Peregian Beach is located
in approximately 15 minutes driving time south of Noosa Heads
and indeed has a lot going for it, but is 15 minutes from
the "Maddening Crowd" of the beautiful people. Our
introduction mentioned dust! The atmosphere carried quite
a brown tinge when we arrived and this was caused by quite
a atmospheric load of dust originating from central Australia.
This has not spoilt our enjoyment and will dissipate a day
or two.
End of dispatch 1.
Following
our arrival on Thursday at Maroochydore we took the short
drive to Peregian Beach where we had leased a unit for two
weeks. Our accommodation is located approximately a kilometer
north of the Peregian Beach Village shopping center. It is
a very comfortable two-bedroom unit in a small complex of
three, several hundred meters from the beach.
Wow what a beach! It runs several kilometers north and south
as a wide unspoiled beach of sand, just great for the early
morning stroll.
The remainder of Thursday was spent settling in and doing
provision shopping, banking and strolling at Coolum Beach,
the nearest full shopping center with banks etc. On returning
to Peregian Beach we also strolled the local shopping center
and decided our evening meal would be at the Peregian Beach
Surf Lifesaving Club. Several hours quiet time, and we returned
to the Surf Club to enjoy an excellent meal and wines at the
right price. On inquiry we joined as members for the exorbitant
not price of $16, which entitles us to discounts and special
deals during our two weeks stay.
End Dispatch 2
5th February.
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visit the Sunshine Coast feature page Click
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Dispatch
3
Friday the 4th of February.
Golfers Paradise!
5.30 am local time saw your scribe depart for Nambour,
a 20 Minute drive away to enjoy my first round on the Sunshine
Coast. The drive across was through sugarcane fields and rolling
hills as I approached Nambour. The course was extremely picturesque,
a little hilly but a very pleasant walk, and I was fortunate
to meet several interesting locals. A respectable nett 71
was worth the drive! A return visit has been set up for 5:30
a.m. Tuesday next week.
|
I
am currently negotiating special deals for Blue Dandenongs
Online viewer's who may be planning a visit the Sunshine
Coast later in the year the year.
|
Returning to the unit
a little later than promised after 18 instead of 9 holes (Not
a popular change of plan with Margaret waiting for breaky)
we walked the 20 minutes to the Peregian Beach shopping center
and enjoyed an amazing iced coffee and brunch at the recommended
"Baked Poetry Café"
which specializes in German sourdough breads, delicious cakes
and of course the necessary pastries and aromatic coffee.
A place to read the morning News! After the return walk to
the unit we relaxed till late afternoon, a little Internet
for me and a book for Margaret.
Four thirty and it was off to do what all who visit the Sunshine
Coast enjoy! We had to take the mandatory stroll down Hastings
Street, the bustling hub of Noosa Heads. The street has dozens
of apartments, restaurants, boutique clothing outlets, property
sales and all the trappings of a tourist center. This is a
not to miss experience as you "watch the watchers"
of the beautiful people who parade incessantly on both sides
of the narrow strip of roadway, full of flashy and interesting
vehicles driven by equally interesting people. Yes this is
indeed the cosmopolitan center of the Sunshine Coast.
The main reason
for our visit North was to catch up with Margaret's father
Monty who celebrates his 89th birthday several days after
we depart. The circumstances [a dog and cat whose baby-sitters
leave for Europe on the 17th] means we will miss this celebration.
After our short stroll we picked Monty up from his unit, which
is within walking distance of the Noosaville shopping complex,
and joined him at his local watering hole The Noosa Bowling
Club for dinner. This is another must
for visitors to the Sunshine Coast even if you are
not bowlers; the recently renovated club provides a great
atmosphere, excellent food and wines at the right price.
Well with the addition of some images this takes care of our
latest dispatch from Queensland's amazing Sunshine Coast.
Tomorrow will be a typical Saturday for your scribe with his
interest in the punt and Margaret will do a little more window
shopping and then relaxing before the arrival of our daughter
Jacinta and fiancée Mark on Sunday from Melbourne to
join us for the week.
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visit the Sunshine Coast feature page Click
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Saturday
February 5th.
We decided to start our first weekend
in Noosa by enjoying breakfast with the beautiful people in
Hastings Street. At around 9 a.m. we found the best table
at "Berardo's on the Beach". We had the corner table
to watch the world go by both on the boardwalk and the beach.
Unfortunately the best table in the house for "beach
watching" was a bit small for reading the Weekend Australian.(The
Sunday Age was not due until midday). We would recommend "Berardo's
on the Beach" as the breakfasts are both reasonably priced
and substantial. Great to enable lunch to be missed for those
trying to loose the odd kilogram, as you watch the tanned
and fit bodies of the Sunshine Coast with envy parading the
beaches and shopping complexes.
