Location: Mt Coolum

Region: Sunshine Coast

State: Queensland

Time: Two weeks in February and Eight weeks in April – May 2023

Reason: House Sitting

Rob and I experienced an idyllic five weeks in February/ March and then two months during April and May 2023 in repeat housesits at beautiful Mount Coolum looking after Mogwai a cute little Shi Tzu while housesitting as we awaited our van which has been delayed five times (originally due Oct 22, then Jan 23, then Apr 23, then Jun 23, then back to Apr 23, now expected mid Jun 23).

Oh what a magical 8 weeks! Living less than 300 meter’s from the beach felt like a dream come true.

In some respects it was, as I have always wanted to take leave in May, a month I consider to be one of the nicest months of the year in Queensland. The weather is milder as the season starts to cool to winter with temps between 10 – 25 which is great sleeping weather whilst the sea temperature still hovers around 20-22 degrees so you can still swim and the light at that time of the year is magical.

This relaxing period has been good for both of us after the very hectic 2022 finishing house renovations, but we have also been active, continuing our healthy approach with regular exercise everyday.

Every morning we do an 8 km circuit walking and running from Beachside, alternating the direction each day North then South from the lovely beach house which is approximately 300 metre’s from the coastal path and with Mount Coolum beach just over the dunes running parallel to the path.

We follow the coastal path and visit one of two coffee shops Cuba St to the South and Wagtails to the North; both on David Low Way and both serving excellent coffee, so we highly recommend a visit if you are up this way. We then return home with a walk along the beach admiring the view of Mount Coolum which sits directly opposite. Its a great climb too, especially at Sunrise or Sunset.

During this time we have enjoyed a mix of “Dolce far niente” (literally ‘sweetness of doing nothing) with some serious hikes, one around the Noosa Headland with Friends Liz and Dale a good 12km circuit with a lovely lunch after enjoyed at Sunshine Beach Surf Club; what a great day!

We are also continuing our education on all things caravanning, I’ve started making Sourdough bread and I’m also exploring pencil drawings and water colour painting. Mount Coolum is a wonderful place and really suits the outdoors lifestyle that Rob and I enjoy. Definitely one for the list for our forever home at the end of our roaming.