AUSTRALIA - Gold Coast QLD - Part 1 - From November 2025

Tambourine Mountain

Our "backyard"

Sienna's 4th birthday

Gold Coast, Queensland - November 2025
Part 1: IMPRESSIONS Arrival Late November 2025  

So a one way ticket and an arm full of vaccinations, for where I may eventually venture post Aus (which I really must as the flight costs will probably be cheaper than those of the vaccinations!). 

Arriving on the Gold Coast SE Queensland at not the best of seasons, with possible tropical stormy weather imminent (typically further north hopefully)and extreme kids (it's their full Summer holidays)...but of course I will make the most of it.

Lamington  P

A Roller

A wild one at Coombahbah Wetlands!

Flying Foxes

The GC for family, Bex, Hamish, Sienna (just 4) and Callie (20 months) have lived here for well over a year now, in the hinterland suburb of Mudgeeraba, not 15 mins from the coast but enveloped in the initiation of the rain forest slightly elevated, which provided amazing wildlife just in their garden : hand fed kookorboras, also possum, foxes, and kangaroo caught on my wildlife camera, and a tiny marsupial,  an antechinus...no snakes, just yet, but watch this space!

Varsity Lakes

Currumbin Rock Pools

Bin Chicken (Ibis)

 

Lovely to see the family, with Sienna's 4th birthday on 19th December, which brought together their group of friends that persuaded them to  move to GC in the first place. Understandable to raise a young family. GC is super new, didn't really escalate in growth until the 60s....so lots of space,  very safe and of course very outdoors based. 

Flying Foxes - just down the road at Varsity Waters

Burleigh

On the downside from my initial impressions, the coastal suburbs (as opposed to the lush rolling hinterland) are so new, it is all rather contrived and homogeneous, dare I say souless, lacking character., but unfair to compare with a more organically  evolved city like Melbourne or Sydney...quite attractive though with many of the residences surrounding the many many lagoons and lakes, lots of space, cycle ways, open parkland, and the immediate rain forest etc. 

Lamington NP

Coombahbah Wetlands

There seems to be no sense of community per suburb though, no organic evolvement, they all morph into one...but even with the new areas planned, wny did they not plan the occasional lakeside cafe or general shop (or attempted villagey vibe)....just residences after residences....Reminded me of Perth,  where it has been possible to plan on affectively a blank canvas, but I recall less intensively  there....almost certainly necessary to have a car!

Fairywren

Springbrook NP

One suburb runs into another, all on the face of it very similar, although I'm sure if I lived here for a length of time there would be some differentiation. The skyscrapers of the  "CBD" clearly stands out which is Broadbeach closely followed by Surfers Paradise, but these are mainly apartments apparently, not business.

But unlike Perth, from what I can recall, it is fairly busy especially on the main through roads (state highways), very USA, with large intersections. 

** 6 weeks later, and discovering that in between these main roads there are plenty of more chilled roads across the various suburbs

NSW Tweed Valley

Lamington NP

Botanical Gardens

Nature!
I've touched on the "yard" of the house, as well as what the wildlife camera picked up, in addition the area is loaded with birdsong especially at dawn and dusk. Loroqueets are probably the noisiest but the yellow crested cockatoos sound like pterodactyls from Jurassic Park....

Blue Kingfisher

Varsity Lakes

On the first day, Bex took me for a short walk around where she used to live, the nearby Varsity Lakes...loroqueets again are noisy and common, but almost immediately took me to tens and tens of flying foxes resting upside down high in the trees....at dusk they take off, the sight of hundreds of these in the sky really is quite weird, again almost film-like or AI fake! 

A Roo at Coombahbah

Miami Beach

One observation was that with all the lagoons, lakes etc combined with the steamy weather (30C typically daily) I saw no one swimming - beautiful lakeside residences,  you'd think a dip would be obvious..... Then on a bike pootle around some of these, I came across a notice regarding bull sharks! The lagoons are open to the sea, and bull sharks breed in brackish water, these lagoons are apparently perfect! Would you swim?

Other fauna on that first walk were egrets,  kingfisher, and lots of ibis (or bin chicken parochially named, more later).

More nature later as I report more specifically on various adventures.

