Trip Summary: 2025 Sunshine Coast

 The 2025 Queensland Trip to Celebrate Retirement!

The trip's objective was to celebrate full retirement and learn to adopt to slow travel and the idea of staying in one place.

The road trip was fanastic with lots of wonderful places found and lots more to go back and spend more time at.

The two weeks at Caloundra was fun and enjoyable , but we think that next time we will try one week at a time for each place, especially on the first visit.

Total klm's 5,100

OutBound

Homeward bound 1

The back road option on the Toowomba to Tamworth section went astray with flooding on roads, hence the left hand turn , but wass nice to see Texas and Tenterfield.
Armidale was a very nice town and overnight stop

Homeward Bound 2

Notable Hotels:

Giligandra: Coach Inn, very freindly recently upgraded

Narrandera: Camila Motel , also new refubished , best bed of the holiday.

Places worth exploring more:

Hawkesbury: great looking river systems 

Forster: interesting town and the lakes system and the great lakes drive

Armidale , waterfalls and township

Tocumwal, with the river and interesting town

Nagambie, interesting town and region , good for mid week break

The co piliot Summary

Sunshine Coast Escape – July 2025 Trip Summary

Route & Stops

The journey set off from Camberwell (Melbourne) on August 6th, heading north through Wodonga, Goulburn, Homebush ,Forster, Port Macquarie and Grafton  before reaching Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. After ten days exploring the coast and hinterland, the return leg traced back via Gilgandra, Narrandera, Tocumwal and Nagambie, wrapping up at home on August 28th.

Coastal Adventures

• Kings Beach & Caloundra surf beaches provided daily swims and beachside picnics.
• A dawn kayak trip on Pumicestone Inlet revealed quiet waterways framed by mangroves.
• Caloundra Street Market and Surf Life Saving Club visits added local colour, fresh produce and sunset views.

Hinterland Highlights

• A day tour of the Glass House Mountains offered panoramic lookouts and short rainforest walks.
• Evenings in Caloundra and nearby hinterland towns featured laid-back café dinners and craft beers.
• One rainy mid-trip day was spent discovering boutique cafés, galleries and quiet reading nooks.

Accommodations & Dining

• Coastal stays included self-contained beach apartments in Caloundra.
• On the return, the Coach Inn in Gilgandra and Camellia Motel in Narrandera impressed with comfort and value.
• Memorable meals at the Imperial Hotel (Gilgandra) two-for-one Wednesday special and Narrandera RSL rounded out each day.

Reflections

This fortnight on the Sunshine Coast balanced active mornings on the water and trails with leisurely afternoons sampling local markets and cafés. The coastal-to-hinterland contrast showcased Queensland’s natural diversity, while small-town hospitality on the homeward journey reinforced the joy of slow travel. It was a rejuvenating winter escape that blended adventure with relaxation.