Well, we finally made it to “Oz”, as they call it down under, land of kangaroos & koalas. One of our first interests was the wildlife, living as we now do in a land with no native land mammals. Our foray was to the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, a.k.a. SE Queensland—about a 3 hour flight from Auckland. We never made it off the coast, really, so that leaves a whole lot of interior (and other coasts) to explore next time we make it there.
Many people had recommended Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, so we went there one of our first nights. Most marsupials are nocturnal or crepuscular (dawn/dusk-loving), and we thought this would be the best time. The advantage of this place is that you do get to see the animals close up. Unfortunately, it was too much like a zoo for us. But we enjoyed the animals we did see, and the aboriginal dance performance – including didgeridoo, of course. You oughtta see them shake their legs when they dance! This was our only encounter with indigenous people or culture, and we are aware that Australia has a very poor track record in its treatment of these people. (more info at http://home.vicnet.net.au/~aar/)
We did get to see a wild kangaroo, off the side of a small side-road. Of course we took our time stopping to look. We also saw 2 wild koalas in Noosa National Park. Noosa was our favorite place that we went to. The park has plenty of wildlife, and some of the most spectacular hiking views we’ve ever seen (and remember, we lived in California for 20 years). The trail (track, they call it) follows the coastline for several kilometers, with a continuous view of the native woodlands meeting the Pacific Ocean. Weird and wonderful plants are everywhere, and the bird life is astounding to me. Naturally, I had to buy a bird book to answer my own endlessly repeated question: “What was that?” 6 pages of parakeets, parrots, lorikeets, cockatoos, etc (that’s just one bird family). It reminded me of the first time I looked at a bird book with my father in Ohio, around age 8 or 9. So many different colors! I felt like a kid in a candy shop. (These 2 gorgeous birds are: a "superb fairy wren" and a "rainbow lorikeet"--the latter are extremely tame.)
But I digress. (How did I get started on birds? Does North America have ANY birds with purple on them?) Anyway, Noosa. 2 different koala bears, dolphins off the shore, lizards of various types including one with a strange hood. Rainbow lorikeets, friarbirds with a strange knob on their beak, dozens of different kinds of honey eaters. Sea eagles; kookaburras. Yes, they really laugh hysterically. I thought they sounded like hyenas, but Judy felt they sounded benign, like they were just having a really good time! (You can judge for yourself: http://www.honoluluzoo.org/kookaburra.htm)
And as soon as you leave the park you come into the chichi little town of Noosa Heads, with lots of fancy eateries at what seemed to us (after trying the restaurant scene in New Zealand a few times) really reasonable prices and great food. Apparently the kookaburras found our leaving a source of great mirth; as we were driving off they burst into a fit of hysterics.
weird plants & animals, including 2 Yanks & a brush-turkey
Our second favorite spot was a little lake just off the small road where we saw the kangaroo, near Byron’s Bay (which is actually in New South Wales). It was peaceful and beautiful, with again plenty of birds calling and singing. There were only a few people around, all evidently blissed out like we were on the tranquility of the place. Perhaps this is because in this lake it’s legal to go skinny-dipping, a deeply meditative experience.
The best part about the whole trip was it gave Judy a desperately-needed chance to get away for 8 days. It was so nice to just relax and spend time together. We’ve been back for 3 days now, and we already need another one.-Joel
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