Sienna's 4th birthday

Sulphur Crested Cockatoos

 

The coast!
Well this is the Gold Coast. The family residence is barely 15 mins from the beaches...we ventured en masse on our first weekend to Burleigh Beach....a very popular surfers beach..very popular, cool vibes and busy, although soon I borrowed Becky's bike and devised a 30km circuit through the various lakes suburbs and hitting the coast at North Miami then riding down to Burleigh - much more peaceful at the Miami end, which became one of my go to chill zone....anyway Burleigh. Plenty of bin chickens (Ibis) tidying up, and whilst soaking in the surf atmosphere, looking up the coast at Surfers, a bloody great dragon lizard popped up on a rock...I stepped back....as I don't know which critters are dangerous or not, afterall this is Australia! I need to learn, and fast!

 

So, on my first days in Aus....I encountered flying foxes, a huge dragon lizard and warnings of bull sharks.....whatever next!

So what can I explore!?

** Other observations
The vibe is very safe, the demographic is almost predominantly white, and it is refreshing that the shops openly display their goods...I assume there is no £200 equivalent of theft allowance like the UK, 😉 but then the impression is the demographic is not in place to even take advantage...there will be no doubt crime to a certain level....but all in all it feels super safe and trusting....there's no menacing gangs or groups....the only groups are young people enjoying themselves down at the beaches.

Electric bikes! Electrical generated scooters, boards to full on mini motorbikes are the trend, especially with kids but not exclusive. They currently are permitted on the cycle / footpaths which is getting increasingly challenged. They are annoying especially the large bikes going at speed, on my first bike ride I nearly got taken out by a youth where we met at a blind corner....what a start that could've been. 🤬

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXMOOR & THE QUANTOCKS - September 2025

EXMOOR, THE QUANTOCKS & SLIMBRIDGE

Coast From Nr Lynmouth

Dunkery Hill

Lynmouth

Sunday 28th September
Had just 4 nights free, so Exmoor was quite a slog to get to for such a short time...but weather wise it was far better than the forecast for Wales or the Lakes. I drove it without stopping, 4.5 hours..to ensure I got there before it was dark, in fact I arrived just before sunset, and found a cracking night stop at the top of the super steep Porlock Hill. The views along the coast and over the moors were outstanding, but the best was after a night's nap....


Monday 29th September
An advantage of the days closing in, is that sunrise is at a reasonable hour (about 7am)..and I awoke to the most glorious sunrise, see photos. Using a combo of ChatGPT (for a general itinerary) and Komoot (for specific routes) I drove west along the coast to Lynmouth (and  Linton)...a very pretty setting in between the coastal cliffs and estuary of the Lyn, and the location of a tragic flash flood in the 50's that claimed several lives. 

The Komoot route was a affectively a figure of eight, with Lynmouth  being the crossover point. Firstly it took me up the river valley, via Watersmeet, then climbed up and over to the cliffs looking over the coast.. Back down into Lynmouth, where I sat for a while looking out across the Bristol Channel over to Wales. The footpath up to Linton was a challenge, at times it was so steep my new trail shoes were slipping! Now heading west, towards apparently one of the hotspots, the Valley of the Rocks. A dry valley (glacial reasons) with a border of sandstone edges, rather tor like....certainly had character, but relative to how I've been rather spoilt in more mountainous national parks this year! 

 The full hike was 17km, no poles and with my new HOKA trail shoes, I continued my progress on walk / jog...in fact this was the most I had done the jog part since I started....and so far so good! 🤞 All in all a good day out, quite diverse and very enjoyable.
On completion and after a short chill, I decided to explore the interior of Exmoor and eventually find a place for the night....heading through Simonsbath and Exford I generally was not that impressed. I guess the name Exmoor is a giveaway, as swathes of the vista were the endless homogeneous bleak heather terrain. It does nothing for me, although later I came across more I guess cultivated areas...much like the contrast of the White and Dark Peak District.

 The plan for tomorrow was a decent gravel bike ride including the highest peak of Dunkery Hill, but the enthusiasm for biking 3 hours in this sort of terrain did not excite....I'd learnt that lesson earlier in the year on my Yorkshire tour....also I noticed a road practically went over Dunkerry Hill, so off I set. I arrived just prior to sunset, and decided to walk to to the summit just a mile away at the most. 
The sunset was amazing, as was the after glow of varying pinks lighting up the high cirrus....see the photos. Encountered a farmer's daughter who was exercising about 15 springer spaniels..Lovely dogs, under different circumstances I would've pinched a couple!
I decided to stay the night on the shoulder of the summit, and pleased I did....

Tuesday 30th September
Because again, I was welcomed by an amazing sunrise, and being at the highest point in the National Park, I had tremendous views...including the valleys which were engrossed in lowland mist....

