Our first trip in fully unemployed mode was to Hervey Bay. This trip was all about unwinding now that work was done and doubled as a great opportunity to catch up with some friends.
After five years in New Zealand saying hello to some good friends of ours was well overdue. Their hospitality is amazing and this time was no different. By the time we’d left Hervey Bay, we’d shared two meals and most of an (unplanned) day with them. With similar interests and girls the same age we always wish we could see more of them.
A wet and wild ride
There is an amazing fully separated cycle path running the entire length of the Hervey Bay esplanade. We picked it up in front of our accommodation and followed it all the way to Urangan Pier. An erroneous weather forecast meant we departed expecting “isolated showers” and prepared accordingly. We arrived at the pier when the weather demonstrated that tropical downpours are not just restricted to the tropics. Christian’s dictatorship decided 45 minutes later to brave the return ride during a lull.
The lull lasted precisely five minutes and we still had 10km to go. There were two different responses to this little drama from the girls. Hannah laughed like a maniac, hitting puddles as hard as she could and seeing how much fun could be had. Laura was crying and complaining about being wet/cold/uncomfortable. A short conversation convinced Laura that with no alternative but to continue she should probably join her sister in the laughing camp. By the time we returned everyone was happy with their experience, even if they were not keen to repeat it.
Salt water and sunshine
Hervey Bay is home to a very unassuming aquarium. Appearances are definitely deceiving and this stop made our day. Being a smaller family operation makes for a very engaging experience. In the morning we got to feed the sea turtles and give them a big scratch. It turns out they like a decent rub! The afternoon meant feeding the rest of the fish. Big groupers, sharks and cod all taking the fish from just below the surface. The turtles took the chance to try the fish and you could give the resident shark a scratch too. It turns out they have rough skin.
Sunshine meant that the girls demanded a trip to the beach. Hervey Bay beaches are very pretty, with the water calm and safe. Who were we to argue and it’s never a hardship to sit on the sand as the sun sets for the evening.
The drive home
The drive home passed the Glass House Mountains. A short detour off the motorway took us to a lookout on top of one of the peaks. It was a good stop for lunch, a short walk and an opportunity to take in the view. The mountains are formed differently here (old volcanic cores) and it makes for a very different outlook. It was a nice way to end our first trip free of the responsibility of work. It was certainly enjoyable and we know we will be back to Hervey Bay when we can.