Into my own back yard we go.

By Danielle Lancaster

Today we farewelled the Gold Coast and a big ticket bonus on the ‘Experience Queensland - Where Australia Shines’ campaign for operators on Tamborine Mountain is that it was included on this famil.

I can honestly say I know a little bit about the mountain – well now I know more! First up, we met up with Cody of Bunyip Bike Tours who, until I’d received my itinerary, I had never heard of. It happens Cody has been running his bike tours for around 12 months and he loves the mountain. The tour which started from Gallery Walk included Curtis Falls and a visit to a winery. Usual tours include the Glow Worm Caves but we were a little short on time to include this today.

Being honest the thought of the bike ride daunted a few of us – yes it is mountain bike riding not riding ones with engines – however even for those of us who had not been on a bike for over 20 years, those of us who are not as fit as we’d like to be etc that was never a problem for Cody. Hills can be walked and dips sailed and the new bike tracks make riding safe and a great way to see the mountain plus keeps our carbon foot print low doing so!

Jo, Brent and Cody
Image by Danielle Lancaster

From there we popped into the Mount Tamborine Brewery and Cheese Factory for a tasting. Once again the cheeses – all made in house – where a delight and I stocked up. I gave the beer tasting a miss, as I don’t drink bubbles, but my fellow travellers enjoyed the quenching cool ales especially after the bike ride.

Next stop was Songbirds for lunch. This has been on my bucket list for some time and I was far from disappointed. The food was excellent, the service perfect and the setting divine. Not hard to see why it’s won an award or two and I won’t have a problem referring it in the future, that is for sure. I must say that when the meal first arrived I was a little aghast at the size, however fine food fills and once our plates were finished we were all agreeing a shady mango tree for a nap would be in order.

 

Image by Danielle Lancaster

Not so. Instead we opted to walk it off with a visit to Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk. As many of you already know I love this forest – the third oldest National Nark in the world and the oldest in Queensland. One of the wonderful creatures the crew at Skywalk have been protecting by planting a specific native vine is the Birdwing Butterfly. Considered endangered, it thrives here and also in my own backyard!

Birdwing Butterfly
Image by Danielle Lancaster

So just goes to show one can always learn something new about their back yard!

A top tip: To see the glow worms at night in their natural environment take the Curtis Falls Walk. Don’t forget a torch and sturdy non-slip foot wear.

More:

Bunyip Bike Tours:
http://www.bunyipbiketours.com.au/Bunyip_Bike_Tours_Gold_Coast/Welcome.html

Songbirds: http://www.songbirds.com.au
Tamborine Mountain Brewery: http://mtbeer.squarespace.com/
Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk: http://www.rainforestskywalk.com.au
Tips on Photographing Butterflies: www.blue-dog.com.au and click through to e-newsletter archives

Another view of the Gold Coast

By Danielle Lancaster

Pete Murray reckons he has the best job in the world. Each day he goes to work in bare feet, meets people who are out for pure fun and sees something different every day. Pete is a pilot of the Cloud9 Seaplane and each day he takes to the skies of the Gold Coast.

I ventured up with Pete yesterday afternoon. It was a view of ‘my back yard’ I had not seen before and one I found it very interesting. I was amazed at the canal system. The aerial view really emphasised the complexity of it. I really had no idea it was so extensive, weaving and winding for kilometre after kilometre.

Pete pointed out multi-million dollar houses. ‘There’s one down there for sale for 18 million dollars if you have some spare cash he pointed out and see that one being built? Its claimed it will cost a cool 33 million by the time it’s finished.’

‘Feeling comfortable?” he asks and we all say yes, ‘Great then here we go,’ and Pete banks the plane quickly and smoothly into a sideways roll first right then left. I am for an instance face down into the sea and am surprised my stomach feels fine. In fact I find it exciting and wish there was more.

We fly over Stradbroke Island and I spot campers, the golden afternoon light making their home away from home look very inviting. Anglers out for a catch and swimmers enjoying an afternoon dip in the ocean. I learnt all sorts of things and most dear to my heart was the protection and preservation of the environment in which the planes operate. This is a first class operator and one you can rest fairly easy with as they know planes. Pete’s been in the sky for more than 11 years and Cloud9 Seaplanes is owned and operated by the oldest flying family in Australia, the Cooke family, dating back to 1915 – not a bad track record.

