Coochiemudlo Island

Norfolk Beach - Coochiemudlo Island
Click on the pictures for larger view

We would like to explore all the nearby islands while we are living in Queensland.  Coochiemudlo Island is a small island close to Victoria Point.  Very Close.  The passenger ferry leaves every 30 minutes at a cost of $10.00 per adult return (at time of writing).  Alternatively,  you can take your car over for $55.00 return (includes passengers) but the vehicle ferries are less frequent and we were told that coming back can be difficult if you have not booked as everyone waits for the last ferry!

Amity Traders Ferry from Victoria Point to Coochiemudlo
and return
Note:  Cash only

"Coochie" is only a small island (about 5 square kilometers) so we didn't take our car. We were on the island in under 10 minutes!  It is a good thing that my daughter had cash on her as credit cards are not accepted and the purchase of tickets is completed on the ferry (about 1/2 way across)!

Map of Coochiemudlo Island  - Click to enlarge
Note the number of facilities around the Island

 As everyone embarked from the ferry, the majority of people made their way to the nearby "Main Beach", where there were many boats and water activities for hire.  As all the picnic tables and barbeques along the foreshore were being used, we decided to go for a walk to the other side of the island (just over 1 km) to Morwong Beach.   Our kids (young adults) were not impressed as there was more mud and mangroves than sand.  This is not what they expected from Queensland beaches, so we were soon walking again and made our way to Norfolk Beach.

Melaleuca Wetlands

Morwong Beach
(and Mangroves and Mud)

The easiest way to get to Norfolk Beach is to follow the path to the right when you get off the ferry.  Go past the "Kiosk" and the "Redrocks Cafe" and the path will take you to Norfolk Beach, which was lovely.  There are limited places that dogs are allowed on Coochiemudlo Island so it was a good thing that we decided to leave Molly at home on this occasion!

There are easy walking tracks all over Coochiemudlo island

It continues to surprise me, the number of "tourist friendly" facilities that the QLD government have installed.  There are picnic tables, barbeques, taps and toilets all over the island (refer to the map).

Tip:  Although the BBQs are usually clean,
we take aluminium foil in our backpack

I am not much of swimmer but could soon be convinced to change my mind while in Queensland!  The water is very warm!  In Victoria,  it is never warm enough for me to go swimming as the water is so cold but the water in Queensland is a very comfortable temperature!

Norfolk Beach - On closer inspection, the 'rocks' were clumps
of oysters growing! 

We had a very enjoyable and relaxing day.  Alex and I will go back (without children) to walk around the entire island and explore some more.

Norfolk Beach

Norfolk Beach

In summary:

Pros:  
A small island that can be walked around if you are fit.  Quieter and less populated than many of the other beaches that we have visited.

Cons: 
You need to take all your own supplies as there is not much there. There are prettier beaches in Queensland.

Coochiemudlo Island...."had been known to generations of Aboriginal
 families as Kutchie Mudlo, the place where they obtained the red ochre
stones used as body decoration and as the pigment for shields and skins"
Jones EF 1993

Main Beach - East Foreshore

Main Beach - West Foreshore

I would like to know the story about the Thong Tree!
Were these left behind and washed up on a beach?

Riverfire 2017

"You need to see River Fire at least once!"

"River Fire is amazing"

So many people have recommended that we should see River Fire.  We were also warned that it was difficult to get a good position as the river banks quickly fill with people.

Crowds made it difficult to walk at South Bank

Therefore we decided to purchase tickets to the River Life River Fire pop up cafe restaurant, to ensure that we could have a good view and enjoy the festivities with food, drinks and music.  

The many boats on the river had a good view.

Although the fireworks were due to start at 7pm but we thought that we would arrive early at about 4.30pm.  It's a good thing that we did as we totally underestimated the crowds and time delays!

Helicopters flew low at South Bank

Firstly,  the army helicopters flew very low along the river.  Next the RAAF jets roared by and then up as far as the eye could see.  They were so loud that I am surprised that windows didn't break!  They certainly scared many children as there was a chorus of crying after the first fly by.

River Life Pop Up Cafe Restaurant

The start of the fireworks was announced by another pass of the RAAF jets. The fireworks started just after 7pm and continued for 30 minutes (that went very quickly).  The fireworks were all along the river and in time to music.

It was a fantastic spectacle.  The second best fireworks that I have ever seen (behind Disneyland California).

Will we go again?  Yes most definitely!  However,  rather than paying for a seat at a riverbank restaurant,  we shall arrive earlier with a picnic!

The fireworks were co-ordinated to music, all along the river.