Returning to our unit
round lunchtime we decided that Saturday was to be relaxation
and reading until later in the afternoon. Around 2 p.m. I
had a call from a one of my Latrobe Golf club acquaintances
who was in town and he suggested we meet at Peregian Hotel.
Barry was able to introduce me to one of the green keepers
from Tewantin Golf club who was to take the message of the
BDO marketing opportunity to the club management. We sadly
discussed the flooding of the Latrobe Golf Course for the
second time this year following last week's storms and deluge
that produced the most rain in 24 hours experienced in the
last hundred years in Melbourne. Saturday evening was spent
self-catering in the unit and watching television for Margaret
and of course a little computer work for yours truly.
Sunday
6th.
We had an early start to the day, departing for the Maroochydore
airport to pick up our daughter Jacinta and friend Mark who
arrived on the 8:15 a.m. Jetstar flight from Melbourne to
share next week with us.
On arriving back at Peregian
Beach we've visited the Surf Lifesaving Clubs Sunday markets.
The markets were quite extensive with a wide range of local
artists, fruiterers, lifestyle products and the many other
categories that to go to make up tourism orientated weekend
markets.
The day was quite warm and also very humid, so we decided
to take it easy until late afternoon. Around 2:30 p.m. we
experienced a thunderstorm but still decided to do the Hastings
Street stroll, as it is Mark's first visit to the Sunshine
Coast. The rain was extremely heavy but quite warm, so we
strolled and got wet, but within the hour the sun had returned
and we were dry. The younger ones swam and we strolled.
Evening saw us return to the Peregian Beach Surf Club for
dinner on the verandah overlooking the Blue Pacific. The dust
that was present on our arrival is now long gone, and landscape
views have returned to provide us with "beautiful one
day perfect the next" The 400gm rump steak was to die
for!!
Comment
on technology:
If these dispatches seem a little long, it is because I am
using the magic of "Dragon Naturally Speaking" voice
recognition software that enables me to talk content diectly
into a word document. Obviously content becomes a little longer
when spoken naturally and not typed. I am also spending time
trying to master Macromedia Flash MX to enable some interesting
photo presentations to be included late next week. Unfortunately
I have left my manual at home and self-teaching by experiment
is a slow process.
End
Dispatch 3
-- 5th February.
Saturday
morning 12th update: After the 3km beach stroll.
There were great breakers and not many swimmers!
Well this the catch up day! It has been a busy week as we
spent time with our daughter Jacinta and partner Mark. We
experienced Sunshine Coast as tourists, and took time to relax
with swimming dining and reading. The weather has been rather
humid with physical activity becoming a little unpleasant
and sleeping required the fan running, as a unit does not
have the luxury of a conditioning.
Monday the 7th: A quiet
day with some computer management for yours truly, reading
and then off to Hastings Street and swim around lunch. Monday
evening was in-house dining with quality fresh Queensland
fish cooked to perfection?
Tuesday the 8th:
5:30 a.m. and I was removing the clubs from the boot at Nambour
Golf club. Unfortunately the prearranged game in did not occur
as my playing partners failed to show. I enjoyed a solo round
and concentrated on improving on my nett 71 of last Friday.
Although only playing 15 holes I was heading for my target.
I spent some additional time on photography and meeting club
members before returning to Peregian Beach to catch the family
for breakfast at around 8:30 a.m. This
was a return visit to the baked poetry Cafe. The Eggs in a
Glass" is to be highly recommended.
While the family caught up on some reading, I
visited the Peregian Springs
residential and golf course development, which is a short
five-minute drive from the Village. I met with Malcolm Angus
in the project's marketing manager who explained the development
concept and progress. I toured the complex that includes a
magnificent private membership golf course residential and
retirement living.. In many ways the development is similar
to the famous Noosa Springs complex developed in recent years.
The Peregian Springs residential development is approximately
50% completed and the golf course now fully operational, but
restricted to members only. For any Southerners considering
this as a housing or a lifestyle option, visit at our features
page and the link to the Peregian Springs web site. click
here
Wednesday
9th:
Today started with an early-morning stroll again in Hastings
Street and breakfast at the Sierra Cafe. This was to be a
quiet day has our car was heading for Maleny with Jacinta
and Mark who were visiting friends. I took the opportunity
to arrange some feet pampering with reflexology a massage
at the local in Village "Sea to
Sky" Massage center. After much beach walking
and golf, reflexology was just what the doctor ordered. This
was followed by an evening meal at the local Surf Lifesaving
Club and a stroll home at dusk.
Thursday
the 10th: Well the rain has come and the temperature
has dropped. Yours truly was scrambled eggs and bacon chef
for breakfast. Mid morning I met with Louise Terry of Tourism
Noosa at the office located on Noosa Warf in Tewantin. This
was an interesting insight into the operation of the local
tourism industry. Louise has recently relocated from Tourism
Victoria, so we had some common ground. The rain continued
throughout the day and late afternoon we visited Coolum beach
and I met with the Mount Coolum Golf Club manager.
