Ginger Flowers are not only vibrant colours, their forms are diverse and incredibly interesting. On display last weekend for the annual Ginger Flower + Food Festival, you really could not help but be drawn to what are considered among the most beautiful flowers in the world.
With names like beehive, torch, dancing ladies, spiral, red, shell and moth, these beautiful flowers are quite spellbinding.
The festival is held at the Ginger Factory, located in Yandina in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. A short one hour drive from Brisbane’s Northside, the area makes for a lovely destination day trip.
Entry is free to the complex, with a number of activities on site. Last weekend was busy, with many people around so we didn’t venture too far past the cafe, mainly focusing on the market place which was set up, to showcase ginger products.
The products on display, were available for tasting accompanied by informative stall holders who were more than happy to provide the history behind their particular products as well as answer any questions.
Included in the marketplace were Pomodoras Dressings on Obi, with some interesting combinations of balsamic and flavoured dressings. Not only were we given tastings of the products but also treated to some informative narration on how they came to be. the recommendation at this table, was to visit Pomodoras on Obi restaurant. Certainly looks and sounds intriguing! Looking forward to visiting at some stage.
Skin care, honey, tonics, bone broth products, relishes and drinks made up the stalls in the market place. A fantastic idea to showcase products which include the local Buderim Ginger.
For us it was pure chance we decided to enjoy a Sunday drive and visit the factory on a day which just happened to coincide with the festival.
We enjoyed our visit to the festival, and now look forward to returning to better explore the activities on offer at this venue. If you are in the Sunshine Coast area during mid-late January, I highly recommend you keep this festival in mind. It really is an interesting, colourful event. Plus you never know who you will run into amongst the flowers….
If you haven’t visited Summer Land Camels, then you have missed not only a wonderful day out, but also, a highly entertaining experience.
The cafe and shop is located in the awesome old renovated Queenslander above. Love the wrap around verandah giving you the most incredible uninterrupted views across this gorgeous part of the Scenic Rim.
So how about a few facts.
No those guys are not deceased, they are simply chilling and enjoying an afternoon nap. And yet they look somewhat like a camel puzzle! I do wonder how comfortable it can possibly be to sleep like this, however, they obviously find it to their liking.
In the middle of January, they are still losing their winter wool, with awesome shiny coats showing through. The tufts on their neck were really cool up close, set at regular intervals, totally different to a horses mane, it looks like someone has threaded those little tufts by hand. And then there are the beards underneath the neck. They are quite cute. Their life span? About 50 years.
We were so lucky to be allowed into the paddock with youngsters. After curiously checking out the invading humans and their camera gear, some turned their backs. Not sure if this was the ostrich approach of if I cannot see you, you are not there, or they were simply regrouping to decide on the next strategy. Whatever it was, still kinda cute!
Check out the wool on this baby! Oh and guess who this was?? It was my little mate Marvin from the Sandgate Jingle on the Bay. You may remember that article from a few weeks ago. He was the little man who was quite vocal in his displeasure at being separated from his home. We found out, Marvin was bottle fed and has a little mate Ella who is so bottle fed. The two are very close. When Marvin left to travel to the other side of Brisbane and be a star in the parade, little Ella missed him. She was more than delighted when Marvin arrived home.
The Scenic Rim is simply stunning. With the farm location, you are on the edge of this beautiful part of Australia. If I was a camel, this paddock with a stunning outlook, would be my pick. I’m not sure they notice, but pretty sure I would!
Before you enter the glittering building itself, your eyes are drawn to the spectacular display of colour inside the Emporium. Add to this the sparkling Christmas decorations at the time, and you could not possibly walk by without even a glance.
Not only can you stay in this hotel, you could also buy an apartment and reside here, permanently. But today, was for a Christmas event, held in The Terrace bar on the 21st floor.
The trip to the terrace is worth it. A massive bar dominates the back wall of the room, overlooked by a moving canvas of neon. The glittering ceiling rolls back to reveal a glass roof, giving an added air of space to the area.
Even the floor moves, with lighting continually changing from square to square.
There is a constant wow factor here. Just as you are focusing on one area, something else lights up and catches your eye. But there is one overwhelmingly beautiful view which is most definitely the cherry on the top for this impressive building.
Brisbane comes to life beneath the balcony, with breathtaking views across Southbank, Brisbane river to the city and beyond. Personally, I could spend hours here, just watching the living, breathing city, going about its day to day business.
Sunset is always impressive, however 21 floors up with a totally uninterrupted view of our wonderful city (yes I may be biased here, but seriously, Brisbane is pretty cool!), it is simply stunning.
Parking is available directly beneath this complex, or in the nearby Southbank car park. However, if you would like to come sit, wile away some time over lunch, dinner, or enjoy a catch up drink with friends, then try the train. The hotel is built into the platform of the South Bank train station, really, how much more convenient do you want!
DINE LIVE TRAVEL 