Day Trip To Sanctuary Cove

DAY TRIP TO SANCTARY COVE

 Every day comes with all the way new hopes, new plans and new opportunities. We all get new challenges with every new day. Starting a day with a smile on the face and positive attitude towards all the people can surely make our day better.

In the Ute early we hit the Pacific Highway and headed north to Sanctuary Cove for some shopping for Kim and Lunch.  Situated on the Coomera River surrounded by native Australia bushland, Sanctuary Cove is home to four man-made harbours and offers direct access to the Pacific Ocean and Broadwater.

Sanctuary Cove was an adventurous vision to develop a community focused on the boating lifestyle, surrounded by nature and leisure facilities. We first took a sticky-beak along the Sanctuary Cove marina berths and pretended we owned one of the fancy yachts (it’s good to have dreams, right?).

We then headed to the exclusive fashion boutiques with the finest Australian and International labels to trendsetting homeware stores. Kim lusted effortlessly over the elegant pieces from Calypso and tried on the latest European trends at Eev Fashion. The Marine Village hosts 80 specialty retailers including designer fashion labels, the latest homewares and gifts, bespoke custom jewellery and more.

We then headed up to Quay Street Cafe and Bar to enjoy some lunch and company from some fellow bloggers from South East Queensland & Tweed Coast Travel Blogger Group. Quay Street Café and Bar is a place you can enjoy the sunshine with your coffee in the alfresco patio. The cafe also serves a selection of enticing cakes, quiches, cookies and muffins from the cabinet or you can ponder the menu for a lazy breakfast or lunch. The food, service and company were great and Shari enjoyed all the attention. The café is dog friendly and the staffs are totally helpful to accommodate fury friends.

After lunch we walk around some more shops and stumbled on a film crew. 

They seemed to be filming a couple walking the shopping predicts, but no idea who they were.

Just as we were leaving we saw everyone heading into Sunsets by Sanctuary Cove.  Sunsets by Sanctuary Cove was a new event celebrating good food, wine, beer and cider. Everyone was lining up to celebrate the season’s finest drops at Sunsets. The front section of the venue people wandered through the cobbled streets of the picturesque Marine Village at Sanctuary Cove tasting crisp whites, big reds and creamy champagnes from 40 renowned local, national and international wineries. With entry you could sample the best of brews at Sunsets, with 15 of Australia’s top breweries and cideries on hand to serve their goods by the taster, glass or can and world-class restaurants and gourmet food trucks will dish up fine seasonal eats We had Shari but the event we would have liked to kick back and take in the spectacular Sanctuary Cove sunset with an ice-cold brew and live entertainment from solo artists and bands on the big stage.

Things to do at Sanctuary Cove

Coffee & Cocktails

Settle in for a glam AF afternoon at InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort’s High Coffee experience and enjoy a modern take on the classic high tea. Think tiers and tiers of tasty sandwiches, warm savouries and all of the sweets, including their signature éclair with coffee custard and life-changing yuzu cheesecake. If you’re after something other than coffee to wash it all down, opt for the Espresso Martini (a no-brainer) or the Smoking Hot Chocolate cocktails.

She’s A Stunner

Hire a yacht or boat and get out on the sparkling open water to explore the natural beauty of Sanctuary Cove and some of the Gold Coast’s best beaches and coastline. Keep an eye out for dolphins and fish, but don’t forget the sunscreen!

Arrive Hungry

Feast on slow cooked ribs, meatballs, garlic prawns and a succulent selection of Angus and Wagyu beef options at Black Angus Bar and Grill. This restaurant’s enormous menu has something for everyone (even your vegetarian pals will be left unbuttoning their jeans after devouring the hearty black truffle gnocchi).

Window-Shopping Workout

Give into your shopping addiction with a wander through Sanctuary Cove’s promenade and Quay Street. Lust over effortlessly elegant pieces from Calypso or try on the latest European trends at Eev Fashion.

There's A Wholefoods Heaven

Taste test one of the many smoothie bowls at new Pier B. As well as being a health-conscious haven full of healthy salads, raw treats and brunch options galore, the breezy Hamptons-inspired interiors are the perfect setting for a nautical themed feast. Hot tip: make sure you pick up a jar of their house-made granola with your takeaway activated charcoal latte. You won’t regret it.

Treat Yourself

Indulge in a pamper day at one of the many beauty salons at Sanctuary Cove. Book in a manicure, a facial or haircut at Champions Hair Beauty Day Spa, or completely unwind with a dreamy massage at Massage Rejuvenation.

