Continuing to explore the Gold Coast

Tuesday afternoon we began expanding our domain with a bus excursion to a nearby shopping centre. The motivation was a search for drip style coffee. We anticipated Gail’s dislike for Australian coffee by bringing filters and holder to make drip coffee but first purchased ground coffee in Honolulu after we discovered a kettle to be standard equipment in the Queen Elizabeth’s stateroom. We replenished our supply of coffee and filters while in Sydney as we also had a kettle in the hotel room. Here we are now in Burleigh Heads and ground coffee is not a standard item on the shelves of local grocery stores. Today we expanded the search to a nearby shopping centre and made our first use of Queensland Public Transportation.

In Sydney we had something called an OPAL card. It was quite useful and easy to top up as needed with not complicated registration process. In fact, there was a daily maximum charge which we hit several times. In Queensland we have a TRANSLink Go Card. While it is just as easy to use on public vehicles that is where any comparison with the OPAL card ends. Before any attempt to top up the card with funds online a registration process is required where almost everything except one’s bathroom habits must be recorded. Even after that the online update process kept insisting my trusty credit card was invalid. Every other store finds it valid. Fortunately, updates can be done at some 7-Eleven stores and there is one nearby and they happily accepted the credit card.

Tonight we had our first restaurant meal since arriving. The place was called The Carvery and for $12.00 per plate we had a delicious roast beef dinner with potato and vegetables. Typical evening meals in Sydney were in the $50.00 range. 

On our way back  to the apartment we could see birds flying toward a small grove of Norfolk Pine trees. We were told these were Rainbow Lorikeets and there were thousands of them and they are not a quiet bird. Apparently this grove is their night time nesting place. Interestingly, the beach is lined with Norfolk Pine but only this small grove of 20 to 30 trees seems to attract the birds. They are impossible to photograph because they fly so quickly and seem to vanish once in a tree, it is only the loud screeching that gives them away. 

Stock Photo of a Rainbow Lorikeet

Wednesday morning began as the coolest day so far with an overcast sky. When I walked to the beach dark clouds met the horizon and a light mist partially obscured the high-rise buildings to the north. We first noticed the rain about 9 AM. Before long the rain was torrential but dissipated quickly. After a few minutes of calm the wind picked up, rain redeveloped and continued with some intensity until noon. We still managed to find our way to the pool.

Thursday promised more rain but our timing was good. We walked north along a beach path to an elevated lookout called “The Nobbies” by the locals, “South Nobby Headlands” by the gazetteer. We were able to identify a few of the trees along the path courtesy of small signs along the way. We returned to the apartment just as the next rain storm began.

Short Screw Pines with taller Norfolk Pine behind

Seen from South Nobby Headlands

Friday, more rain promised. It was fine after breakfast so off to the southern trail. Our plan was to walk the lower trail along the water but it had been closed because of some rock falls so if we wanted to walk we had to walk up the hill. The trails are within Burleigh Head National Park. The lookout was about a one kilometre walk with a rise of about 85 metres. The trail began with a number of stairs then continued as a narrow trail. We chatted with several other walkers and saw a Bush Turkey and a couple of Kookaburras along the path. There was a rumour of a koala sitting but we saw nothing. Having arrived at the Tumgun Lookout there is a great view to the south with Tallebudgera Creek at the bottom of the headland then a stretch of sandy beach extending forever.

After lunch and another rain storm we visited the ocean again. Playing in the waves is great fun. Here’s the drill. You can be standing knee deep in the water when suddenly a wave whacks you in the back, side or face. You fall down and the wave carries you onto the sandy beach. So you get up, walk out toward the surf and wait for the next wave to knock you down. It is truly amazing where sand can get to. The fresh water showers along the beach help getting rid of some sand. We seem to have developed a routine visiting the waves breaking on the beach once a day. Today, Saturday, they were the biggest so far.

This is what they look like just before they turn you upside down.

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