Nestled on the mountain, just behind Montville Township, is the superb Flame Hill Vineyard. Stop by for a tasting, enjoy a meal overlooking the vines, watch as the chooks wander around the vineyard. Over in the distance you will see the occasional vehicle, otherwise, you are surrounded by pure country air and rolling green.
On the day we visited, Mr Rooster was busily rounding up those feathered escapees who insisted on wandering further afield, than he felt was allowable. None of the chooks were particularly bothered, ignoring his insistent squawking, whilst they continued to do their own thing.
Chooks and Vines co-exist
Food was deliciously fresh, well presented, with staff pleasant and unobtrusive.
Tasty Charcuterie Board
This venue has all the elements for a relaxing visit. Sit back, drink in the incredible vista rolling as far as the eye can see. Peace, serenity and relaxation envelop you. If you don’t leave here with less stress than when you arrived, perhaps you need to stay longer.
Steak anyone?
Take some time to enjoy what this vineyard has on offer. Perhaps stay locally a night or two. There are many incredible options for a quick break away, in this Sunshine Coast Hinterland area. Highly recommend the nearby Misty View Cottages for a romantic couples retreat.
Wine on vines
Be sure to stop by, it’s an easy day trip from Brisbane, or a wonderful get away destination. Cheers!
Secluded, luxury couples rainforest accommodation, overlooking moody Lake Baroon, are the perfect setting for a break away from life. Each cottage is named on a theme from the past.
Storm clouds gather
Relax on your balcony, allowing the stresses of life to dissipate around you, whilst you marvel at the pure beauty of nature, in her best attire.
Even from inside the view is breathtaking
Your hosts, Shell and Tony, forward think every little detail to ensure your stay is as comfortable and enjoyable as absolutely possible. Shell is absolutely delightful, we had some lovely insightful conversations during the course of our short stay. We didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Tony on this occasion, perhaps next time.
A quick chat to a friendly resident
There’s a lot to see around the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. So you have to decide, do you simply chill, relax and indulge, or spend some time exploring this beautifully diverse area. Around a fifteen minute walk away , is the impressive Flame Hill Vineyard, complete with cellar door and restaurant. But, I do warn you, there’s a couple of steep driveways in there, so if you have a sober driver, take advantage of that fact! Flame Hill Vineyard will be the next story, so keep an eye out for that.
View from the restaurant at Flame Hill Vineyard
A day of relaxing or exploring, deserves a super treat for the evening. So, if it’s cool enough, (and we were so lucky one evening that it was!), light the fire and enjoy the ambiance that only a flickering flame can give.
Perfection
This magical area and property has so much to offer. Fresh local produce, privacy, space, luxury amenities, the list goes on.
Spa bath with a view Complimentary Port
There are times in life you need a break and to treat yourself and why would you not do that in this stunning area of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Seriously, just do it!
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Fresh local produce you can cook in your own deluxe accommodation
Tin Can Bay is well known for the Wild Dolphin feeding each day of the year. Spread out over an elongated area towards Norman Point, Tin Can Bay provides residents and holiday makers alike with a laid back relaxed atmosphere.
Gorgeous Sunrises
Accommodation is plentiful and even if the Bay is full of visitors, it’s hard to notice, as there’s plenty of space for all. Dolphin Waters Motel is directly across the road from the channel running between Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach. Stroll across in the morning to watch the sunrise, or walk along the promenade pathway which heads in both directions.
As the tide rolls out you can easily wander across the sand, most of which is a harder surface than it looks. We watched one person wading into the sea for what seemed like forever, never going past waist height, while casting their fishing line.
Start your day with a stroll to the wild dolphin feeding at Barnacles Cafe, located at end of Norman Point. From around 7am, dolphins usually arrive to entertain the onlookers and receive some fish in return.
Volunteers give you a very informative run down on the dolphins and their habitat. Well worth listening to. Around 7:30, those who have paid their entry and fish feeding fee, a mere $10 in total per person, now have the pleasure of personally feeding a fish to one of the dolphins.
When you’re happy and you know it….
There’s some awesome dolphin personalities on hand, just depending on who decides to come in that day. Remember these guys are wild, not tame and even though they know free fish are on hand, some might have better things happening on any particular day and not visit Barnacles. Be sure to follow volunteers instructions, we don’t want to have this opportunity ruined at all.
Junior has a little attitude and will try to steal the Dolphins fish
Tin Can Bay has a taxi, but there are a couple of courtesy buses, for instance the Country Club and the Bowls Club. Ring through, make a booking and they will give you a time and stop by to pick you up. Plenty of opportunity to use a courtesy bus to go home too. Great way for everyone to relax.