For more info on Cloud9 Seaplanes: http://www.cloud9seaplanes.com 

Photography from the plane was not easy. Wind from the high rise buildings causes the plane to hit a few pot holes and the windows were not the cleanest. Reflections are hard to beat so a polariser is a must. While better to have the lens as close to the window as possible be careful as a slight bump and you can not only damage your lens but your face as well from the camera coming backwards.

Images by Danielle Lancaster (c)

A glorious day in the sun on Queensland’s Gold Coast

By Danielle Lancaster

I have to skite, please let me do it just once. I have had a wonderful morning here on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

First up after breakfast, was a visit to Seaworld. Yes, I’ve seen the shows before and the dolphins performing all their tricks, however this was something special as today I got to pat and feed a dolphin in one of the dolphin lagoons under a clear blue sky. A first and wow it was awesome.

Also in this lagoon was a mother and her baby. Curious to their new visitors, it was almost as if they wanted to chat and tease me with a splash as if asking me to join them. Now on my list of must-do’s is to return and swim with them. They were just too cute, posing for the camera, jumping and playing.

There are some new attractions to Seaworld: an underwater viewing area of tropical fish and sharks and there are some big sharks (with much bigger teeth) plus a new 12million dollar attraction with penguins. Listening to children squeal in delight as the penguins swam to them blowing bubbles was precious. While in the ‘above’ ice viewing area penguins paraded up and forth, some moulting and standing guard while others continued a nonstop dive, swim, jump and plop. I could have watched them all day.

What's happening over there?

Next the others in my crew headed for a surf lesson as I attended to a bit of personal business and am now preparing for an afternoon flight in one of the Cloud9 Seaplanes. A couple of years ago I gave my children a set of 3 learn to surf lessons for Christmas. I remember well their ravenous hunger afterwards and exhaustion and now I wonder if my fellow travellers will be the same when I join them this arvo. It was a present they all enjoyed immensely and one I’d recommend.

My top tip for your photography at Seaworld is use a polariser! For the dolphins and through the viewing windows it will make a great deal of difference to your images! If you have a point and shoot or iPhone try using your polarised sunglasses. And when you go, say hello to the dolphins for me:)

For more info on Queensland's Gold Coast:
Gold Coast Tourism http://www.visitgoldcoast.com/
Queensland holidays http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/
Images by Danielle Lancaster (C)

Soaring into the Sky at SkyPoint

I experienced the night skies of the Gold Coast and wow what a sight! From 230 metres into the sky (yes that’s 1,331 stairs if you are contemplating walking) the 360 degree views from SkyPoint are astonishing.

Now if you don’t already know, I don’t like heights. In fact, it is not unusual for me to get giddy standing on a chair changing a light bulb. Yes, I’ll hang out of a helicopter, but climb into the air is another thing. So for me to like this is something special.

SkyPoint, previously known as Q1 Deck, is located on Level 77 and 78 of the iconic Q1 Resort in southern Surfers Paradise and is the world's tallest residential tower. The Q1 Spire has become a prominent landmark protruding from the labyrinth of high-rises that line this section of Gold Coast. Once, not so long ago, it was just another high rise I did not appreciate. Another concrete glass monster, another eye sore, another monstrosity stretching skyward, another biggest in the world, another......my thoughts have changed. If you have not been here yet, then my recommendation is do so.

What I liked other than the views as the sun set behind the ranges of the hinterland – what a sunset - and the eastern sky became bathed in mauves, pinks and purples:
• The ride in the lift – in one of the World's fastest elevators I was taken from the ground to Level 77 in 42.7 seconds! Check out the video cam showing in the roof showing your ride up and down.
• The food and cocktails – while not tasted they smelt very, very good
• Free undercover parking – always a plus.
• My imagination at what a show it must be from here with zigzagging lightning bolts flashing across the sky

Did you know:
• Q1 is currently the world’s 25th tallest building, taller in fact than the Eifel Tower in Paris and the Chrysler Building in New York.
• SkyPoint is Australia's only beachside Observation Deck .
• There are 9,463 curtain wall panels in the tower from level 3 to level 85(top of crown) which cover 32,685m2 and have a combined weight of 1,303 tonnes of glass and aluminium.
• A plus for Queenslander’s and Northern New South Wales residents (Postcode restricted: 2460-2490) is you can get a one year pass (that’s 364 days unlimited entry) for a only $29.00 – gotta love a bargain and a top way to be able to showcase something special to visitors.