 The original plan was to cycle this area, but as stated before, the heather vistas simply do nothing for me...so I decided to travel the 30 mins back north east to the Quantocks....but what a disaster of a morning:

Firstly there was a diversion sign for a rural road closure...the diversion made the journey over 90 minutes and later learnt it had been totally unnecessary. Looking later on my Google Maps timeline, I'd basically done a "sausage loop", and arrived back at the same place! I decided to find my own detour but down many tiny high hedged lanes, and at one point several "warrior" pickups with hunting types in them came the opposite way...rather a squeeze. I arrived in the village for the start of my ride, only to discover I'd left my Garmin in Sheffield (after turning the van inside out), so clear navigation was out....to then discover that the actual start point of the route was a mile away....
Not to worry I thought, only a mile I can easily cycle there...so off I went with Komoot on audio in my back pocket...to immediately confront a 25% gradient, that went on and on and on...to the route...one mile of almost impossible climbing (for my fitness) with zig zagging at points just to keep the wheels rolling.
I made the top without stopping, but immediately Komoot was getting confused about directions...telling me I'm off course, turn left, turn right...I cycled not 800m more (clocking an elevated super van spot) and gave up, my enthusiasm was empty!
Returning (at 70kmh) to the van, I took a deep breath and told myself to reset.

I drove back up the hill, and straight to that spot where I'd quit the bike ride, got my chair out with book and the rest of the weekend's Times...made a cuppa, and sat in a glorious autumn sun trap for 3 hours or so. Unlike me, but for once, this inactivity was throughly enjoyable! As the sun started to drop, it looked like another stunning sunset...so I decided to hike off into the moors to a higher point! And it was really worthwhile, both the sunset and also meeting another bunch of springer spaniels. Four this time, stunning black, liver and white markings...the owner did suggest I should have (at least) one with my (UK) lifestyle....but it's the restriction on travel further afield that I still hanker for....?

Anyway, muts aside, I returned to the van, by which time it was practically dark and settled down for the night reading and catching some Champions League footy with a temperature boost from my heater! Blissful van life!!

Wednesday 1st October
Back on the bike, determined to find out what the Quantocks had to offer, and is there a better way? Komoot navigation again on phone in back pocket, actually worked quite well, just a few double checks....

 Became very impressed with the varied terrain, from broad moorland gravel tracks to woodland single gnarly ups and downs...glades galore etc. Perfect for gravel riding...unfortunately the route was a kind of figure of eight with the van in the middle....after near 2 hours I passed it for the second time with approx one more 10km loop to complete, in a new area...but the temptation to stop and put the kettle on was too much...Id done 2 hours and it was quite tough in places...anyhow after sorting myself and the bike back on the rack I regretted not continuing....next time then, if I ever return to this area....but where to next?

I planned to be back in Sheffield for Thursday teatime, and the continuous 4.5 hour drive was a little too much...so looked for somewhere to take a chunk out of the return journey.. I considered the Glastonbury area, but whilst checking the map I noticed Slimbridge. The original Peter Scott wildfowl centre, I had visited once before, about 55 years ago! So, Google Map was set to some parking spot (from Park4Night) just 15 minutes from Slimbridge. Driving through a surprisingly busy Taunton rush hour, 90 mins later I arrived. The spot was excellent, with an elevated view over the Cotswolds and the Severn estuary with Wales in the distance, and another spectacular sunset. But at first ballsy,  I then hesitated to stay there, as there were no overnight parking signs and what looked like a fake CCTV camera, or was it? Anyhow I checked the app again, and found a pretty ideal one not 8 mins away, a small remote carpark for Cam Peak, near Dursley - not so ballsy after all Ainsworth?!

 

Thursday 2nd October 

First thing I decided to do my walk jogging effort...first a short sharp one up Cam Peak, with decent views, but soon travelled the 15 mins to Slimbridge. 

 Bit disappointing tbh, very zoo like....open various geographical enclosures / ponds with mainly wildfowl, I assume clipped. A large closed aviary with avocet, red shank, godwit, sandpiper etc - really unsure about these....and admittedly some stunning varieties of flamingo. 

There were "wild" hides overlooking lagoons and marsh of the Severn with flocks of wigeon and grey lag geese amongst others...but after 2 hours I'd seen enough and headed back norf.  With a Sale detour to collect the very last Mallorcan artefacts from Sally...a very nice drive over the Peaks via Winnats and home again, but until when?