There’s something for everyone here, a fantastic fresh seafood co-op. The incredibly popular Snack Shop, down on the Marina you have the Marina Bar & Grill plus a short walk to the Sleepy Lagoon Hotel, Temptations, Mudcrab, just to name a few! So many fabulous food & venue choices. Enjoy!
One of Silky Oaks residents
There’s a few stops on the road in and out of Tin Can Bay, but, we highly suggest stopping at Silky Oak Tearooms. We think this the best Aussie authentic pub ever! With Daryl & Helen at the helm it’s quite iconic. If you think yours is better, challenge accepted!
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Brisbane is lucky to have easy access to both Gold and Sunshine Coasts. We recently spent a week in Mooloolaba, which was a totally awesome week away.
Sunrise from the beach is captivating
Accommodation and food choices here are many and varied with something to suit all tastes and budgets. As an Accor Plus member, our choice of apartment for this trip was Mantra Sirocco. Mantras are an absolute coup for Accor who were lacking in apartment style holiday accommodation, but not now.
View from our private rooftop at Mantra Sirocco
Exit the Mantra lift on level 1, which puts you in the midst of a mini retail hub, including news agency, beauty and clothing/accessories. Through the door to the Esplanade and you have an array of restaurants cafe and retail shops at your disposal. The variety of menus on offer is incredibly diverse.
Sunset Dining on the Mooloolaba Esplanade opposite the beach
If you’re a seafood buff, be sure to order seafood whilst in Mooloolaba. With the wharf precinct at the end of the Esplanade, sitting alongside canals which house multitudes of fishing trawlers, you can be assured the seafood here is usually coming fresh from the boat. And it is delicious.
One of our simply delightful seafood meals, Risotto Marina at Bella Venezia
The Esplanade bars and restaurants we visited were many, from Bayrische Beach Bar and Cafe at the base of the Mantra Sirocco, through to the Surf Club, O’Malley’s Irish Bar, Elevate, Quarterdeck, Bella Venezia, and numerous cafes in between. Oh and ice cream parlours, Mooloolaba has it all! Remember all of these venues are within a short 5 or so minute walk from the Mantra Sirocco.
Gourmet pancakes, Mooloolaba Esplanade style
Whilst sitting in the wonderfully warm atmosphere of O’Malley’s Irish Bar, this eagle eye spotted a wonderfully enticing venue, Naked Day Spa & Cocktail lounge. Blinged to the max, with incredibly warm-hearted, engaging staff, this little day spa became a favourite. Both hubby and I decided to indulge, in some treatments, and yes, cocktails!
Just a small selection at Naked Day Spa & Cocktail lounge Enjoy whilst the staff wipe away the stresses of life.
Mooloolaba, a fantastic hub on the Sunshine Coast, perched right on the beach front, surrounded by an amazingly diverse area of hinterland, costal towns and activities. Too much to tell you about here, but there will be separate blogs for our short cruises, from the Wharf.
Burning sunrise from Mooloolaba Beach
We were lucky, wake up walk across the road and from right there the most mind blowing sunrises occurred, every morning.
A little lens ball play
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We are lucky to know some amazing people in our world. They really do exist and one of those is the lovely Sunny who owns and manages Aarth Cafe at Taigum Village. When Covid messed up plans for Hubbys 50th, I dropped past Aarth and asked Sunny if he would consider doing a private function, after hours.
And so it evolved. Sunny confirmed he could do this with his team, and the planning began.
Ideas popped back and forth but Sunny created an event menu for twenty people in a few days. Next, he added the red lounge for a backdrop, something which would be instagramable. Sunnys enthusiasm and ideas were contagious, we added props for a photo booth effect.
After choosing four entrees, each guest then pre ordered their main and dessert, the choices being emailed to Aarth at least a week prior to the event. This way all tastes could be catered for. No problem if people have allergies or certain tastes, ie, vegetarian. Sunny and his team adjusted menu items to suit the individuals. Something which can be done if the restaurant has plenty of notice.
This licenced venue can cater easily for small groups of about twenty. Our event was 20 people exactly which meant the cafe could be divided into two areas. Outside area was used for pre dinner drinks and continuous entrees. Inside area was set up with three tables seating a total of 20.
In agreement with Sunny, I had added a welcome drink to the package for each guest. Aarth has a range of beer and wines, including some Marlborough NZ Black Cottage varieties, however they don’t cater for individual spirits. A limited range of spirits are available as cocktails though, which went down well as welcome drinks.
Once your guests have mingled for a couple of hours, head on inside for your meals. There is a TV used for the cafes own advertising, which Sunny is more than happy to change to your digital photos for the duration of your private event.
