Wednesday, 22-Oct-25:
This trip followed on from a 3-day conference in Brisbane, the annual eResearch Australasia Conference, organised by AeRO (Australasian eResearch Organisations); I've attended all but 1 (I think) of these conferences, and been on the Program Committee for many years (co-chairing it twice), and have edited the monthly eResearch Newsletter for the last 10 years (all in an honorary capacity). I was honoured and humbled to be made the recipient of the inaugural AeRO Committee Award, for services to the AeRO community. Here's the award, handed to me at the opening plenary on Wednesday...
Thursday, 23-Oct-25:
At the conclusion of the conference (Thursday afternoon) we immediately went to the rental car depot near Brisbane airport to collect our hire car, and then drove South. On arrival (in the evening) in Cedar Creek Falls near Tamborine (inland from the Gold Coast) for our accommodation, here is our "Tiny Away" cabin. It was located in a bush setting, with quite a bit of fauna around, and within easy walking distance of Cedar Creek Falls. The bush turkey kindly paid us a visit with a great clatter on our roof at 05:10 the first night.
A shrub intrigued me near the Falls - like a hybiscus, but 3 different colours...
Friday, 24-Oct-25:
Whilst we were in the Tamborine area, inland from the Gold Coast, we visited the Tamborine Mountain Regional Botanic Gardens, which were very pleasant (and more bush turkeys)...
After visiting the botanic gardens, we walked the trail to Curtis Falls. Lots of interesting vegetation, and even a skink.
One of the features of Mount Tamborine is that (as the name implies) it is high up with wonderful views West (over a long valley) and East (towards the Gold Coast). Here are views West from Knoll Lookout and Hang Glider Launch site, and (East) at St Bernards Hotel (with bonus wedding gardens).
Saturday, 25-Oct-25:
Our last activity, on departure from the Tamborine area of Qld, was to visit the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, with some great views of this sub-tropical rain forest.
We also noted the scarecrow competition which the locals were running, but I didn't get any really good photos...
We've moved down the Coast from Tamborine to Brunswick Heads, New Brighton (in NSW, just N of Byron Bay). Exchanged our Tiny Away cabin for a Eco Pod cabin (with lots of glass, so you feel you're actually out in the bush), 50m from the beach - here shown inside and out, along with the Heads, some mangroves near the Heads, and the beach (really was barely more than 50m). Can't readily post from here, as there's no Internet in the pod - but good TV reception.
Sunday, 26-Oct-25:
We checked out Byron Bay as we were staying quite close by. As it was a Sunday, the place was packed! But we did manage to find parking to see the Lighthouse (located on the Eastern-most point of Australia), including Tallow Beach (just S), and then a North Byron beach, the tram that connects N Byron with the centre, and then a delightful farm house outside Byron with 2 huge flowering trees (one jacaranda, the other unknown to us).
Having dinner at Ocean Shores Country Club... Storm brewing?
Monday, 27-Oct-25:
We departed New Brighton and made our way gradually up the coast, calling in a few times to see the sea views, finally returning to the car rental depot near Brisbane Airport.
Hastings Point Lookout, North of Pottsville, NSW:
Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Qld - looking South, then North.
We stopped for coffee and then a look round the art exhibition at the Royal Queensland Art Society, Broadbeach.
Surfers Paradise buildings, including (the third photo) work starting on a 90-storey building, the tallest in Qld.
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Alex Reid
10-Nov-25