There will be bigger and better news for Skypoint in the future and no doubt the cabbie, who so kindly escorted me back to my accommodation after dinner generously offered as a ‘simple onlookeer’ said ‘let the coast shine, goodness love we need it. Work has been so slow since January, and I’ve been here for too many years to remember it this bad’. Let the sun shine for those workers, let a little good fortune come there way.

For more info on SkyPoint visit: http://www.skypoint.com.au/

PS Did you know the White Lions are coming to Dreamworld for the month of April! I am booking a day – coming?

Tonight at SkyPoint!

Experience Queensland - Where Australia Shines

As Easter approaches many are finalising their holiday arrangements: there’s camping, 5 star resorts, visiting family and various lures tempting all of us.

Me? I am still deciding. Why? Due to a deluge of great tourist information that has come my way in the past few weeks.

Tomorrow Tourism Queensland kicks into gear a multi million project – a Global Media Event to “Experience Queensland, Where Australia Shines”.

A selection of photographers and journalists from around the globe have been invited to submit a request for acceptance to come visit and experience this fabulous state I call home. The objective is to kick start one of Queensland’s main industries back into gear: tourism.

It’s no secret that Queensland has had an unfair share of events this year. And while many of our destinations escaped unscathed, others have had a little help and are now ready to roll out the welcome mat. It’s time to tell the world about it.”

From snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef to exploring the outback and sandsurfing a pristine dune, a number of itineraries were on offer. I selected the Gold Coast and the Scenic Rim itinerary.

Why choose my own back yard, and will I see or more importantly experience, something new? I’m about to find out. In the meantime it’s time to empty and format the memory cards, charge batteries and get the gear packed. On the top of the list is my new Freecom Tough Drive – more on that later and more over the next few days as our journey unfolds.

For more info on Queensland's Gold Coast and Scenic Rim check out these web sites:
Gold Coast Tourism http://www.visitgoldcoast.com/
Queensland holidays http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/

Gold Coast Beach
Image by Danielle Lancaster

Is the sun shining on Queensland?

Two weeks ago we had an interesting photography brief – ‘find out why people are still holidaying in Queensland with the news of floods. We want to hear from visitors how they are finding it, have they regrets and what is their message’.

We received this brief the day before the devastating floods surged through Toowoomba, flowed down the range to Grantham and through the Lockyer Valley to Ipswich and Queensland’s vibrant river side capital Brisbane.

Life, home and treasures were lost. The people of our home state here in Australia are reeling. With 75% of the state being effectively at some time over the past two weeks being inundated in metres of water no wonder it made international news.

Cold calling, as it’s known, is not easy. It’s walking into someone’s life, asking them to be photographed for the media and then capturing that image and walking on to find the next person to ‘fit the brief’.

There are different types of ‘cold calling’ you may be asked to do when working professionally – some not as nice as others. This was one of the nicer jobs.

What do we need do a job like this?

a). The gear: a good camera (DSLR of course), external flash and the ability to work the flash with natural daylight.

b). People skills! Yes the front to walk up to someone, introduce yourself and explain in less than 25 words what you are doing and why. After that they lose interest – you have to remember they have other things on their mind than you fulfilling your brief.This is one area many budding photographers find hard. What if they say no? Then oblige, thank them with a big smile and move on.

c). The ability to frame the shot and grab it first go.

These is not your average portrait session: they have to sell the story behind the image and the words which you may not see till in print. You need to be able to utilise colourful backgrounds if available, crop tightly if need be due to storm clouds brewing etc, use DOF creatively and know what should or should not be included.

We want to make sure these images are ready to go out of camera - time is of an essence for both us and Queensland, our so called client.

What we did find out is that Queensland is open for business! Our first port of call was the Gold Coast, undoubtedly one of Queensland’s tourism Mecca’s. And it appeared everyone was out having fun. 

L-R Noah, Ebonnie and Molly Simmons from Tamworth

“Loving the Gold Coast and the wet weather – what wet weather? We are having a fabulous time! Our advice is come on up and swim without goose bumps!”