Sat, 30th Aug, 2014 Tamborine Mountains (Visiting at Runaway Bay)

NOTE: at last updated the last week - sorry for being so slack but was having such a busy time catching up with family and friends. 

10.9 degrees at 7am in the van. The roosters are crowing but it is very tranquil and quiet with the song birds in the background. Headed down the mountain – a lot steeper this range so glad we don’t have the van. Stopped at Harbour Town and got some groceries – no time for “shopping” though. Passed Biggera Waters where my late Auntie Audrey used to live. We had some fun there. RIP.

Visited our new friends from our cruise, David & Chris, in their magnificent apartment on the 13^th floor of a highrise in Runaway Bay. 

In front of the artwork they bought on the cruise

Such fabulous views – I could live here.

 View from their bedroom south to Gold Coast

 Gold Coast skyline

 Coolangatta in the distance

 Seaworld

 Back to Tambourine Mountains

Tennis!

Has a marina, tennis courts, pool, gym and fishponds with the biggest goldfish!! Great to catch up with them again.

 View from the main balcony

 Down t the pool and BBQ area

 along way up

 Carp and goldfish

Walked further up the road to another Fogg family descendant, Allan & Glynis. There were in a gated estate of lovely homes and gardens – such a contract to the highrise apartments but both equally as lovely.

 David & Chris' apartment building in the background, Allan's to the left

Wonderful chatting with them about their family and lives.

Back up the mountain and to a viewing area overlooking the Gold Coast and to Coolangatta – great view and it was lovely and clear.

 Coolangatta

Gold Coast (tried to get them beside each other but didn't work)

 David & Chris' apartment buildings

Walked down to Curtis Falls which had more water that Witches Falls then down the boardwalk to quaint little shops – one was just full of teapots but had closed by the time we got there.

 So tall

Curtis Falls

 We have had bush turkeys everywhere we have stayed

Friendly kookaburra

Back to the van for dinner and I updated and uploaded everything to the blog so I am up to date. Quiet night as Rod & Cathy had a party to go to in Ashmore.

Fri, 29th Aug, 2014 Joyner to Tamborine Mountains

Gary suggested driving into Brisbane then across the Captain Cook Bridge onto the Freeway. All good except for the red lights on hills – hill starts with the van were not such a good idea. We made it in then girlie didn’t say anything and we went through a toll "go between" bridge but into town, not to the Gold Coast. Anyway, she sorted herself out and we had tour through Brisbane and made it onto the Freeway.

Turned off at Beenleigh to head for the Tambourine Mountains. Stopped at the Beenleigh BMX track for morning tea. Sent Jon a text – memories!!

Beenleigh skate park

Beenleigh BMX track

Up the windy road to Tambourine Mountains, missed the turnoff to Cathy & Rod’s but found a great lookout. 

Halfway up the windy road

Looking towards Beaudesert

Had lunch overlooking Beaudesert valley. Found Cathy & Rod’s lovely home. 

A friend decorated their shed

They have vegie and aquaculture vegie gardens, chooks & roosters and an orchard. Very tranquil. Rod dropped us off at a lovely coffee shop with art gallery and book shop then we wandered into the Witches Winery and into great antique shops. 

Even got Stephen in the shops

Down the road to the Witches Fall National Park (the oldest Park in Queensland) and a walk along the mountain rim down to the top of the Falls. 

 Easy walking down but we will have to come up again somewhere

Unfortunately not much water but great views. It was full of palm trees and very tall gum trees. 

 Looking down the falls to bottom

The clearing is the lookout where we had lunch

 Big trees here too

and big rock too

Even found some wait-a-while and heard the Whip Birds. Just felt like we were on the Tablelands. We could look back to where we had been for lunch. Back up the mountain to come out near Cathy & Rod’s house.

Dan's flowers he gave me when we left are still beautiful

Went to Beacon’s Lookout to watch the sunset. Should have brought another coat because as the sun set so did the temperature. Was beautiful.

 The sunset highlight the magnificent trees

Great night with Cathy and Rod hearing about their business, travels and what the kids are up to. Darcie & Frazer were home but Tait is overseas having an experience of a lifetime.