A bit later than planned but we have finally had time to update our Rekkie – week 2!

Our first post seemed to develop into a discussion re chip and pin but I think that’s a good thing. The only thing I can add a week further in is that Woolies seem to have a digital signiature option added to some of their shops but I just swipe, press credit and type in the pin

We spent the last week at Noosa, staying at the Noosa Sound apartments a little way out of the centre of town. There are lots of good deals at the moment, especially if you stay for five days or longer, and we paid just $560 dollars for the week. The resort had all we needed but the unit was a bit tired and we have made a conscious decision not to opt for pink carpets in any house we live in! A good feature was the free broadband which we took advantage of and the excellent television coverage of the Ashes!! If you have the flexibility and are prepared to look around I’d recommend using an agency or just touring Noosa for a place to stay during the quiet weeks. Book ahead though for summer and the triathlon.

The whole area really has grown so much since we were last there. The Gympie Terrace river frontage is now really a grown up version of Hastings Street and it is a case of you decide where you want to eat/drink because there are so many possible places. The road system is completely different and as Sue, the manager of the units stated so eloquently, there’s bloody roundabouts everywhere! Good shopping centre at Noosa Civic and you can get a number 2 hair cut for just £5.50.

We spent most of our time on the main beach which is gently sloping with minimal currents and well policed. We did try Tea Tree bay on one occasion and whilst the location is idyllic there isn’t any patrol and the rip was so strong you had to be in the water all of the time.

In the locality we visited the Glasshouse Mountains and Montville which was a real disappointment. Montville really is no more than a tourist trap that closes at 4:00 pm! We walked into one coffee shop and were greeted with a How are you today which was then instantly followed by a we’re closed! What we enjoyed was the feel of Malaney, the reverse angle parking (nightmare) and the Wampoo Trail at Mapleton Falls. The Eumundi markets were also rather disappointing and were far more bohemian than when we first visited them but clearly they are still very popular with all and sundry.

Our one concession to real tourism was to visit Australia Zoo paying $161 for a family ticket for four. You can take your own food which we did out of choice and to save money – and to avoid deep fried Ozzie muchies. To be honest we all enjoyed the day, from seeing Tigers in the swimming pool to our six year old feeding every single Roo in the place. You can become all Koalad out – and we did – especially when you pass them anyway on the way to Tea Tree Bay from Noosa and we prefer the au naturel version.

We had one family meal out at Maddisons on Gympie Street on Tuesday evening when children have a free main course. Really good quality food and excellent service. The barramundi was excellent, the prawns were delish but beware the coconut on the mango!

Left Noosa on the Monday for the Gold Coast and specifically for Southport where we used to live. We thought Noosa had grown!

Managed to navigate our way through Brissie post the removal of toll booths on the Gateway Arterial but paid through the website at Go Via so no real issues.

Our accommodation is the luxuriously named Aloha Lane Apartment Unit on Breaker Street, just off Tedder Avenue, a haunt of the locals who want good food. Paid $95 per night for yet another two bed apartment and although a little bit tired is very convenient and has all we would want save for nay shelves in the wardrobe. Very strange!

Finally took the plunge with the USB broadband and opted for Vodafone and the $129 option which at present comes with 2 Gb for the first month. Had some problems with Vista which I had to update with Service Pack 2 and a VB script issue but the help was excellent and all working tickety boo in under 48 hrs. Excellent 3G performance but we’ll see how it goes in the wilds of the NSW coast.

Tips to succeed. Buy only what you have to from Woolies and Coles and get fruit and meat from the specialists. Bead from the bakery is for those who have water frontage and if you do decide to go to the Seafood buffet at the Marriott make sure it’s a former colleague who takes you there and that he’s paying because its not a lot of food for $48!

Will try and upload pics. for entertainment.

Anyone fancy a guess the location?

Four pics - all between Agnes Water and Port Macquarie.

Bezza

1st is looking over the Mary Valley from the Mapleton, Maleny, Montville area maybe?

2nd one is Mt Tibogaran, Glasshouse mountains, Sunshine Coast...locals call it Gorilla Mountain cause as you drive up highway it looks like a sitting Gorilla.

3rd is Noosa Beach with national park in the background.

Absolutely correct 1st time.

The view is from Montville and the others are spot on.

What about these?

Bezza

The first is the mouth of Evans River, Evans Head.

The second looks like it is taken facing south towards Hat Head at the Smokey Point lighthouse.

Incredible - correct again.

Let me know where you haven't been in future - or are they all that easy!

Bezza

Needed to peek at the filenames for the last 2 Been waiting for you to twig...