Beach to Bush

 Catch a wave and you’re sitting on top of the world.” – The Beach Boys

GDAY….. just a short trip report…..13 days in sub tropical temperatures 60-75

Brisbane

Gold Coast/Surfers Paradise Australia

Fiji

We have traveled extensively in Australia, exploring Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Adelaide,  Hobart, Perth, Broome and surrounding outbacks/bush, but had bypassed Brisbane. We were quite surprised at how beautiful and cosmopolitan the city is. 

We started out with a four hour walking tour that gave us a genuine appreciation for the old and the new of the city and its history. 

The city has fantastic culinary offerings.

Our hotel was exquisite and centrally located.

We enjoyed an adventure on the Brisbane River via a “River Cat”  and strolled the fabulous botanical gardens.

The message here is do NOT bypass Brisbane. 

Next…The Gold Coast/Surfers Paradise

The Gold Coast's star attraction is its beaches, including the world-renowned stretch of sand at Surfers Paradise. We stayed one block from the golden sand beaches. The Gold Coast also has a booming culinary scene and we enjoyed a fun fun fun dinner at Koi's with our good friend Sheila Murphey. Sheila is originally from Oakland California and I first met her in San Carlos Mexico about 15 years ago. We have remained in contact thru FB and Gerry and I just happened to be in Saigon while she was there 2.5 years ago and we hooked up for dinner…... . and amazingly we all were on the Gold Coast at the same time!! Talk about synchronicity!

We took 3 trips into the subtropical hinterland for rainforest walks, waterfalls, birding, as well as spider and glow worm sightings. We really enjoyed Lamington National Park and the Canugra Valley Vineyard. The trip to the Gondwana rain forests of Springbrook and Natural Bridge gave us our fix for unique flora and fauna. "Best of All" lookout gave us an incredible view of northern New South Wales and Mount Warning.

We had several sightings of pretty faced wallabies.

Next…….FIJI

To enter Fiji one must schedule and have a Covid Test within 72 hours of being there?……a  government rule and money maker?  Cost was $100 for both of us. 

Our hotel room gave us a terrific view of the Viti Levu’s coral coast on one side and beach on the other. 

We took a local bus into the nearby village and explored their market.

We spent most of our time relaxing but did suffer a lengthy bus ride for canoeing and rafting the Navua River. It was a very nice little adventure, floating past villages, farm lands, tropical rainforests, canyons and a bit of adrenaline on a couple of rapids.

We had a Fijian traditional  lunch at a village, a sacred ceremony and enjoyed a war dance performance by the young men of the village.

Back at the hotel after another long bus ride, we had dinner with new friends from Australia. 

The next day the Lobo went with three of the Aussies to a town rugby match. Their opponent took 24 hours to get there from another island.

The match was exciting and the locals were as passionate as any sports fans that I have witnessed. 

Gerry elected to stay back at the hotel and chill. 

MEN BEHAVING BADLY

-Lobo and the three Aussie blokes drank way too many Fijian bitter beers and became loud, yelling, maniacs for the local team.