This is my street and that hi-rise is on the beach front, just one kilometre away. So join me as I hop on my bike to go down to the beach for my morning walk. Bring water, put on sunscreen and a hat it is hot and sunny.
Today is a special day as it is the last Sunday of the month and that is the art and craft markets on the beach front.
Only a 5 minute ride (10 minutes if you walk) and now I tie the bike up. The beach is just the other side of the bushes, from here we will head south, next time we will go north.
I think I will wander around these markets, it is mostly local art and craft. I have never seen any Chinese or imported products here, great place to shop for gifts or Christmas presents. Be warned this could add an hour or more to the walk…
It’s a great venue under the shady Norfolk Pines and next to the beach catching all the sea breezes. They are very welcome as it is going to be hot day today.
That is my cup of iced tea waiting while I take a photo. It was delicious.
Still lots to see.
This group of Hare Krishnas passed by chanting and playing their instruments. Times have changed as a few years back they would all be in their orange cloaks with shaved heads…
This is Burleigh Beach, my local beach. It is very hot today and what better way to cool down, but you must swim between the flags as there can be very strong rips along this coast. Notice the surf life savers in their orange and yellow jackets.
That hill in the background is Burleigh Heads National Park and that’s where we will be walking round.
The surf rescue boat and team are ready for any emergencies, and the sea is very choppy today.
This is the surf club building, a great place to have a meal upstairs right on the water front. Downstairs you can have a coffee and a snack.
Further along is my favourite coffee hole in the wall. I think she has recognized me!
Notice all the seagulls on the scrounge?
This is the entrance to the National Park.
The tracks go round the hill in a figure of 8. The right hand track goes up the hill and is STEEP with lots of steps, quite a challenge. The left hand one goes round the bottom of the hill along the ocean. I am not very fit at the moment so we will go along the low track.
This gate is padlocked if the track is dangerous. You’ll see the rocks soon.
The day we arrived home a fire broke out on the hill and these gates were locked for a few days. I am interested to see how much damage was done.
The fire began at about 6.30pm and burned well into the early hours of the morning.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service senior ranger Henry Waterman said about three quarters of the sloping headland had been burnt.( go to this link to see dramatic photos of the blaze)
How did these Pandanus survive?
The report was that three-quarter of the Park burnt, but in fact it was only a small section of the grass land, the bush was not effected.
These are the rocks that caused the concern. They have been like this the 16 years we have lived here and probably very much longer.
Between 20 and 23 million years ago, molten lava from numerous eruptions in this area spread in all directions, some flows reaching the present coastline at Burleigh headland. Slow cooling of the thick lava resulted in shrinkage and cracking into six-sided columns. Many slid and rolled to the water’s edge.
So let’s quickly and safely move on.
The 6 sided basalt columns line the track.
Round the other side of the hill we look over to the mouth of the Tallebudgera River. Beyond is Palm Beach and down to Coolangatta and over the border into New South Wales. The wind is whipping up the foam today. No surfers out here in these conditions.
Further along the river bank it is calmer. That bridge is the Goldcoast Highway, the major road south.
On the other side of the river is another surf club, they certainly have the best beach front positions.
This is the intersection of the 2 tracks, to go right it will be all up hill, straight ahead takes you to the Highway. I am feeling quite hot and so I think I will go back the way I came and leave the hill climb for another cooler day.
There’s the iconic hi-rise outline of Surfers Paradise on the horizon.
I think I will stop for a coffee and ice-cream at that little kiosk.
Hope you enjoyed your walk in the sun.
To enjoy more walks around the world visit Jo’s blog and join her for Monday morning rambles.
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What a beautiful place, Pauline. But I get so cranky when people aren’t responsible with their fires. I’m just glad it didn’t do a lot of damage xxx
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That grassland was a fire waiting to happen Dianne so in a way it was fortunate it had a burn off with out more damage. But I agree some people are very irresponsible
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Pauline long time since I have seen you with your camera and interesting places you photograph.
