Mooloolaba - part one

Cricket holidays are not just cricket. We also allow time to explore and enjoy the local area. Mooloolaba is a major holiday destination on the Sunshine Coast. Across the road from resort is the surf beach where my family used to swim when on holidays in the late 1950s / early 1960s.

Overlooking the beach is the Mooloolaba Surf Lifesaving Club.

On this visit the foreshore was fenced off due to the Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation Project due for completion in 2027.

Signs direct beach-goers to the beach entrance on the other side of the surf club.

View of the beach through the fence.

View of the foreshore from the beach.

However it was possible to walk the two kilometres from Mooloolaba to Alexander Headland.

View towards Mooloolaba

Rocky cliffs and rock pools are also along the coast.

View of The Spit and Point Cartwright at twilight.

Brush turkeys roam freely along the foreshore

and on footpaths near the shops.

Mooloolaba - part two

 One of the highlights of Mooloolaba is Sea Life Aquarium.

A variety of sea creatures can be viewed when visiting the aquarium. There are also talks and demonstrations about some of the sea creatures including seals.

An octopus attempting to hide in plain sight on the side of an enclosure.

Sea horses

In the afternoon we continued to explore Mooloolaba.

Views from the tenth floor of the Landmark Resort.

Looking towards the Glasshouse Mountains

We walked along the beach path past the Spit Beach towards Point Cartwright. The Mooloolah River flows out to sea between these two walls of rock.

Fishing is a popular activity from the rocks

Kayaking is another popular activity

Boat in waters near Point Cartwright

Mooloolah River

Mooloolaba - part three

 Although the beach is the focal point of Mooloolaba, the Mooloolah River is also worth a visit.

The photos above were taken as the sun was setting. Along the wharf there are a few shops and places where you can met friends for a coffee. The Dock on The Wharf is a bar and restaurant where the Victorian cricketers met after each match. On two occasions we had dinner there with friends.

Most of the shops in Mooloolaba are in the main street opposite the beach. There is also a good selection of restaurants and food shops to visit for a meal or to take food back to the resort.

In Mooloolaba Betty's Burgers is a good place for a quick, light meal in the evening.

A good place to select an ice cream. We can recommend the honeycomb ice cream and the chocolate ice cream.

We visited QuarterDeck, near the resort, several times for a hot drinks. We also had breakfast there one day as well as having dinner at the restaurant.

Augello's Ristorante and Pizzeria is an Italian restaurant well worth visiting.

Another cafe to visit is Craft Espresso and Bar.

The Baycrest is good for sushi.

At night many of the trees in the shopping and restaurant precinct are lit up with lights.

Over 70s National Cricket Championships - Sunshine Coast

The 2nd Australian Overs 70s Cricket Championships were held on the Sunshine Coast from 12-18 September 2018.

We left home on the Wednesday morning to fly to the Sunshine Coast. At Tullamarine Airport it was easy to recognise other players also heading north. At Maroochydore we collected a hire car and drove to our accommodation for the next week at Mooloolaba.

From our rooms at the Landmark Resort we had a great view of the beach.

 We also had a view of the Marina.

After buying provisions for the week we went to  Club Mooloolaba, around the corner from the apartments, for the Meet and Greet. We met other members of the Victorian team as well as catching up with players from the Australian Over 70s team with whom we had recently toured in England.

After the Welcome we had dinner at the club - Tuscany Penne (chicken, mushrooms and spinach) and fish 'n' chips. A good start for the week ahead.

Over 70s National Championships - Sunshine Coast - Mooloolaba

Mooloolaba is an ideal place for a holiday in September. Beautiful weather, great views, places to walk and explore, good selection of restaurants - what more could you want?

 Views from our apartment balcony - the beach and the marina.

The Saturday morning was a rest day so I went for a walk along the beach towards Alexandra Headland.

The tide was out so it was possible to walk across the rocks at the end of the Mooloolaba Beach and around the headland.

In the 1950s and early 1960s people used to camp on the headland. Now it is parkland. There are a number of caravan parks in the area for campers.

 The beach at Alexandra Headland was busy as there was a surf carnival as well as normal swimming activities.

There were also people just out for a surf or a swim.

I then returned along the foreshore to Mooloolaba.

Later that morning Robin and I went for a walk along the foreshore and encountered some local residents.

This one posed for a photo. We also saw a sea eagle soaring overhead and a bush turkey running down the path.

A shadow covered the path as a paraglider passed over us.

In the evening we had dinner at Via Italia another good Italian restaurant. We shared Roasted garlic loaf and then had Gamberi Zafferona (safron spaghetti with Mooloolaba prawns) and Peposa Gnocchi (gnocchi with slow roasted beef cheek). Delicious meal served by Harriet.

Over 70s National Championships - Sunshine Coast - Mooloolaba (2)

On the Sunday morning - another rest day - I got up early and went for a walk along the beach towards Point Cartwright.

As I walked along the beach I noticed a surprise visitor - a P&O cruise ship was anchored off shore.

Apparently the decision was made not to land passengers as the sea was too rough! So it stayed for a while and then sailed off.

Two groups of life savers launched their boats for a practice session.

I was not the only person going for an early morning walk.

The tide was going out leaving jelly fish, seaweed and shells along the beach.

I then wandered beside the Mooloolah River for a time.

Boats moored in the river.

Looking towards the marina.

Back on the beach it was Mooloolaba's turn for a junior surf carnival.

Fundraising for the Mooloolaba Nippers - sausage sizzle for breakfast.

Back at the apartment - view of the activity on the beach.

Monday morning, before cricket, I went for a walk near the marina around the corner from the apartment.

While there I met a local going for a stroll.

On the Tuesday morning I woke early and took photos of the sunrise from the balcony of our apartment.

There are many views in Mooloolaba.

Little known history of Point Cartwright - Sunshine Coast Daily 20 August 2017