By Desley Arnold
RECENTLY I had a week’s holiday, and so hubby and I decided to take some time out from renovating and explore our own backyard.
Armed with a very comfortable new hybrid car and the luxury of returning home each night, we planned a series of day trips across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions.
We allowed for a couple of wet-weather days, which mostly involved scenic drives and eating out, and then set off on our adventure.
While we didn’t manage to tick everything off our list, we certainly discovered some wonderful places and experiences that we thoroughly recommend.
One of our favourite drives took us along country back roads to Rainbow Beach and Tin Can Bay, where we enjoyed the changing scenery, interesting roadside signs and charming little whistle stops along the way.
We also spent time at the historic Apollonian Hotel at Boreen Point, beside beautiful Lake Cootharaba. The food was excellent, the grounds were lovely and, best of all, we could take our fur babies along too.
A high tea and tour at Sunshine Butterflies in Tewantin was another highlight, offering a wonderful opportunity to support a local charity while enjoying a unique experience.
The standout for us was a boat tour through the Noosa Everglades from Habitat Noosa EcoCamp. With only two everglade systems in the world, it was a truly memorable experience.
Friendly kangaroos, great food and a relaxed atmosphere made it even more enjoyable.
We also enjoyed lunch at Spirit House in Yandina, explored Maleny Botanical Gardens and Birdworld, sampled local produce at Maleny Cheese, stopped for an ale at Montville Hotel and visited the Ginger Factory.