French Foodie Flair

Devour a menu of seasonal ingredients and ultra-fresh seafood cooked with a classical French technique at Jonez on Food. Sit back with a glass of bubbles and take in the harbour views with your gang as you feast on expertly prepared seafood, meats and fresh salads. How’s the serenity?

Take The Scenic Route

Take the many paths along the Sanctuary Cove marina berths and pretend you own one of the fancy yachts. Even better, take a picnic blanket, plenty of cheese and watch the sun go down in style.

Bring The Doggo, Too

Treat yourself and your four-legged BFF to a meal at the chic Anchor Buoy Cafe. With locally roasted coffee and a variety of seasonal breakfast, lunch and tapas options, this dog-friendly waterfront eatery is up there with the best of the best.

Brisbane Lookout Mt Coot tha Photography Session

Brisbane Lookout Mt Coot-tha - Brisbane's Best Views

The best light for landscape photography is first thing in the morning and the last light of the day. It definitely is worth getting up nice and early to capture a great sunrise. So, get out there, take some photos, and see what you can discover.

4:00am – Brisbane North, Queensland. Australia – The alarm on my phone goes off to wake us up…..while it’s a Sunday! How rude. But it was finally time to put all the sunrise photography tips I’d taught Kim to put into practice. We grabbed Shari and jumped in the ute to Mt Coot-tha.

"Why is Mt Coot-tha special?" – someone from out of town might ask.

For TV presenters, it is the HQ of television towers, sending constant signals across Brisbane. Avid bike riders look upon it as a challenge as teams of lycra ascend the mountain each morning punishing themselves with that leg burn.

But for most, it is the closest mountain to the CBD offering a panoramic view of the city, ways to spend a day and the perfect spot for a picnic. Transport yourself to the western suburbs of Brisbane for a Mt Coot-tha expedition of bush walks, fantastic scenery, gardens galore

As the closest elevation point to the CBD, Mt Coot-tha is the place to go to take in a panoramic view of Brisbane and get glimpses of the surrounding region of Moreton Bay. As you walk the length of the observation deck, you can read a historic timeline of this iconic destination before popping a gold coin in one of the telescopes for a closer look at the suburbs below. Or head there at sunrise like we did this morning to see the city radiate in a golden glow as day breaks, go by day for the picturesque backdrop or visit at night for a romantic fairyland of glittering city lights and starry skies. The sun doesn't need to be in the photo to show its influence. Daybreak is a world people rarely glimpse, but is worth the effort.

There are no guarantees that watching the sunrise will take away your seasonal sadness. The sun doesn’t have an ad budget or marketing campaign to make promises. However, sunlight is free and extremely reliable: Every day, it rises without fail, and its light brings a lot of impressive benefits. Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you that the morning sun worked wonders on my mood. In the morning, even as the sun brightens, nothing is really clear. You don’t know how the day will go or what the future holds. Uncertainty can be scary, but during a sunrise that uncertainty is luminous. Ready to wake up with the sun? Here are the best places in Brisbane to watch the sunset and sunrise. Watching the sunrise is a no-cost adventure that can be experienced almost anywhere. Every day, the sun will rise. All we have to do is rise with it.

REDCLIFFE AND WOODY POINT

Perfect for: Perspective along the jetty at sunrise and sunset.

NUDGEE BEACH

Perfect for: Epic reflections. Set your alarm! Nudgee Beach is a great sunrise spot.

KANGAROO POINT

Perfect for: Sunsets, cityscapes and picnics.

WILSON’S OUTLOOK

Perfect for: Sunsets and cityscapes across the Brisbane River.

MOUNT COOT-THA

Perfect for: Sunrise city views from above, dreamy cloud-filled panoramas and silhouettes.

THE REDLANDS: BAYSIDE

Perfect for: Sunrise and sunset across the bay (followed by some fresh fish and chips).

MORETON ISLAND

Perfect for: Sunrise and sunset spots a-plenty around Moreton Island!

NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND

Perfect for: Straddie is an all-rounder with super hot sunrises on the eastern side and chilled out, colourful sunsets on the western beaches.

TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN

Perfect for: Sunrises, sunsets and stars across the valley below Tamborine Mountain.

LAKE MOOGERAH

Perfect for: Sunsets and night prettiness across Lake Moogerah.

Volunteering At The Bloody Long Walk Brisbane 35km Walking Challenge

The Bloody Long Walk Brisbane | 35km Walking Challenge

“If you haven't any charity in your heart, You have the worst kind of heart trouble.”

