Gold Coast

During my stay in Brisbane Tom and Carina took me for a day out to Montville a small village, where there was an interesting clock shop with numerous cuckoo clocks, then a short visit to the Sunshine Coast but alas it rained. After leaving Brisbane I visited the Gold Coast which has 72 kilometres of legendary beaches including Surfers Paradise. The beaches of the Australian coastline are indeed spectacular and rival those found anywhere in the world.

I had an interesting stay at the YHA (Youth Hostel Association) at Coolangata. The accommodation is graded by stars according to a quality standard. 5 star being a very high standard, but this hostel had no 'stars', so I wondered what I was letting myself into. The hostel was quite run down and I was sharing a dormitory room with 7 other people, fortunately all female. However I met some lovely people. I met a Christian couple over a meal, and on return to my dormitory my room mates invited me to share their potato chips and a drink. As we sat on our bunks we shared stories of our travels. The next day I moved onto Kingscliff, a small coastal village further south, where I stayed with another SERVAS host Don and Yvonne who lived in an over 50's village. Yvonne taught the men's tap dancing session.

Monday I traveled by bus and train to Sawtell to stay with my friends Emily and Joan who live with their mother Oma. Sawtell is just a short distance from Coffs harbour where you can see a rolling ocean, winding rivers and sparkling creeks. As my job at Stanthorpe had fallen through they suggested that I come and be a companion for their mother and take her for days out while Emily and Joan are at work. So this is my 'job', similar to HelpX by working to pay for my board and lodging. I plan to be here for approx 2 weeks.

I have the use of a car and today we went to Bellingen and Dorrigo. This cultural-rich community is a magnet for artists, musicians, writers, actors and crafts people. The term 'cottage industry' is taken literally here. It seems every second home boasts an artists studio and the results are on exhibit in a huge array of galleries. Locally made jewellery, ceramic and textile works arejust some of the pleasures available to peruse or purchase.