Friday
the 11th: Up early
was the order of the day as Jacinta and Mark in an were flying
back to Melbourne on the morning flight from Maroochydore.
The rest of the day was low key as I caught up on some work,
backed a couple of winners at the TAB and Margaret relaxed
after a hectic first week.
End
Dispatch 4--
13 February.
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visit the Sunshine Coast Feature page Click
Here
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Update
5 of the Sunshine Coast Travelogue.
Saturday
12th:
Today the punt was the main issue. I was successful in finding
several long priced winners and finished well in the black.
The rest of the time was spent like a Saturday in Melbourne.
We had decided not to do too many things over the weekend.
Sunday 13th.
Nambour golf course was again my start to the day with my
ball on the tee at 5:30 AM.
This was followed by a day of catching up on Sunday papers
and a little housework. After lunch we spent time at Noosa
Junction shopping for the evening meal as we were entertaining
Monty at our unit.
Monday the
14th.(Valentines
Day)
Valentine's Day was our special treat for the week, and why
not? We had booked for lunch at the Spirit House in Yandina
about a 30 Minute Drive into the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
We arrived at Yandina around 11 a.m. and visited the famous
Ginger Factory. This was a very interesting attraction, with
the sales area, garden tour train, and the series of specialty
shops. We enjoyed several hours wandering the gardens having
coffee and of course taking the usual selection of photos
for use in this travelogue.To view Yandina Photos click
here
We had been looking forward to our lunch at the Spirit House
all week, as it was highly recommended by our daughter who
has spent much time in Asia. The Spirit House was established
some 10 years in a magical rainforest environment with the
restaurant actually straddling a lake. The complex includes
a world-renowned Thai cooking school that operates continuously
throughout the year. There is also the hydroponic garden producing
a large range of fresh salad vegetables. For all you dedicated
foodies, you must put the Spirit House on your agenda, and
if time and funds allow, a cooking school session would be
a great experience. Our food was absolutely stunning with
great flavors, presentation and served by attentive staff
in the amazing rain-forest environment. A mid afternoon tropical
downpour made the experience even more realistic. I will expand
with details of the food Margaret and I enjoyed as a separate
item on our features page with a link to their website.
Upon returning to Peregian we decided to have a simple toasted
sandwich and relax after a very memorable Valentine's Day!
Tuesday the
15th:
What a holidays about? Today was spent purely relaxing, and
as I do on holidays, did a little study of the form. I am
pleased to report the horses saluted once again, and with
enough profit to enjoy our last gastronomic indulgence in
Peregian Beach Village later in the day.
As Margaret has been a golf widow when it comes to my early-morning
activities, today was a little different. On previous visits
to the Sunshine Coast we had enjoyed the Noosa Valley golf
course, located in the Hills some 15 minutes inland at Doonan
on the way to Eumundi. This is a most picturesque nine-hole
course with a number of lakes, and boasts resident geese and
kangaroos. The clubhouse is to be enjoyed with lunches served
daily. After a fairly average nine-holes (could not chip)
we enjoyed the company of two lovely visitors from London
who have a house in Provence. We were able to share time gaining
some tips for our forthcoming venture to Provence in May.
Evening: We can recommend a wonderful
small restaurant called "QOM" located in
Peregian Village facing the Village Square. This restaurant
is quite small with Brian and Gerard bringing the Persian
dining experience to the village. We selected several entrées
and one main course and enjoyed as a mini banquet. Seated
outside on balmy evening with children playing in the Village
Square it was a real feeling of the low-key relaxation the
Peregian prides itself in. More food details in the Features
page.
Wednesday the
16th:
Wednesday morning was spent networking with a local Peregian
Beach tourism accommodation operator. It was interesting to
discuss issues relating to promotion and marketing of the
Peregian Beach Village. Problems covered seem to be endemic
to the industry with lack of understanding by the smaller
operators of the potential benefits of cooperative marketing
a real issue.
After lunch your travelogue tourists spent another couple
of hours cruising Hastings Street. Margaret finally got around
to purchasing a snappy little top she had been searching for,
and I am sure family back in Melbourne will admire it. Again
your camera bug was documenting the image of Noosa.
Our last evening was spent with Monty at his bowling club
where we enjoyed a well presented reasonably priced meal.
We resisted the temptation to play the pokies, as our departure
in the morning dictated a reasonably early evening.
Well
with departure from Maroochydore later this morning, that
is it from your correspondent from The Sunshine Coast . Upon
returning to Melbourne I will endeavor sort the extensive
collection of digital images and these will be used with other
tourism articles on the Feature Page . Click below.
Final tip! If planning a trip north
in February, your accommodation needs to be airconditioned
to facilitae sleeping, as our first week was fairly humid,
but the upside is the ease of dining, shopping etc.with far
less tourists.
End
Dispatch 4--
17th February.
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