Since when does a Queenslander say no to a challenge? Call it intimidating, call it crazy, and call it the “mother of all charity walks”… one thing’s for sure: at 35 kilometers long, The Bloody Long Walk certainly stands up to its name.

The Bloody Long Walk is a 35 kilometre challenge owned and operated by the Mito Foundation. Mito is a debilitating and potentially fatal genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to convert food into the energy needed to power muscles and major organs; 1 in 200 people are at risk of developing mito. One Australian child born each week suffers a severe or life-threatening form of mito making it the second most commonly diagnosed serious genetic disease after cystic fibrosis.

The start of The Bloody Long Walk was at Sandgate’s, Curlew Park. All checkpoints were stationed by local volunteers who seek to support the participants and the cause. People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. For some it offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around them. For others it provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. This was Kim’s third event volunteering this year, helping out International Women’s Day Walk and the Ballina to Byron event.  Water, fruit and first aid members were available at all checkpoints to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. Kim was stationed at Check Point 6, located at the New Farm Riverwalk. Riverview Court New Farm and the entry to The Brisbane Riverwalk, which is one of Brisbane’s absolute must do’s, a water highway for pedestrians and cyclists jutting out along the most scenic tract of Brisbane river between New Farm to the Howard St Wharves and on to the Brisbane CBD. The 870m long Riverwalk is happily segregated into dedicated roadways for cyclists and pedestrians so neither can intrude on other’s turf, with cyclists enjoying a 3.5m path and a comfortable 2.5m one for pedestrians.

The route followed the train-line from Shorncliffe to North Boondall. It then trailed parallel to the Gateway Motorway before hitting Nudgee Road, and eventually, the Kedron Brook Floodway Park.  From there, on to Nundah, Ascot and Newstead, then the route hangs tightly to the north side of the Brisbane River, before eventually crossing the Goodwill Bridge to the final stretch of pavement.

If this sounds complicated, don’t despair, we saw extensive section maps that were available to ensure individuals and teams can remain on track, and safety officials were located across the whole route to provide everyone with the best support as participants embarked on the challenging journey.

We headed early to Sandgate to take a few photos of everyone starting, jumped in the car and watched people passing the first Check Point at Nudgee and then onto her Check Point 6.

Kim’s Check Point was the most vocal, with bells and horns welcoming every walker with smiles and hugs and needed encouragement for the last 6k’s till the finish.

Kim’s put her name down for the Gold Coast event and maybe we’ll walk it next year.

Check out the video from the weekend:

Fashion Store Style Your Way Ferny Way

Style Your Way

Shop 6, 18-20 Ferny Way, Ferny Hills (1.18 mi)

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4055

Australia prides itself on being a giving nation. But would you give unconditionally to a homeless person and be okay with not knowing what your money was spent on?  Haircuts, clean clothes, a warm dry place to store their things -- these are creature comforts many of us take for granted, but for those living rough on the streets, even the simplest things are a luxury they can only dream of. Kim is passionate about giving back to the community and is happy to put the word out there to promote a great shop called "Style Your Way".

Style Your Way is situated in Ferny Hills, a suburb 14 km north-west of central Brisbane, is on the upper reaches of the Cabbage Tree Creek and Kedron Brook. It adjoins Arana Hills, which in turn adjoins Everton Hills (moving downstream), and the three suburbs constitute the Hills District in the south of the former Pine Rivers Shire (now in Moreton Bay Regional Council).

Lee Martin is a Joining Hands Ambassador, and her aim is to create a sustainable business and support the health and wellbeing services to the local homeless young people without drawing on Government funds and grants so she will gratefully accept any good quality, pre-loved women and children's fashion delivered to the store.

Joining Hands provide a bridge for vulnerable and homeless young people to access health and wellness services, and live a life filled with health, joy and purpose. Joining Hands is leading a movement of GiveBack for social change, transforming the lives of homeless and vulnerable young people. When thousands of Individuals and Business join together to give, it adds up and creates great change in our world. Sessions they provide include; Haircuts, Nutrition, Trauma Informed Yoga, Dance, Massage, Bowen Therapy, Reiki and Fitness.

With your support, they have ‘gifted’ wellness services to homeless young people since they established the GiveBack Program in 2012.

If you have any unwanted Women’s and Children’s clothes sitting around at home, drop down and see Lee at Style Your Way - Shop 6, 18-20 Ferny Way, Ferny Hills 

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4055