Even with a strong tail wind, flying to Australia aboard a modern passenger jet seems to take forever, like struggling to read all 1,440 pages of the paperback edition of Tolstoy’s War and Peace in one sitting. But, once you arrive in the land Down Under it’s true bliss.
Symbolized by the golden wattle flower, the kangaroo, the emu and the opal, the so-called island-continent, like its indigenous emblems, also has its own colorful lingo, the everyday vernacular of the resident Aussie.
Escaping winter back home to enjoy a brief second summer along Queensland‘s Sunshine Coast, Orna O‘Reilly, my significant other and fellow blogger, and I picked up a few colloquialisms of Oz during our 24-day stay. Like, “Have a Captain Cook,” which means to have a look around, a brief inspection, in apparent honor of Captain James Cook, the British explorer/cartographer who discovered and mapped the eastern shores of Australia for the Crown in the late 16th Century, liked what he saw and the rest is history.
One of the places we enjoyed having a ¨Captain Cook¨ was during our walks along parts of the Coastal Pathway (CP). Stretching 96km (57.6 mi.), the CP is a shared walkers, joggers and cyclists route, meandering from Pelican Waters in the south to Tewantin up north, that keeps pace alongside the Coral Sea and some of Queensland‘s picturesque beaches –– like, Noosa, Coolum, Mudjimba, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba and Moffat –– through tree-lined parks and around loads of leisure areas.
Based in Maroochydore, on the ninth floor of the Duporth Riverside luxury apartment complex, where the Maroochy River empties into the Coral Sea, we had ready access to the pathway. Here are just a few of our recommended “Captain Cook“ moments along the CP.
Under a bright-blue sky accented by puffy-white clouds, head through Cotton Tree Park, past the Boat Shed –– our fave fish restaurant with great sea views –– up to Alexandra Headland –– and along the busy esplanade fronting super-clean Mooloolaba Beach — including its “Loo with a View” — down to the port.
Hopping off the CP, pay a short visit inside the Mooloolaba Fish Market, the Sunshine Coast’s largest seafood retailer. Don’t worry about the long queue, Aussies of all stripes will politely wave you up to the ice-filled counters to let you get your camera lens eye-to-eye with some of the creatures of the deep that were brought to the surface just before sunrise.
And, finish this leg of the CP, with all ten of your toes intact, by enjoying a Pipeline Pale Ale brewed right in neighboring Alexandra Headland.
The Sunshine Coast doesn’t lack for world-class beaches, like Coolum, the home base of pro surfer Julian Wilson. The beach’s consistent waves and glassy waters beckon surfers and body boarders alike, not to mention sun worshipers in all shapes and sizes.
A short climb along the CP boardwalk, loaded with camera-ready overlooks, you arrive at Point Arkwright with its magnificent view down to Marcoola and it’s three inviting rock-enclosed sandy coves.
On your walk back, stop in at Coolum’s Stellarossa along lively Elizabeth St. for a plate of lemon pepper calamari and a couple of Little Creatures.
Spend a lazy late morning into afternoon exploring Noosa, the Sunshine Coast’s most fashionable resort town. Stroll along Hastings, its impressive high street, where you can shop til you drop and dine al fresco or stop, yet again, for a cold one. End your visit by stretching it out along the long and wide Main Beach, from Noosa Head to the breakers.
Whichever sections of the Coastal Pathway you explore, be sure and pack a camera so you can document all those “Captain Cook” moments for family and friends back home.
As the sand inside the proverbial hourglass trickles down to the final few grains, it’s time for Orna and me to sadly say “Hooroo” (goodbye) to the land Down Under and all of our new-found mates. Nothing short of spectacular, our 24 days along Queensland’s laid-back Sunshine Coast –– where it’s beautiful one day, perfect the next –– was the vacation of a lifetime.
If you’d like to relive our other Sunshine Coast highlights, just click on the following links: Prologue, Noosa Everglades Eco Cruise, Australia Zoo, Into the Hinterland, Mary Valley Rattler, Brekkie at Guru Life and Wet ‘n Wild.
Back soon!
©2019 ThePalladianTraveler
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What a lovely post, Tom! Even though I’ve only made it to 2 cities in Oz – namely Perth and Adelaide – I know of what you speak, in terms of the landscape, the food, the people.. and the slang (or should I say, vernacular?). G’day mate 😉
Thank’s mate!
Crikey mate! What a great blog! Brings it all back; the wonderful weather and spectacular coastline along the Sunshine Coast.
I’d definitely take a Captain Cook or two at that coast and walk along that path/trail. I knew there’d be food and drink somewhere along the way and just imagining the seafood makes my mouth water, as does the scent of the chicken stock on my stove. 🙂 I love Orna’s hat (or is she borrowing yours?) Either way, it looks great.
janet
Glad you enjoyed the virtual walks along the Coastal Pathway. Btw, the hat belongs to Orna.
Such an entertaining post and so many great Captain Cook shots. I must admit to feeling rather ignorant when I saw the pelicans. I somehow thought they were Floridian birds. Well, at least I’m sure I won’t see any kangaroos in the Everglades.