Sunny and his team went to a lot of effort to set up the event and make sure things ran smoothly. With the ground work, pre done, it meant we could all relax whilst the event ran like clockwork. Remember to check the walls too, there is a local artist Sonya Rae, who displays her beautiful airbrushing at the cafe. All are for sale too!
We cannot highly recommend Sunny for a private event enough. Aarth Cafe will design a package to suit your small group. Drop by Aarth or contact via message on Facebook or Instagram. Sunny would be delighted to assist with hosting your small event.
Thank you to Sunny and his wonderful, team for hosting such a successful event! Much gratitude 🙏.
Photo above compliments of @reve_cherie photography who was our photographer for the evening.
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We have been lucky in Queensland to have the opportunity to explore our state, whilst other states unfortunately stay locked down.
Lake Moogerah
Whilst we have this opportunity, it is important to support businesses and areas who are struggling to return after hurting badly from shutdowns. And there are a lot in the outer regions who need support.
Lake Moogerah
Our recent car club run out to the stunning Lake Moogerah area, in the picturesque Scenic Rim, was a fantastic opportunity to visit this corner of Queensland. Located above Fassifern Valley, around 60km from the city of Ipswich , the Moogerah Dam and Lake areas are a popular recreational area
Clear waters, directly behind the dam wall
The odd jet ski, or boat, occasionally shot around the Lake, with a number of campers and day trippers enjoying the extra land surface, given the low water levels on the lake.
Moogerah is derived from Moogirah, which is the Aboriginal word for ‘Home of the Thunderstorm’. The 38 metre high, 219 metre long dam, supplies areas beneath, including Boonah and Ipswich.
Water rushes from the dam spillway
With plenty of parking, shaded areas and seating, social distancing is not a problem out here. A kiosk supplies a few basic essentials to save a trip further afield. We didn’t check out the camping areas, bu they do have a camp kitchen and choices of powered or non-powered sites.
Take a walk across the dam wall, which is the accessway to Moogerah Peaks National Park, home to Mount Edwards.
Picturesque mountains surround the lake area.
After enjoying the beautiful surroundings, we headed to a local iconic pub, the Royal Hotel, Kalbar.
The large deck area at the Royal Hotel, Kalbar
Popular with locals, day trippers and tourists alike, the original hotel was established in1900.
Food was good quality pub fare, with plenty on the plate. Staff were kept busy serving customers
All in a all a fantastic way to close an enjoyable morning out.
On a more somber note, after witnessing a severe traffic accident when homeward bound, a reminder to please drive safely, no matter how close to home you are or, how far away those accidents still occur in a split second. Drive safely and stay aware of your surroundings.
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Most Brisbanites, particularly those familiar with the Northside, will remember Farmer Joes produce store, which sadly closed its doors in 2009, to make way for the new road associated with the Airport Link Tunnel. Farm House is a tribute to Farmer Joes, using farm fresh, quality foods for their busy venue.
Have a bubbly brunch if you like, there’s alcoholic drinks, as well as coffees on the menu.
Like the majority of venues at the moment, you need to book in advance and you may be time limited. Weekends are exceptionally busy, so plan well ahead to ensure you secure a spot.
Order and pay with your phone
Farm House gives you a couple of ordering options. There’s the traditional method of presenting at the counter, or, order and pay from your phone whilst seated, if you do not wish to mingle.
We trialled the phone ordering system, which in itself is a great concept, but, unfortunately the internet is a bit slow in the area. If you’re patient you will be fine, if not, suggest you order the traditional way to save any frustration.
Freshness simply oozes from the plate
Meals were delivered quickly, much quicker than we anticipated. All were fresh as promised, nicely presented and perfectly tasty.
Fruit and flowers present beautifully
The staff definitely deserve a mention, if not more. All were friendly, helpful and more than willing to do their best to accommodate. At no point did you feel like you were in their way. They welcomed all patrons with open arms.
Now that’s a brunch!
This is a busy corner of the world, but most definitely still worth a visit. Next time, we might try a weekday to avoid the crowds of people. Be sure to give them a try, the rustic surroundings are appealing and relaxing. Couple this with the delightfully fresh food and service, you now have a winning combination!
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We live in a different world now, with 2020 delivering a sharp reminder to us all, that at the end of the day, we are human, we are vulnerable.
A time for reflection
Lockdowns completed, with restrictions on everyone’s lifestyle, beginning to ease in Queensland, it was time to start venturing out and try to make sense of our new world. After weeks at home, we treated ourselves to a night for an anniversary celebration.
Having never stayed at the Pullman King George Square, we decided to give it a test run, and we were not disappointed. Staff here were fantastic, friendly and very helpful. Hospitality staff have not had it easy over the past few months and it was great to see them smiling and carrying on their work professionally.
