Tony and Kim Outdoor Adventures

STRADBROKE ISLAND, QLD  We’ve done both, often, Morton Island is the one that would be most likely described as a ‘Paradise’, but Stradbroke, or Straddie as it’s known, is much more rugged and without doubt,  our favourite of the two. We left straight after work on Friday evening so as to maximize our time on the island. We checked in Whalewatch Ocean Beach Resort, which was a perfect location and views aplenty. The next day we were up early morning with the birds just before sunrise and headed to Point Lookout Headland Gorge Walk, where we strolled past a family of grazing kangaroos, so tame Kim almost touched them. We saw a family of five small black cormorants watching for fish from the tree they have claimed at the bottom of the cliff. There were sea eagles, manta rays, turtles and dolphins, even an echidna.  Early morning is always best for an early walk before it starts getting crowded. We preferred something lig...

COOLUM, SUNSHINE COAST QLD We were up and early for a day up the Sunshine Coast with our Kelpie pup (Shari). We take our pup everywhere we can, we don’t believe in leaving her with people or left at home while we enjoy ourselves. Today was Shari’s day. On the M1 we headed north one hour to Coolum. Coolum is a surfing and golfing mecca, with a carefree holiday atmosphere distinct from its neighbouring beach towns. It’s long shopping and entertainment strip has a stunning outlook across a large beachfront park, and its leafy backstreets quietly traverse this beautiful coastal town in constant view of Mount Coolum, a grand volcanic dome that presides over the landscape. About 1 kilometre north of Coolum, Stumers Creek is the estuary to the surf beach. The creek splits into two and runs into a shallow body of water which is ideal for swimming. A short walk took us down to the unpatrolled surf beach. This is a great place to fly kites, take 2.5 kilom...