My plan for the day included feeding wild dolphins in Tin Can Bay and then exploring Noosa. I rose at 6 am and departed from the backpacker’s street in Rainbow Beach. The previous night had been challenging, and I hadn’t gotten much sleep. At a nearby gas station, I purchased some food and a drink from the bakery. Fortunately, the bakery was open, as all the other stores in the vicinity were still closed. I left Rainbow Beach and headed to Tin Can Bay for the wild dolphin feeding.
A few days ago, the ladies at the information center in Maryborough informed me about this opportunity. Since it was on my route and only cost 10 Australian dollars, I decided to give it a try. Online reviews were somewhat negative, criticizing the experience for allowing participants to feed only one tiny fish and prohibiting any physical interaction with the dolphins. Personally, I disagreed with those negative sentiments; these dolphins were wild animals, and I was already grateful and amazed to have the chance to feed one.
Dolphins in Tin Can Bay
I reached the dolphin feeding center around 7:30 am, where a group of thirty people had already assembled for the event. We patiently waited until 8 am for the feeding to commence. The experience was fascinating, providing ample opportunities for capturing memorable pictures. It surpassed my previous touristy dolphin hunt in Bali, which was quite underwhelming.
Following the feeding session, I departed Tin Can Bay and headed toward Noosa. While in the parking lot, a stranger approached me and requested permission to take some pictures of my car. I gladly agreed, speculating that he might be a Kanye West fan, considering there was a quote and cartoon of Kanye on the car: “I don’t know what’s better – gettin laid or gettin’ paid.”
Following my visit to Tin Can Bay, my next stop involved meeting up with Toshi, the Japanese guy, and Jeong, the South Korean guy—two friends I had connected with three days earlier on Fraser Island. Departing Tin Can Bay around 9 am, I headed in a southern direction.
At a store in Gympie, I stocked up on ice, Coke Zero, and some food. It was the perfect opportunity to make use of my cooling box, and I was pleased with my economical supply of Coke Zero. Unable to resist the temptation, I indulged in my first substantial meal of the day at Subway.
Arrival in Noosaville
Continuing my journey to Noosa, I relied on Google Maps for the first time as my navigation aid. Toshi had shared his address via Facebook chat, and thanks to the flawless functioning of GPS, locating the address posed no challenge. Without this technology, reaching Toshi’s given address would have been a daunting task. Reflecting on my experiences in Indonesia, particularly in Bali, I realized how much time I had spent searching for directions. During my time in Indonesia, I would take screenshots of Google Maps in advance and then navigate using road signs and by seeking directions from locals.
Noosa left a lasting impression on me, and it’s a town I won’t easily forget. Remarkably, it boasts what seems like the highest number of roundabouts in the world. With over 50 encountered, it’s safe to say they have a special fondness for them here. Despite its slightly larger size compared to my hometown, Volendam in the Netherlands, everything in Noosa is generously spaced, a common characteristic in Australia. The town comprises three distinct districts: Noosa Heads, Noosaville, and Noosa Civic. Initially, I viewed Noosa as a place to pass through, but in hindsight, it reveals itself as a destination with much more to offer than I initially thought.
A Pleasant Surprise Behind Every Door
Initially, I headed towards the Noosaville library on Wallace Drive and took a stroll around the area during noon. Prior to entering the library, I spotted a gym across the street. Curious, I decided to check it out and utilized the facilities inside, including the restrooms. It turned out that the library had restroom facilities as well, a discovery I made later. Trusting my instincts proved beneficial, as the gym was impeccably clean, and there was no one around at that moment. I casually walked past the reception and entered the bathroom.
In the bathroom, I discovered another door at the back of the room that opened into a locker room equipped with showers. Upon inspection, I knew I had struck gold! The cleanliness and tidiness were remarkable, almost as if the showers were newly constructed. The facility featured four regular shower cabins and a generously sized one designed for disabled individuals. Impressed by the quality, I decided to utilize the showers the following morning and inquired about it at the reception. To access them, I was required to pay 2 AUD, a reasonable fee considering the pristine condition of the showers. I would have gladly paid 10 AUD for showers of such cleanliness and order.
The Meet Up with Toshi and Jeong
At the library, I accessed the internet to review my financial status, crafted a few blog posts, and found that time had swiftly passed. Around 2 pm, I rendezvoused with Toshi and Jeong at their school in Noosa, where they were diligently pursuing English studies. Toshi mentioned that he chose this school specifically to immerse himself in an environment with fewer Japanese students.
