Crikey!!!

Since I arrived in Noosa too late to make a reservation, I took a chance and showed up at the bus terminal on Wednesday morning to pick up the free courtesy bus to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo. Luckily, the driver was able to squeeze one more person, and I was on my way.

Though the weather was overcast and rainy, I had a great time at the zoo. The land and animals are so well maintained and set up. It’s very interactive, which I thought was unique. There aren’t many zoos where you can walk among kangaroos and koalas in their environment. I got up close and personal with one of the kangaroos. I was actually able to feed it and pet it. It was amazing to be able to touch these creatures. I also watched an otter feeding, an elephant feeding, and a wildlife show featuring snakes, birds, and crocodiles. I’d have to say that my favorite animal was the koala and most of my pictures are dedicated to them. They are just so adorable, and all they do is sleep and eat – that’s my kind of animal.

At the end of the day, while I waited for the courtesy bus pick-up, I watched a musician perform near the exit. He played four different instruments including guitar, keyboard, bongo drum, and didgeridoo (an aboriginal instrument) – all at the same time. Now that takes talent.

After searching for an internet outpost in Noosa Heads and coming up empty, I hopped on a bus to Noosa Junction. I decided to grab dinner there as well, at a great Malaysian Noodle Bar. The food was excellent and exactly what I was in the mood for. Realizing that I missed the last bus and would have to walk back to my hostel, I asked a nearby lady to point me in the general direction of Noosaville. After I thanked her and started to walk away, she asked, “You’re not going to walk are you?” “I am,” I responded. “Oh no,” she said. “It’s raining and my husband is on the way. We’ll give you a ride.” And they did…all the way to my hostel. You gotta love Aussie hospitality.

On Thursday, I was surprised to wake up to a beautifully sunny sky. Figuring I’d take advantage of the nice day, which have been few and far between, I caught the hostel’s bus into town and headed to the beach to work on my lobster look. Of course when I finally reached the sand, clouds had taken over once again. I have to admit though that I almost prefer a cloudy Australian beach to a cloudless one. Even when it’s overcast, it’s still hot and you still get color, but you’re not sweating bullets. I can’t really take full-on Australia sun for long anyhow, so the day worked to my advantage. The few times the sun did fully come out I felt like someone had thrown me in a deep fryer, and I hoped the clouds would save me from the impossible heat. I spent the entire day on the beach with a short intermission for lunch. It was exactly what I wanted. I had planned on meandering around Noosa National Park also, but I couldn’t tear myself away from my towel and scratched that idea. Some might see a day at the beach as unproductive, but I see it as just indulging in a big part of Aussie culture – sun, surf, and fun.
Yesterday I took the bus from Noosa to Rainbow Beach. Once I deposited my bags at the hostel, I made a beeline for the beach hoping to catch some more sun. Unfortunately, the volatile weather made for some pretty heavy winds, and wind and sand just don’t mix. I stayed a total of an hour, and after being pelted continuously by sand, half of which was attached to my body, I decided I had had enough and went back to the hostel to laze by the pool.