Day 1
We set off from Wollongong in the rain (which is good luck, of course) on an adventure to Sydney Airport to meet up with one other traveller who came up from Canberra. It was an exciting drive and meeting. We enjoyed lunch together at the airport had photos taken with the pilots before boarding. It was an exciting first flight for one of our travellers who had never flown before and on arrival at the Sunshine Coast Airport we were invited to have a look in the cockpit. We met up with one last traveller at Sunshine Coast Airport and travelled to our beautiful accommodation overlooking the beach in Mooloolaba. We settled in, unpacked and then strolled along the shop fronts across the road from the beach where we were impressed with the wide array of restaurants to choose from. Taking in the aromas and checking out the many menus, it was agreed to eat dinner at Ton Khao Bistro Thai Asian Cuisine Inspired Restaurant.
Another trip and new friendships were forming already.
Day 2
…And it was another wet day but it didn’t dampen the mood. We enjoyed breakfast together before heading out to the Queensland Air Museum in Caloundra. We had our own guide who educated us on the age and use of the many different types of aeroplanes and helicopters. The travellers were intrigued with the different shapes and sizes. After the museum, we strolled through Caloundra Shopping Centre and refuelled at the Coffee Club before heading back to our resort. It was still raining so a relaxing movie afternoon it was, with a big bowl of popcorn and comfy clothes. In the evening, we enjoyed an inviting dinner at Frankie’s Pizza and Pasta Restaurant, followed by ice-cream (it’s never too cold for ice-cream), before returning to our apartment to watch Home and Away.
Day 3
…And the skies were clearing; we cooked up a big breakfast; bacon, eggs, mushrooms and toast before heading off to Australia Zoo, we could hardly wait to get there. It was a massive zoo; we spent the day walking in the sunshine and enjoying the atmosphere and tranquillity, seeing crocodiles, kangaroos, snakes, lizards, wombats, koalas, tigers, giraffes, zebras, hippos, meerkats, birds and so much more. There was so much to see and do, we had to choose which shows to go to; We chose the tiger show, the bird show and the crocodile show. We were lucky enough to be entertained at the crocodile show by no other than Robert Irwin, son of the famous Crocodile Hunter. Steve. It was a great show and we had the best seats in the house with a great view. After a hot and steamy day at the zoo, a few of the travellers enjoyed a refreshing swim in the resort pool, while the others relaxed and enjoyed the view of the waves crashing on the beach. It was a long day, so instead of going out, we cooked up a BBQ for dinner, enjoying the great view and conversations. It was a chattier evening after visiting the Zoo.
Day 4
It was pancakes for breakfast before setting off on foot along the path on Mooloolaba Beach to Mooloolaba Wharf, where we took in the sites around the wharf before visiting The Sunshine Coast Sea Life Aquarium. This was a stunning experience for everyone. With sharks, stingrays, seals, penguins and many other types of fish swimming above us and around us as we walked through the massive glass tunnel enclosures letting out plenty of ‘ooh’s and ‘aah’s. There were many ‘woah, look at the’ moments and big smiles as the sharks swam by. After the Aquarium, we went on an adventure to find the Big Pineapple in Woombye, where we enjoyed morning tea and a shop in the Big Pineapple Souvenir shop. Some of us purchased keepsakes of our time away, some of us bought something for family and friends back home. After a nice relaxing morning, we drove to the Banana Bender Pub for lunch. It is such a unique pub; the décor is so quirky with so much to look at and appreciate and the food was amazing. After lunch, we explored the lolly, fudge and antique shops next door before heading back to our resort for a dip in the refreshing pool water. Being our last night, we revisited our favourite Thai Restaurant before resting up to watch some TV before an early morning tomorrow.
Day 5
We were up and ready early, so after breakfast we strolled over to the beach to take in the
view for the last time together and took some photos before boarding the bus back to the airport.
Our flight home felt quick (wait, did we fall asleep?) and on arrival at Sydney Airport we said our goodbyes as two of our travellers travelled on from there. The rest of us travelled back to Wollongong by bus and chatted about our favourite parts of the trip.
It was a wonderful, fun adventure for all of us.











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