Inside their school, I observed a significant number of Asian students. I proposed a friendly game of table tennis to Toshi and Jeong, and we found a table conveniently placed in the hallway. To their surprise, I emerged victorious three times against Toshi and once against Jeong. Jeong, in particular, struggled against my skills, adding a touch of humor to our matches. During my childhood, I spent many summers playing table tennis during our camping holidays. Curious, I inquired whether people in Japan were generally better at the game, to which Toshi affirmed that they were. However, he good-naturedly acknowledged that he was just an easy opponent for me.
After leaving the school, we headed to the Dropbear Adventures headquarters, the tour operator we chose for our Fraser Island excursion. Jeong faced an unfortunate incident on the last day of our Fraser Island trip—he lost his phone. Since all his pictures and the means to communicate with his friends and family were on the device, it was a significant loss. We approached Simen, explaining the situation, but he informed us that they had already conducted a thorough search without success. Despite the initial setback, Simen assured us that he would make another round of inquiries and requested a renewed effort in searching. If the phone was located, he committed to bringing it to Jeong’s school, conveniently situated just 50 meters from the Dropbear Adventures office.
Noosa National Park
Toshi and I approached Simen to gather information about Noosa, and he shared insights about the beach and the national park. Since Toshi and Jeong hadn’t explored the national park, we decided to visit it together. After parking the car, we enjoyed a panoramic view of Noosa’s coastline. Opting for a brief trail, as Toshi needed to return home by 6:30 pm for dinner, we made our way through the park. Their guesthouses imposed strict rules regarding dinner attendance.
Noosa National Park sprawls across hilly eucalyptus forests, offering stunning vistas of the ocean. The park shelters endangered wildlife, including the glossy black-cockatoo, ground parrot, koala, red goshawk, wallum froglet, swamp orchid, and Christmas bells. Unsure of which trail to follow, we opted for a leisurely walk, engaging in conversation. Looking back, a hike to Alexandria Bay might have been a more rewarding choice.
Noosa Main Beach
We embarked on a brief trail, and after 20 minutes, we encountered a sign pointing toward the hill summit. Opting for the ascent, we found the view somewhat obstructed by trees. Upon returning to my car with some time to spare, we drove to the beach, located a kilometer from the national park. Toshi and Jeong directed me to the parking spot.
We took a seat on a bench and continued our conversation. It was enjoyable chatting with these two individuals. Both were English language beginners and admired my proficiency. Toshi had a slightly larger vocabulary than Jeong. Additionally, Jeong had a distinctive Asian accent, which I occasionally found challenging to comprehend.
This led to amusing situations where I found myself repeating the word ‘what?’ five times. Eventually, Jeong would abandon his attempt to explain and exclaim ‘FOEKKK ENGLISH!!!’ in frustration. Each time he said that, it sparked laughter among us. Jeong and Toshi were fantastic companions, and we thoroughly relished our conversations and laughter. Ultimately, we agreed to meet again later that night after they had finished their dinner.
Evening in Noosa
I discovered a campsite on my phone that I was eager to explore. Situated near Noosa’s Main Beach, approximately 1 kilometer west of our current location, we headed to the parking lot at the end of Claude Batten Drive to investigate. The site appeared to be fantastic!
I approached a couple and inquired if it would be acceptable to spend the night in my car at this location. They assured me it was fine, mentioning that they had been camping here for almost three nights already. The relief washed over me as I secured a place to sleep. I couldn’t help but marvel at the idea of such casual camping being permitted in what seemed like an upscale and luxurious holiday town like Noosa.
I dropped Jeong and Toshi off at their school, as their houses were conveniently located nearby. Following that, I made my way back to the bustling restaurant street adjacent to the school, known as Noosa Junction. Opting for a corner restaurant, I placed an order, availed myself of their Wi-Fi, and utilized the power supply. While the Wi-Fi was subpar, having access to electricity allowed me to charge my laptop. I seized the opportunity to compose some blog reports while savoring my chicken schnitzel.
Two hours later, I reunited with Toshi and Jeong. Without a clear destination in mind, we decided to grab a drink at the restaurant where I was previously. Settling down, we engaged in lively conversations, covering topics ranging from the intricacies of the English language to discussions about Asia, Asian women, European women, and my travel adventures. Following our time at the restaurant, we returned to the beach for a pleasant stroll before I dropped them back at their school. Around 11 pm, I drove to the concealed parking lot west of Noosa’s Main Beach, parked the car, and settled in for the night.
