Gingering up the last full day

AS USUAL OUR BREAKFAST at Moondoggy's Cafe was enlivened by this visitor.








After a somewhat later start we headed off to Yandina to visit the Ginger Factory. We rode an old authentic Queensland cane train around the site.






We took a tour through the ginger factory and had tastings of a number of ginger products. We bought some ginger items to bring back.






We briefly dropped into the Nut Factory opposite and then travelled on to Mapleton. We had lunch in their historic pub and looked over the Blackall ranges again.



They were selling these cacti!


Finally we walked along the main street of Maleny. For dinner we visited Tewantin wharf again and thanked Garry for his great organisation and leadership on our tour.


At our last supper-
Reginald Bond and Geraldine Belgraver


Barbara and Garry


Dr Alan and Hilary Wallace


Ian and Betty Bruce.


- Posted when wifi permits

Crikey it's a zoo!

OUR DAY AT THE ZOO WAS SUNNY and mainly warm. First we took the shuttle tour around the zoo.


The rhinoceros iguanas were soaking up the sun.


Barbara claimed to have captured this croc!


We looked through the Australian snake display and the rainforest aviary.


Some of the Victorian bred red pandas are in the zoo.


They had camel rides!


At the CROCOSEUM we sat and watched a display of trained birds - macaws, black cockatoos, a condor and a wedge tailed eagle.










Then the main attraction, feeding the crocs along with lots of information, took place.





We had our lunch at the Feeding Frenzy Food Court. Dini was hard to find but she turned up in time to have lunch.
On our way back we saw Brolgas in the wetlands and the Aldabran tortoises.






It looks as if the crocs are even taking over the 4 wheel drives.


Off to Maisies again for another lovely dinner.


- Posted when wifi permits

Meandering among the markets.

EUMUNDI MARKET WAS OUR FIRST STOP for the day.


This is the largest market in Australia. We managed to stroll through some of it buying little.








I thought these would appeal to all those donut and croissant lovers!


The market must have been going for quite some time as we saw an American Indian and this car was parked where we had coffee.


Then it was off for a luncheon cruise aboard the Noosa Queen. We travelled up to Noosa and back around Richard Branson's island called Makepeace island.








The captain threw the chicken skin left from our lunch to some kites living in the state forest.





Some magpies and butcher birds came down for peanuts.





On our return I walked out to take a photo of the local pelican and got drenched in a downpour.






A rainy end to a lovely sunny day.
- Posted when wifi permits

Sea life at Mooloolaba

THE SKIES WERE CLOUDY AND GREY but the sun was trying to break through. Luckily we were inside at Queensland's largest Oceanariums and Aquarium. We started at the seahorse sanctuary and walked past the coral cove and through the shark shipwreck.









Barbara, Ian and Betty in the shark shipwreck.





I saw these Oscars and remembered Elisabeta's fish!


The seal show was a highlight with volunteers helping the staff.





Next the otters were fed and played in their enclosure while we learnt more about their lives.









We walked slowly through the new Jellyfish Kingdom.





These jellyfish float upside down on the bottom!


After lunch we had a group photo.


Reg, Barbara, Gary, Betty, Ian and Alan are in the back row and Dini (Geraldine) and Hilary are in the front row.
We returned along the coastal scenic road back to Noosa.
- Posted when wifi permits