I have meaning to walk that track for ages. I go North nearly every morning.
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G’day Wendy, lovely to hear from you. We have been away from the coast for 8 months so it is good to be back home
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What a beautiful stroll. Such contrasts.
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I was in Market heaven this last weekend, farmers market Saturday then beach market Sunday. Could do with some cooler Tableland weather at the moment…
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well i loved how you gave us all the people shots – then nature -and then wrapped up with a few more people shots. The guy at the shower in the picture with your bike was fun – and as usual, I just love seeing these candid shots – and glad you got your tea… I will have one of those fresh fruit smoothies I noticed on one of the signs… ha!
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Love your comments Y. I like it when I catch their eye and they respond to the photos. I think I will go for the smoothie next time… 🙂
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❤ ❤ have a nice day
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Oh just love Burleigh, but you do need to travel around, like you do, to see just how perfect it is
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I agree it is always good to come home.
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You have a great place to go walking, and right on your doorstep. Reminds me of our beach in Umhlanga, which now seems a million miles away. How awful to see the devastation caused by the fire. I do wish people would be more careful. 😦
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You did have beautiful beaches in your previous home Sylvia. I’m sure you will revisit them and take us with you.
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Oh, how I hope to find some similar walks over the next few weeks, though I am hoping it won’t be TOO hot in NSW. And I’m sure NZ will be cooler. I enjoyed this walk with you PP, nice and varied with the market to browse around, though some of those kids lights would give ME nightmares! I stayed not too far from here on my first visit to OZ – Currumbin – and got a nice shot of Surfers across an empty beach.
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Currumbin is another lovely area Jude, so you know this area quite well then?
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Not really. A 10 day trip up the coast stopping at different places along the way – Coffs Harbour, Currimbin, Caloundra, Noosa and Fraser Island and Byron Bay. I loved the Sunshine Coast ❤
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Sunshine coast not as touristy as GC…
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Loved the Glass Mountains too 🙂
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Your walk was quite varied. My problem would be resisting buying anything at the craft fair knowing I’d have to carry it who knows how far!!
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You could always call in on the market on the way back from the walk. It is a big temptation
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Hi Pauline, this is my first time for here in your virtual home and I onjoy walking with you. The cartoon character lamp was catching my eyes, and the intersection make me wanna walk walk straight ahead by your side, while you busy take a picture and tell me much interesting thing. 🙂
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G’day Noe, welcome to my world, so good to have you come along for the walk. I did enjoy your beautiful island.
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Wonderful and interesting walk, really enjoyed it – very inspiring… 🙂
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Thank you for taking a walk with me. Appreciate that you left a comment
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Gosh you’re having very hot weather over your way at present! We’ve had the occasional hot day but then it goes rainier and cooler again so very variable over here in the south west! How fortunate the fire wasn’t any worse – the regeneration of the vegetation after bush fires never ceases to amaze me. Fortunately we are near the coast and not close to bushland – I couldn’t stand the stress of living in a bushfire zone. Have enjoyed your walk thanks for sharing 🙂
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Really hot for October and today set record temperatures all over the South-East. Fortunately had a brief shower that cooled us down slightly. Don’t usually have bush fires in this area so it turned into a spectator spectacle.
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I second Jo on her thoughts…a very different walk!
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Thanks Sue
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How CAN these people be so irresponsible with their camp fires, Pauline? Makes me furious!
When I saw the high rise I thought ‘oh no’ but then your market looked such fun and the National Park looks beautiful (but beware of those falling rocks!) Amazes me how very different our worlds look, even when we go to the beach 🙂
Many thanks for joining me again.
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Fortunately the fire did not do a lot of damage and maybe helped by cleaning out the long grass. and didn’t get into the bush area, but those campers were certainly irresponsible. I didn’t see any bush turkeys and usually spot 2 or 3 on this walk. hopefully they will come back they are quite fascinating birds, the male does all the mothering of the chicks.
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