What better way to start the day than with a refreshing morning run in this idyllic environment? A few mountain bikers and runners had the same idea. Big part of Australian culture are the public barbecues. It didn’t took long for a group to gather at the lake for a breakfast barbecue, or how the Aussies call it: Brekkie.

We couldn’t resist to capture a snapshot of the iconic “Beware of the Kangaroo” sign, while traveling south. Excitement and worries began to mix, when the navigation lost our way on a remote dirt road, cruising deep through the heart of a seemingly endless man made forest. As the minutes turned into an hour and the landscape stayed the same we became bored. when suddenly a colossal yet lifeless, kangaroo was laying on our path.

The next day we headed back to Caloundra. Another daring surf session awaited me. This time I started to catch waves and I could finally feel the potential of my surf board. Luckily the board was small enough to duck dive. This became an absolute life saver as a bomb set was hitting the the surf set. Each wave bigger and bigger starting to crash exactly where I was. With a bigger board I would have taken at least five waves on the head!

From Caloundra we went down to Surfers Paradise. The name can be deceiving, as it’s a bustling city dominated by skyscrapers! For me this is the opposite of a surfers paradise. We swiftly moved down south after doing our laundry. We were rewarded by the hidden gem of Burleigh Heads. Luxury apartments spiced up the landscape with a beautiful surf spot and a nature reserve nearby. This is more how we like it.

One day we parked in one spot for too long and we got a hefty ticket, which we had to pay.. The fee was quickly forgotten or at least deemed not too important with the view of the ocean and the surroundings. In the parks close to the beach, they did not only have toilets, showers and free barbecue. They also provided hot water for free. Absolutely handy if you are traveling in a van! In addition to the luxury apartments there is a street called millionaires row. It is almost an island on it’s own filled with villas out of this world. Of course we checked it out!

In Burleigh Heads I went surfing again. It was receding tide and the sand banks were shallow. The Australian surfers are absolutely insane riding these waves like true masters. I was charging a few waves as well. However II would bail from the wave early as I was so afraid of hitting the banks. One time I hit the sand bank anyways. I took of on one wave riding it down the steep edge. I lost control at the bottom and jumped into the water with my butt first. My butt crashed onto the sand bank. Luckily nothing happened to my back, but that was my call to go out and do something else, as this could have ended much worse.

In Burleigh Heads, I finally returned to the waves for another surf session. The tide was receding, and the sandbanks almost revealed themselves, their shallowness adding an extra layer of complexity. The two meter waves were breaking directly on the sandbanks. The Australian surfers didn’t seem to care, riding these waves like true masters.

I summoned my courage and charged into a few waves myself, although I couldn’t shake off the fear of hitting the sandbanks and I always bailed early if I could. This made me more confident until I caught a wave and rode it down the steep face. I struggled to maintain control at the bottom as the wave suddenly got choppy. Without a choice I was launched into the shallow water. I felt the force, when my rear end hit the sandbank. The worst scenario just had happened for me. Fortunately, I emerged with just a bit of pain and no broken back! This served as a stark reminder of safety in the water. You need to assess the dangers before every session. Especially when surfing an unknown spot. The day before I went at higher tide and had no problem at all! We went hiking for the rest of the day…

Venturing inland in search of a quiet sleeping spot, we hoped for a similar result like the Maddock dam. After navigating narrow mountain roads for an hour, we reached our destination, only to discover that the lake was closing soon. The whole are was guarded by a fence and a gate thus not suitable for a sleeping spot. Numerous ‘Trespassers will be prosecuted’ and ‘Overnight stay prohibited’ signs in the area made it even more challenging to find a sleeping spot. Persisting we eventually found a sneaky sleeping spot.

The following morning we woke up and drove to a park nearby. The view of the surroundings was truly stunning. The bushland hugging the mountains, with the lake below. After a nutritious breakfast our excitement to explore the area was ignited.

