30.07.19 - 07.08.19 East Coast Part 4 (From Noosa to Bowen)

On Day 20, Ponyo took us from Brisbane to Noosa, where we moved into a lovely cottage in a resort. We were full of energy upon arrival and headed to the beach, which was only 2.5km away. It was finally warm enough to swim in the ocean, although it took some initial courage. The waves were strong and we got tossed around a few times. Since it's still winter, the sun set around 5:30pm and we made our way back home in the dark. We spent the evening at a nearby restaurant to celebrate our 9th anniversary. The very talkative waiter gave Schtae the name *Tschäsmin*. After a delicious cocktail, we went home and fell tired into bed... by the way, the most comfortable beds ever.

We spent the next day enjoying the cozy beds before meeting up with Schä and Luki in the afternoon. They were already full of energy, eager to explore the nearby national park. Unfortunately, we still didn't spot any koalas. The afternoon was relaxed, and the forecasted rain didn't arrive until the night, so we spent the evening at home, enjoying pizza and a movie.

On Day 22, it was time to hit the road again since time is running out and Schtae and Luki need to be in Cairns on time. The day's journey took us to Hervey Bay, where we walked along the 1-kilometer jetty into the ocean. Unfortunately, it was low tide, so the chances of spotting a whale were slim. Otherwise, this bay is a great whale spot as they pass through with their calves on their way to the Arctic to learn necessary life skills. To top it off, it started raining and we had to hurry back to shelter. The next planned activity was a visit to the Bundaberg Brewery, where the delicious Bundaberg Ginger Beer is brewed. They offer a great tour of a mini version of the brewery, a taste test of all 18 flavors, and the option to create a six-pack with your own favorites. Ponyo somehow found space to store our 24 bottles. The visit to the Bundaberg Rum Distillery wasn't quite as exciting, but we still saw it. We set up our tent for the night at a tavern, which wasn't as lively and inviting as the last one.

Day 23 passed without any major events. We drove nearly 500km and stayed at a campground in a small village where the fields around us were filled with kangaroos in the evening. It was nice to see so many in one place again.

On Day 24, we only had a short distance to cover as we had chosen a campsite by the ocean and wanted to spend some time there. Well, the ocean was there, the campsite too, but unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate and it was too cold to swim. Still, it was very pleasant to spend some time by the ocean and at the campground before it got dark.

We couldn't wait to reach our next destination. We had rented a beautiful house in a seaside town with its own pool and only about 50m away from a small bay. Before checking in there in the afternoon, we visited Airlie Beach, where all the tours to the famous Whitsunday Islands start. As expected, it was a tourist hotspot and not very nice. We were glad we didn't book a tour. In the afternoon, we arrived at our cottage and immediately inaugurated the pool and took a detour to the ocean, which was quite rough. We spent three nice days here, doing a lot of nothing, playing, swimming, taking walks, and enjoying delicious food. We also used the house's grill to cook a tasty meal.

It's hard to believe that we've already been on the road with Schtä and Luki for a month, and they will be leaving us in a week. We hope to continue enjoying good weather and have more opportunities to swim and savor the tropical climate.