My Hints:  

• Arrive early as there are people everywhere.  The train is a better (and quicker) mode of transport as parking (even at Ferry terminals) is hard to come by.
• Avoid South Bank as it is too busy; instead walk around the river bank until you find a place that is less populated
• Take a chair and picnic and find your spot early.
• You are going to see the fireworks no matter where you are :)

Bribie Island

One of the things that I like about the Brisbane area, is that you can drive 30 minutes in any direction and it feels like you are in the country.

Although we are thoroughly enjoying our city break, I really enjoy the country and regional feel of many areas within close vicinity of Brisbane.  As they say "You can take the girl out of the country, but you cant take the country out of the girl"!

Bribie Island Bridge

Bribie Island is one of these places. About an hour drive North of Brisbane, it is a large island at about 35 kilometres in length.  About 80% of the island is bush land (National Park).  It is only the Southern tip of the island that is habitated.  We were told that the population is about 18,000 and will be capped at 30,000.


We thought we would do a drive around the island but soon discovered that this would not be possible (maybe if you had a four wheel drive?).

I look forward to going back in summer as there are beautiful clean beaches surrounding the island and we can take our little dog for a walk on the Southern Beaches from Red Beach to near Woorim (but not at Woorim).

We had a lovely Fisherman's Basket for lunch at the Sylvan Beach Seafood cafe, overlooking the water.

Sylvan Beach Seafood Cafe

Bribie Island reportably has the "best fishing and boating in South East Queensland" as you have a safe inlet and no sand bar to get out to the ocean.

It is a beautiful place with a country vibe. But there were still too many people for my parents! Although there is a lot of tourist accommodation, there is not as much as I expected.  I find it hard to understand why it has not taken off before now?

Molly at Bribie Island Bridge

Deception Bay

Every weekend, it is the same question:  Where should we go today?

The objectives for today were:

• To walk 10,000 steps
• A Dog Friendly Walk
• A new place and
• A Beach, within 50 kilometres of Brisbane

Deception Bay was the answer.  

We arrived at low tide and were surprised to see that it was primarily a mud beach with mangroves.  It must look totally different (beautiful) when the tide is in.  Maybe this is why it is called Deception Bay?

As a child,  I enjoyed catching crabs, throwing jelly-fish at my sister, fishing and rowing at a similar beach in South East Victoria, so I felt immediately comfortable at Deception Bay.

We walked along the foreshore path, about 2.5 kilometres from Captain Cook Parade to the Esplanade (ie. 5km return).  Many people were walking along the beach (mud) with their dogs off leads.  I imagine on a hot summer's day that it would be a great place to take dogs for a swim as it appeared that it would be shallow.

There were not many people along the path, but those that we did meet seemed to be locals and were very friendly.

Molly was happy for a drink after the walk

I just love how the Brisbane City Council provides facilities to encourage people to get outside and enjoy the surroundings.  At Deception Bay there were;

A Children's Playground
Barbeque
Picnic Tables and Chairs
Several Boat Ramps
Toilets
Showers to clean your feet/shoes/dog (needed after venturing into the mud!)
Drinking Fountains
Dog Water Troughs
Doggy Doo Bags

As a family historian,  I also enjoyed reading the various plaques along the footpath, which provided history about the area and prior residents.

The size of Queensland Mangroves amazes me, when
compared to the Mangroves in Victoria!

So although this is not the sandy beach that we anticipated,  it was still a very enjoyable walk, which reminded me of my childhood adventures.  I loved it when a young girl, bare feet covered in mud, came up to me with pride, with her red bucket, to show me the "big crab" that her dad caught!

Introduction

Are we crazy?  Or are we having a mid-life crisis?

You have probably heard of "Tree Change" or "Sea Change"?  But what about a "City Change"?

At 50+, we have made the move from country Victoria to Brisbane.  Why?

We followed the signs!......................

This is totally out of character for me.  I am an over thinker and will normally think about every option, possibility, benefit, disadvantage and even make lists of pros and cons before making important decisions!  However this time I made a decision totally out of character (and without logic?)

I wont bore you with details but over the last couple of  years all the 'stars aligned' and one event after another led us to great change and moving to Brisbane.

So after a lifetime of living and working in country Victoria and 32 years working with one employer,  we have uprooted our lives and moved to inner city suburban Brisbane.

We don't know how long we shall be in Queensland, so we want to experience as much of this lovely State as we can.

I am a believer in "Everything Happens for a Reason" but also believe that we have control of our own destiny.  This may seem contradictory, but the opportunities have presented at the right time and we have taken advantage of them; bringing us to Brisbane.

So NO! We are NOT crazy!  We are NOT having a mid-life crisis! We have grasped opportunities, changed our priorities and are experiencing new things!

"The Comfort Zone is a wonderful place, but nothing ever grows there"

(First heard at a Vicki Writer motivational presentation: 
Tell your life where to go; Don't wonder where it went)