However, our enthusiasm soon gave way to disappointment, when we realized that a refreshing swim in the lake was out of the question. The coastal winds were non existent in the mountains and the sun heated the land with unforgiving intensity. I just couldn’t imagine the summer here… A contrasting experience to the more cooler coast lines, especially in spring. The disappointment couldn’t diminish the thrill of our journey, as we eagerly looked forward to the next chapter of our Australian adventure.

Thanks for reading and until next time. Cheers!

Stepping out in Melbourne, we were hit with a reverse culture shock. After almost ten months in tropical climates, the cooler weather felt a bit too cold for us. As fate would have it, I soon found myself in a condition similar to what Sally experienced in Sri Lanka – a fever and a cold. Thankfully, this occurred in Brisbane, where it didn’t hinder my surf addiction.

One of the most significant culture shocks occurred as we ventured into Australia’s supermarkets. Spending so much time in Asia, where stores are small and stock limited, we were amazed at the massive, bustling supermarkets with endless selection of everything. Our jetlag and my condition meant that we didn’t explore Brisbane too much. We took short walks, and Sally hunted through second-hand shops for some warmer clothing.

Despite the challenges, Brisbane proved to be a beautiful city, especially when compared to our experiences in Asian cities. The sun eventually graced us with its presence and my health improved, signaling that it was time to pick up our camper car for our road trip adventure. We were making our way through the rush hour to finally greet the beach again.

Waking up near the beach in Caloundra was a pleasant surprise. The park was teeming with life as people jogged, walked, and socialized. I decided it was time to buy a surfboard. After some searching, I found one that seemed right, despite concerns about its size. Although the board initially felt a bit small, I persevered. The lack of success in my first surf session only fueled my determination to keep going. This board was much larger as the one I bought in El Salvador, so I had to succeed!

One of the most brilliant discoveries during our stay in Australia were the public shared barbecues. These free public hot plates allowed us to enjoy beachside barbecues without even firing up some charcoal. Our time in Caloundra helped us adapt to the newfound mobility our camper car provided, even though finding suitable sleeping spots wasn’t always easy. All the beaches have huge signs, which prohibits overnight camping.

For a sleeping spot we ventured inland on the Sunshine Coast. This led us to a beautiful park where we could sleep. After breakfast, we explored the forest and discovered a stunning little waterfall. A cold morning swim in its pristine waters was the perfect way to start the morning. The best part we had the place all to ourselves.

Our journey took us north to Noosa, a popular spot that, to our surprise, was very crowded due to school holidays. Nonetheless, the waves in Noosa were remarkable. Time to get to know my board a bit better! I managed to ride some waves and even spotted a turtle in the water. After being blessed with this beautiful surf spot I saw something else, that troubled me. A fin was disappearing in the water just as I glanced forward. I first mistook this for a surfer. After a few seconds I noticed that the surfer wasn’t resurfacing. As the thoughts cleared I knew that just have seen a shark! The Aussies were not concerned at all as it seemed. So I continued to surf, staying in the middle of the lineup just in case…

We went for a hike in the national park closely to Noosa. On the way we met an elderly German guy, who was living in his van. We met him earlier in Caloundra and the three of us continued the hike together. Soon after we were treated with something special! We saw whales swimming of the coast of Noosa! Even better we spotted some dolphins enjoying the swell! What an amazing place. We were left with our jaw wide open…

Our adventure continued as we headed north to Rainbow Beach. One of the unique aspects of Rainbow Beach is the vehicle access permitted on the beach, allowing 4×4 enthusiasts to chill by the shoreline. While we didn’t have a 4×4, exploring the beach on foot was still a fantastic experience. The towering sand dunes of Rainbow Beach, some of the highest in Australia, were a special sight. Be carfeul, when you take your 4×4 to the beach. There is a wall of shame in town of people losing their car to the sea!

Our journey from Melbourne to Rainbow Beach was filled with unexpected surprises, culture shocks, and unforgettable experiences. Australia had much in store for us, and with our camper car, we were ready to find places of the beaten path, like Rainbow beach. Something you would reach, without mobility.

Thanks for reading and until next time. Cheers!