The Gold Coast

On the Gold Coast we rented holiday flats at the Palazzo Colonnades, with a view of the beach and Q1. The Colonnades is kind of soulless, but comfortable and convenient.

We went on a whale watching trip. On the way, we saw a movie set on the Spit: that's where they are shooting the last of the Narnia movies. See if you can spot someone you know on the picture!

After wandering around in the sea, we spot a pod of whales. Some idiot in a jetsky got really close, which apparently is forbidden because it scares the whales and could hurt them. The crew got pictures of him to report him to the police.

Narelle got quite a bit seasick and hid at the back of the boat, where motion is the least disturbing. She was the only one at the back and therefore... the only one who say a whale breaching, at the back of the boat, while we were all at the front!

We did see a whale right below the boat though.

We'd missed the rodeo show to which we wanted to go in Rockhampton, because of our rescheduling and not flying from Cairns. So to make up for it we went to see the Outback Spectacular, which was, indeed, spectacular: nice show, nice food, altogether a lovely evening.

One morning we woke up really early, so early that we got to see the sunrise. We decided to get dressed and go watch it on the beach. It's freaking cold before sunrise, especially the sand.

We then went to the airport, gave the car back (after more than 2000km, driving from Cairns: we got a really good deal for it too!) and left for Hong Kong. We left Narelle behind, as she was to spend time with her friends and family for ten more days.