Fresh, clean and relaxing at Goldfinch Restaurant
After being treated to an early check in, we headed downstairs to the Goldfinch restaurant for an enjoyable lunch. Spacious, airy vibes greeted us, along with the wonderful staff, as we were seated next to an huge windows. Our view was of King George Square, with a constant moving canvas outside as everyone went about their business.
Little Gem SaladAntipasti
Remember, anywhere you wish to dine now, you should book in advance and don’t be surprised if you are time limited. We were lucky here as the expansive area easily catered to the number of diners at that particular time. You still need to sign in, so that your party can be traced should there be any outbreaks of Covid.
View from Sixteen Antlers
After a break in between venues, we headed up to our booking at the rooftop bar, Sixteen Antlers. The Mercure and Pullman share all of these areas, which includes the pool, gym, Goldfinch and Sixteen Antlers. The rooftop bar is a very popular area so you will be time limited to 2 hours during current climate.
One night off a full moon rising
As the sun set in the West, we were treated to the rising of an almost full moon to the East. The corner table we had been allocated was perfect for viewing. Enjoying cocktails, and an evening beverage, this was a fantastic space to sit and wile away some time.
Sixteen Antlers Rooftop Bar
As the evening progressed, more patrons began to enter the popular venue. This was also at a time where you could not approach the bar, so friendly staff will seat you in one place, ensuring they are then attentive to your needs.
Reflections on the moon rising
This venue really is worth a visit, remember to book well in advance, as it is very popular.
Thank you to all the staff, we very much enjoyed our stay and the special gift in our room as well as the upgrade, was very much appreciated for our celebration night away.
Executive Room at Pullman King George Square
We look forward to seeing you all again soon!
Further photos are available on Dine Live Travel Instagram and Facebook. Thank you for your interest, it’s been fantastic to start moving around again, as our restrictions ease!
We live in changing times, this year more so than usual. 2020 began as a year of hope, yet many hopes were dashed within a short couple of months.
In those few short months life changed, not just for one person, for everyone. The freedom to holiday and eat where we wanted was dashed, along with many other things we took for granted in life. Many have had their lives change suddenly for better, or for worse. Some are finding it hard, others are doing well, but, one thing we may not see again in the foreseeable future? The buffet.
Remember that time you went to a venue, the food is laid out, and you chose as little or as much as you wanted from what is usually a big, enticing variety. Sorry everyone, but it looks like the buffet as we know it, is gone forever.
Or when you chose from variety of canapés on a platter? Maybe walked up and down the rows of hot and cold food offerings? Keep those memories close, it may not happen again, or if it does it won’t be for a long time.
We can now dine in house with a few others, numbers dependent on your location. But, the buffet is not allowed. A la carte only.
Simply you choose and eat your meal only. No random unlimited choices. No wastage for the items you chose and decided not to eat. It used to be individual choice, with buffets very popular, particularly for some hotel meals. Easy to maintain, easier on staff, but not now.
Where ever you are in our world, support your local entities and businesses. These ones have strived long and hard to come up with solutions to ensure their business survives and the local community is sustained during these unprecedented times.
Life might not be a buffet anymore, your choices maybe limited, but, if you were to be completely honest, is that a bad thing? Maybe not.
Stay safe everyone, keep well and keep those options open. Try not to burn bridges, remember everyone and every place is in your life for a reason. Take care and stay strong 💪
Happy to have started our regular brunch, random choice sessions again for this year. This choice was picked simply by going for a drive and choosing what looked like a nice venue.
Located on the edge of the Coles Complex, the cafe is split easily across the footpath. With partial walls, giving open an airy open space feeling, decorated with hanging wisteria and herbs, the dining area next to the road edge, is definitely a relaxing place to sit and enjoy your meal.
Menu choice was enough to cover for all tastes, so we were interested as to what ordered meals would be like.
Staff here, were not only exceptionally friendly and helpful, they were very accommodating, giving only their best attitude to visiting customers.
Presentation of the tea was intriguing. So often tea is overlooked as everyone scrambles for coffee. Luckily, I’m not a coffee drinker, hence tea presentation is what I notice. And yes, i liked this simple eye catching assortment for the tea ordered,
Meals arrived in a timely fashion, nicely presented, with a complete order looking very tasty.
My choice on this occasion was the Salmon on corn fritters with a side of mushrooms.
Yes, it did taste even better than what it looks. Fresh, light and very enjoyable, this was quite a filling meal.
An interesting choice was the bacon pancakes with maple syrup and ice cream. Pancakes were light and airy, topped with tasty bacon rashers and a side of maple.
They have a pretty awesome selection of juices and other drinks here. You can choose your own ingredients to try something a little different. Worth a try, you. Never know what you might end up with!
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