So, was a chunk of 5 hours worth the trip to Exmoor? In fairness under normal situations I would have probably stayed and explored for at least 2 weeks, but also venturing around Cornwall and even the Dorset Jurassic coastline. In this context though NO! What I saw of the interior of Exmoor is lots of that homogeneous heather landscape, very Yorkshire - the coastline though was very nice....and the Quantocks certainly offered more diversity....but you'll never beat the character of Snowdonia,  the Lakes and Scotland....I'm just too spoilt!

STAFFORDSHIRE PEAKS - August 2025

South West Peak District (Staffs, bit of Cheshire!)

Three Shires Bridge

Dragon's Back

Lud's Church

Monday 18th August 
Had a chance of a few days away, and as the weather locally was reasonable, there was no need to travel far. The Staffordshire part of the Peak District is less visited, certainly by me, so late on the Monday afternoon I headed across to the south west Peaks. I'd planned a rough itinerary (thanks ChatGPT), so the first challenge was to be a route based at the Roaches. Similar to Stanage Edge but possibly a little more character. I found a spot with a great vista across the valley, and settled down for the night....on Roaches Road!

Tuesday 19th August 
I pinched a route off Komoot, which was an ambitious 17k, ambitious because I was having issues with my right ankle, but Rob, my trusty physio had told me I'd be fine, and I took two hiking poles though to be safe! Irrespective of supposedly being cautious, almost immediately I took a scrambling route up on to the Roaches, 

 

instead of the more sensible line below the edge! Anyway, a very pleasant walk it was, with great views and a good day...the next stage was something called Lud's Church, a gorge along a fault line causing a massive landslip...and then dropped down along the river on the Dane Valley Way, very purdy. The two poles were out now, thought I was overdoing it, but arrived back at the van OK, and no major reaction, so far...

Wednesday 20th August
Staying a 2nd night on Roach Rd, I wasn't sure where to go after, the plan was a bike day, in order to rest the ankle....eventually I ended up in Macclesfield Forest alongside Ridgegate Reservoir, for some reason I'd lost my enthusiasm, but persuaded myself to pick a Komoot 8km walk on a gorgeous late afternoon, not all through the forest, plenty of raised viewpoints. 

 

 I took my book, and initially had a rule to read a couple of chapters per bench I encountered! Pleased I did the walk, had good views over the Cheshire plain to the west including Jodrell Bank, and the Peaks to the east....returning with a much more positive mind.

Thursday 21st August
Taking a mountain biking route off Komoot, started with some enthusiasm, but eventually lost it...probably when I realised I was heading to scale the Cat & Fiddle pass...I knew from my road cycling days that this area is really tough and gnarly...I'm simply nothing like as fit as I used to be

but also although there was plenty of off road, substantial sections were not for a gravel bike. 

 Eventually I cut short the off road, but it was still a slow and arduous route back. A highlight though was the Three Shires Bridge on the river Dane, nice little waterfalls. Anyway pleased to get back...then set off to the Longnor area to hike the Dragon's Back tomorrow.
Finding a place to stay the night was a challenge, I drove too much looking for a spot, and when I did a lady farmer had a polite word (this was after awaiting 180 cows to walk a lane to their barn)...rather belatedly I decided to go to the local pub in Longnor, The Cheshire Cheese....I had a couple of pints and a meal (sat with guy from Nottingham) and stayed the night in the pub carpark, after asking permission, but not ideal.

 

Roaches

 Friday 22nd August

I'd hiked Parkhouse and Chrome Hill aka The Dragon's Back before...but chose to do a tight loop, affectively an out and back....where from was an issue though?!  Eventually I started from Earl Sterndale, after being "scolded" by a farmer (probably the son of the woman yesterday) from another closer spot...apparently on "his land".

Actually the route from Earl Sterndale was perfect, I initially was accompanied by a Belgium guy whose wife was doing a textiles course in Macclesfield.  By early afternoon I was back at the van, as planned and heading back to Sheffield to check how things were....😭🙈😭

 

 

Notes from this trip:
1. Leisure battery was charging fast but dying fast too, so on return I got a double gel set of batteries installed, to be tested, but should be fine for my use, especially the heater as the nights draw in...
2. Hosepipe ban in Yorkshire so didn't fill my van tank, but will ignore that next time...I used my plastic jerry can, but it soon ran out. I ended up driving out of my way to Parsley Hay for a standpipe (and a coffee and cake) using the Location app
3. Macclesfield Forest: no big deal, but although remote, there were occasional pipping horns,  I assume from unhappy locals...I guess with nothing better to do, first time I'd encountered this anti van NIMBY attitude.