Tag: Queensland

Stunning Views from the Skypoint Observation Deck @ Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast

April 16, 2016

Q1 Observation Deck, Surfers Paradise Q1 Observation Deck, Surfers Paradise

Here are some great shots from the Skypoint Observation Deck on top of the Q1, taken when my good friends Jeanette and Chen came over for a visit back in November ’15. I loved having visitors to look after! James and I had a blast taking them to our favourite spots, though this was my very first (and probably last) time to the top of the Q1. The view was spectacular that day, made all the better thanks to the passing rain clouds in the distance giving the whole landscape a very surreal, magical appearance. Continue reading “Stunning Views from the Skypoint Observation Deck @ Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast”

The Village Markets @ Burleigh Heads State School, Gold Coast

January 8, 2016

The Village Markets, Gold Coast The Village Markets, Gold Coast The Village Markets, Gold Coast

One thing I regret not doing much of during my 11 long years in Australia is paying the local markets frequent enough visits. The lack of attention and negligence on my behalf is something that I’m still kicking myself over to this day. However, I am proud to say that on my final weekend on the Gold Coast, when the summer heat gave not an ounce of respite and the mercury soared straight past 36°C, James and I decided to rock up to one the GC’s most beloved weekend markets: The Village Markets. Continue reading “The Village Markets @ Burleigh Heads State School, Gold Coast”

Weekends with Angie & James | Part IX: Family Gathering at ‘The Farm’, Tamborine Mountain

November 25, 2015

Tamborine Mountain 2015 Tamborine Mountain 2015 Tamborine Mountain 2015

Overcast afternoons on Tamborine Mountain. Such a condition seems to be the usual whenever we decide to visit the Gold Coast hinterland. Last weekend, we were invited for lunch at Naomi’s new family retreat up on the mountain. Their second home is beautiful and dreamy, its sprawling grounds surrounded on all sides by the most grandiose of trees. The estate is a very tucked-away sort of place, despite its short distance from Gallery Walk. Everyone calls it ‘The Farm’, despite the lack of any farm animals on the premises, but it is home to so much green pasture and, well, Tamborine is famous for its farmlands, so ‘The Farm’ is as good a name as any. Continue reading “Weekends with Angie & James | Part IX: Family Gathering at ‘The Farm’, Tamborine Mountain”

Brisbane Night Noodle Markets 2015 @ Cultural Forecourt, South Bank

August 7, 2015

Brisbane Night Noodle Markets 2015 Brisbane Night Noodle Markets 2015 Brisbane Night Noodle Markets 2015

The markets were in full swing by the time we arrived at the Cultural Forecourt in South Bank. We were overwhelmed by the number of food stalls scattered all over the place, stretching from the Performing Arts Centre all the way past the Wheel of Brisbane. The number of people milling about was staggering and it seemed like everything was popular. There wasn’t a stall that didn’t have a queue. With so many different Asian-inspired foods on offer, it was almost impossible to choose. Did we want char-grilled coconut ribs with tamarind glaze on rice? Noodles with ground pork and sweet bean sauce? Taiwanese chicken wings with chilli buttermilk? Continue reading “Brisbane Night Noodle Markets 2015 @ Cultural Forecourt, South Bank”

Weekends with Angie & James | Part VI: A Picnic Along Little Nerang Creek

June 11, 2015

Little Nerang Creek Little Nerang Creek

Okay, so I realise this post is way overdue, thanks in part to work-related responsibilities flatlining my motivation to write for leisure, but anyway, here’s the latest instalment to the Weekends series! On the 23rd of May, we drove up to Springbrook in the hopes of having a scenic picnic (perhaps next to a waterfall or something similarly epic). Armed with a giant tumbler full of green tea and two large lunch boxes crammed with cheese and pâté crackers, chocolate morsels and bacon/aioli/cucumber sandwiches, we headed inland and up the mountainous region. Continue reading “Weekends with Angie & James | Part VI: A Picnic Along Little Nerang Creek”

Weekends with Angie & James | Part V: Coastal Adventure – Point Danger & Byron Bay

May 16, 2015

Last Saturday, James and I traversed the coast of South East Queensland and crossed the state border into New South Wales. We stopped for a moment at Point Danger to admire all the awesome guys and gals surfing the waves. There is a gorgeous lookout up on the hill and on clear days, you can see Surfers Paradise in the distance. Point Danger was so named by Captain James Cook in 1770 to warn other seafarers of the dangerous coral reefs off the treacherous coast. Continue reading “Weekends with Angie & James | Part V: Coastal Adventure – Point Danger & Byron Bay”

Weekends with Angie & James | Part IV: Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens

May 5, 2015

Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens

As you can no doubt tell by now, James and I have been actively pushing ourselves to go somewhere new each weekend (instead of lazing around at home and blaming our lethargy on the “hectic work week”). As an incentive to get out and about, I started this Weekends with Angie & James blog series. Our journey began with a picturesque breakfast at Elephant Rock four weekends ago, followed by a lunch date in Brisbane the weekend after and lunch along the Surfers Paradise beachfront the weekend after that. Our latest adventure features the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, a green space I’d been longing to visit ever since I discovered its existence almost five years ago. Continue reading “Weekends with Angie & James | Part IV: Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens”

Weekends with Angie & James | Part III: The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise

April 30, 2015

My older brother and a few relatives from dad’s side of the family have come to visit this week! As a result, my parents have been housing five extra people over the past few days. This is the first time in a very long time that any of my aunts or uncles have decided to drop by. I can only recall a single instance about 5 years ago where something like this has happened. As you can imagine, this visit is quite new and special to us. Anyway, before the week got all hectic and draining, James and I spent a lazy Saturday afternoon in Surfers Paradise. We enjoyed a lovely beachside lunch at Elston and it was nice to just sit there and observe people walking along the esplanade while sipping on our iced coffees and digging into our lunch. Continue reading “Weekends with Angie & James | Part III: The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise”