Sunshine Coast

Friday, 20.03.2020: For a few days now we have had a weighty passenger, our fan, which we bought in Cairns and no longer need. Today we are on our way from Hervey Bay to Rainbow Beach. We hike to Carlo's Sandblow, a very impressive sand dune that buries the entire vegetation beneath it. In the evening, we stroll along the Noosa River. Here we see the many pelicans.

Saturday, 21.03.2020: This morning we are sitting in the public library and using the internet to cancel all reserved hotels. Because the restrictions due to Covid-19 have also affected us. Some onward flights have already been cancelled by the airlines. We book a return flight for April 24, 2020. So far we feel safe and free here. In the afternoon we hike along the Coastal Track and then back through the forest. A very nice hike where you can see koalas, but unfortunately we don't find any. We still watch the sunset and enjoy the delicious food at an Indian restaurant.

Sunday, 22.03.2020: Today we visit Noosa Spit (a peninsula where the Noosa River flows into the sea) and Noosa Hill. From here you have a good panoramic view. The coastline here is simply incredibly beautiful. We continue driving towards Brisbane with a stop at Mooloolala Beach. The Pacific is very refreshing. Today there are so many people on the beach and in the water, we haven't seen that before. We continue driving south to Scarborough.

Monday, 23.03.2020: We take the train to Brisbane early in the morning. We are almost the only passengers. There are also hardly any people in Brisbane itself. We have to witness the government employees being informed during coffee that they are only allowed to sell take away from now on. In a flash, all tables and chairs are pushed together. On the boat (City Cat) during the ride on the Brisbane River, there are only very few passengers. Here we learn that the state borders are also supposed to be closed. We are totally confused and in the evening we register for a possible repatriation action with the foreign office. Later we receive the information that no repatriation action is planned for Australia yet.

Tuesday, 24.03.2020: We learn that the state borders are supposed to be closed later today and head towards New South Wales, about 140 km. We can pass easily and get closer to our destination, Melbourne. We visit Byron Bay with its lighthouse. Behind the lighthouse is Australia's easternmost point of the mainland. Unfortunately, the weather has deteriorated significantly. Just before dark, we take a stroll on the beach.