" to start and we were very lucky this year that the whales are so early. Today is in every sense, a further highlight of our Australia trip.
