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What is Brisbane's best breakfast with a view? | ||||||||
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Glorious by name and nature - Way atop Mt Glorious on the edge of Greater Brisbane's Forested wilderness is a small restaurant with a view that spans the suburbs, city, Moreton Bay and distant islands. It just so happens that this little restaurant also serves a fantastic breakfast to go with the view. In these cool months of winter we may not see the benefit of heading to the even cooler hills west of the city but with the dry winter air comes a clarity of light not visible in the summer humidity. For the sooks who use their electric blanket at the first sign of leaf fall, you have the option of indoor dining by the fireplace. There is even a panoramic window from which to view the great outdoors, even if you find them too, well, outdoorsy. A nice hot coffee gets things started but it doesn't take long for the eggs benedict to appear, twin yellow-sauced mounds atop a split English muffin. An unusual accompaniment of salad greens and tiny tomatoes seems out of place until you try it. It works. Breakfast doesn't start til fairly late so no need to rush up the hill or you'll be marching time at the front gate until mid-morning. It is possible to walk off breaky at the nearby Maiala National Park, beloved destination of picnicophiles and barbeque artists. Farther along the road is the Wivenhoe Outlook, a good stop for photos pointed in the westward direction. The road continues from here to either Somerset Dam or Fernberg. We like to go to Toowoomba or Crows Nest this way. The Somerset Dam wall is worth a look but you practically need a gas mask when the flood gates are opened. What a pong! Once you've caught your breath head back towards Esk if intending to head up to Toowoomba, otherwise the road continues on around Somerset into Kilcoy.
Esk is where the two ring roads reconnect before ambling up the steep road to Hampton which is between Crows Nest and Toowoomba. Refreshments can be found at Sketches, the curious cafe that boasts a golf course and accommodation cabins set in the hills. Toowoomba is well endowed with motels and B&Bs so it is possible to rest up and make a weekend of it. For those of you still huddled by the fire at the Mt Glorious Restaurant you can simply return to your car and head back down the hill through Samford or the Gap via Mt Nebo. Be well. 30th June 2009 |
the atherton tableland and far north queensland | ||||||||
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ATHERTON ADVENTURES - A diary - mostly written as a diversion of the sort required by a lone traveller during the long hours of evening.
Well I'm actually writing this on the 18th so it might be a little disjointed but let's see shall we. Leaving Brisbane airport I can still see Trev waving goodbye at the observation window. I miss him just thinking about it. At that point I decide we will travel together from now on. The flight is quite smooth. I see the Hornibrook Bridge from a great height, then the marina at Scarborough, then Bribie and within moments Caloundra. I think of the concept of the broader self which sees things from a higher vantage point as Mooloolaba and Maroochydore glide by, followed by Noosa, some extraordinary looking murky lakes and Gympie, followed by cloud cover. At this point I see a rainbow circle on a cloud far below. I take a few photos but I doubt if the rainbow will turn out. How odd that Robbie (my brother) was speaking about just such a phenomena the previous week. In this case there is not the plane's shadow in the midst of the rainbow circle, but it is curious nonetheless. The rest of the story and pics can be accessed via the link above. If you have any questions please fire away and I'll keep an eye on the postings to answer you asap. Be well all. |
Cairns and tropical north queensland - a short stop review | ||||||||
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CAIRNS
Cairns was surprisingly beautiful seen from the air on the flight in. I had completely forgotten how lush and tropical it is. Our best day was spent walking the length of the esplanade and enjoying the lovely parks and fountains and then wandering through the marina and checking out the gorgeous boats. We enjoyed a delicious lunch on the grassy edge of a waterfront cafe and a spectacular dinner at the Mercure's restaurant. If you go there have the crispy skinned baked pork. It was so good we went back again the next night and ordered the same thing :) Be well all. |
tangalooma - snorkellers on the loose |
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Living in Brisbane has always meant lazy holidays at superb beaches just a short trip from home. How easy it is to become complacent. Try Tangalooma. I did. I'm impressed… Good ol' terra firma, the more firma the less
terra (Old joke). Went AWOL from the induction tour to sneak off and arrange
Scuba diving. Nice try but pre-booked day trippers had snaffled ALL the
places. How dare they! Useful advice: Book from home. Tangalooma resort is surrounded by old landscaped
gardens. I like that - gnarled palm trees and logs on the ground, scented
jasmine vines, ship bits tastefully placed among the philodendrons. 3. Get excited when a large clump of seaweed moves in the floodlight 4. Learn to distinguish between false dolphins and real dolphins when… 5. THE DOLPHINS ARRIVE!!! 6. Go "Ooooh. Aaaah." As the dolphins streak through the water chasing pre-dinner tiddlers and looking much more like exciting dolphins than boring bits of seaweed. Sheesh. Won't fool ME again. 7. Listen to person with microphone rave on about stuff. 8. People with TICKETS who BOOKED smugly gather for a lesson in how to line up in groups of two and wash hands in a bucket of water prior to reaching into second bucket for slimy dead fish.
10. Wash hands in bucket of water. 11. Reach into second bucket for slimy dead fish. 12. Walk in unison with ranger and be amazed as these huge yet gentle creatures feed from your hands with all the agility of a multi-toothed monster who wouldn't hurt a fly. Day Two - Snorkeling and Sand Tobogganing - The sports of REAL women (and men) Buffet breakfast which covers for buffet morning
tea (and would've worked as buffet lunch if I wasn't such a guts) followed
by a look at the "Island Toys" store which is where you go to
borrow or hire equipment for sporting activities like tennis racquets,
croquet thingos and in our case, pre-snorkeling trainers, complete with
fluro pink and green goggles. 2. Attempt to squeeze quickly into a full black wetsuit
that was designed for an anorexic with extremely short legs. 4. Walk like "Gigantor" the non-bending robot, to the boat which ferries guests to the snorkeling fields. 5. Notice how the false sense of warmth begins to dissipate
as the seawater seeps into your wet suit. 2. Rub spit around in goggles. Eeeeeuuuw! 3. Rinse and apply goggles over hea d and nose while simultaneously grappling with the snorkel using hands, tongue and finally teeth. 4. Attach fins and drop into an unknown depth of ocean, recover from hyperventilation and be amazed by the spectacle of FISH underwater. 5. Swim to conveniently located sandbank and FEED FISH WITH BREAD. 6. Follow group leader in exploration of snorkeling grounds. Bump head onto side of fishing boat (don't they know we're SNORKELING here?) Visually follow anchor chain, which disappears into the unknown depths. Suddenly become aware of a giant (and I mean GIANT!!) mass of a sunken ship looming UP from the depths and dominating the view beside me. Freak out. Get really scared and then enjoy the company of the group leader for the rest of the trip as he baby-sits the sook. 7. Be amazed as you float over the sides of the massive hull of a wreck and find yourself in a contained coral reef. 8. Be amazed as you swim between two giant hulls with only enough room for one person at a time to squeeze through. 9. Be amazed as you float over a really big Wobbegong shark and know that it's NOT on the other side of a glass wall. 10. Snorkeling is amazing. It is frightening and exhilarating at the same time. Do it.
Be well all. |
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