Sunshine Coast

Visiting the Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane, we enjoyed catching up with our former neighbors, Lisa and Scott, who emigrated to Australia seven years ago. We were spoiled by their generosity and impressed by how they conserve resources. Solar panels provide a portion of their energy needs and rainwater provides all their household water!

Scott introduced us to the most disheveled book exchange one can imagine. A friend of the owner came in, seemingly just to tease him. "Mate, is it possible that you've added even more books? I know CPR. Has anyone been buried beneath the books back there?" he yelled. Lisa drove us inland to visit quaint towns in the Ranges: Mapleton, Monteville and Palmwoods. Most importantly, we finally saw kangaroos! The large reds have the run of the campus at USC, University of the Sunshine Coast, where the marsupials and coeds seem to maintain respectful distances. In a Discovery Channel moment, we watched a roo poke its head out of a pouch and a male scratching the tail of a female and chasing her, in what these junior naturalists decided was a "courting" ritual.

Roo Heaven in the Australia Zoo provided the most enthralling kangaroo experience. We entered the enclosure of these docile animals armed with officially sanctioned Roo Food. Wandering among eastern grays, reds, wallabees and red legged pademelons, we pet and fed loads of kangaroos.

"The kangaroos felt very soft. That surprised me. Their hands were really skinny and they had long nails. Sometimes they would put their hands on your hand when they were eating. Their feet were very long too. They used their tails to balance. Some of them were so hungry they would stand up to get to where you were before you squatted to give them the food; that's the only time I felt a little scared. It's the most fun when there aren't too many people there," reported Skylar.

We could have easily spent a full day in that exhibit alone, but Steve Irwin's zoo had so much more to offer. His father, Bob, a respected herpetologist, started it in the 70's, in a single building and the Crocodile Hunter took the family business to the next level. It includes Australia-specific, animal exhibits (koalas, crocs, camels, dingoes, cassowary, snakes...) and the 5,000 seat Crocoseum. At the Wildlife Warriors show, we saw birds in flight, swimming pythons and a Steve-wannabee, feeding a hungry saltwater croc. Flowers, artwork, letters and signed khaki uniforms form a memorial to the life and legacy of this famous Aussie. His wife, Terri who hails from Oregon and his children, Bindi and Bob carry on his work.

For photos of the Sunshine Coast, click here.

Traveler's Note: Spending only two hours in Surfers Paradise changing buses, was two, too long. It may have lived up to its name circa 1950, but we recommend avoiding this endless-mall with high rises along a pretty strip of beach. Don't believe us? Check out the ultra tacky photographic evidence here. Vegas is missing an Elvis impersonator.