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The reef was a quiet, pristine clump of islands inhabited only by booby birds and turtles. There were a few yachts that took refuge there as we were all entered in the same Australian sponsored rally from Vanuatu to Bundaberg. The rally was loads of fun with lots of company along the passage and a week of parties and activities after we arrived.
While staying in the area we had the opportunity to go to the Mon Repos turtle rookery. From November to March the Loggerhead and other marine turtles come there to lay their eggs on a beach some 15 kilometers northeast of Bundaberg. After sundown a knowledgeable staff member of the rookery took a group of us down to the beach to locate and watch as the large turtle emerged from the sea and dragged herself across the sand to a safe location up and away from the surf to dig a hole and lay her eggs. It was such an awesome experience to be allowed to share that space and time with her. She laid over one hundred eggs, covered them up with sand and then returned to the sea. The staff then dug them out and counted and measured them for research purposes before returning them to the hole. They then return three months later to witness the hatching of the eggs and the monumental struggle of the tiny turtle’s journey down the sandy slopes of the beach, through the breaking surf, and safely into the ocean that will be their home for the rest of their long lives. We stayed only a few weeks in the area then set sail through the Great Sandy Straits to the sunshine coast of Queensland.
On the sunshine coast we stayed in the Mooloolaba Yacht Club Marina through the holidays and into February. Mooloolaba and its twin city Maroochydore are vivacious communities full of life and activities catering to Australians on holiday. There is miles of beautiful white sand beaches, heaps of restaurants and shopping and yes, plenty of sunshine and surfing. We both enjoyed the area immensely. From there it was a short drive to the tranquil beauty of the Glass House Mountains and the world famous Australia Zoo, owned and operated by the charismatic, quintessential Australian, crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin. We went to the zoo the day after Christmas 2005. Along with terrific Australian animals of all kinds, the zoo also has a tiger enclosure and training show to go along with it, as well as elephants that you are allowed to meet face-to-face and hand feed. Part of the attraction there is the Animal Planet Crocoseum where they hold another tiger show, birds of prey show and the famous crocodile shows. While Steve Irwin himself hadn’t been known to do many of the shows anymore we were pleasantly surprised and lucky that he chose that day to come in and do the show. We realized particularly how lucky we were to have seen him live when 8 months later Steve was killed by a stingray accident while diving at the Great Barrier Reef. He will be sorely missed here in Australia and the world.
We again have met great people along the way here and know that there is so much more to see as we make our way down the coast and into New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
some of the bird life in Australia
they have a fantastic call that sounds like crazed laughter