Offered the choice, would your Saturday start with a trip to the shopping centre, a diversion to the office or, an adventure in nature’s ocean wonderland? On this Saturday morning, my ski slides across an unusually gentle ocean, through the sunlights’ creation of a tray of diamonds that sparkle and dance like a Gypsy festival in full bold music. Just in front, a bird with the attitude of a stealth bomber, streams in vertical freefall from heaven with its neck stretched and straight as a rifle barrel. It disappears below the surface to quickly reappear with its fish dinner firmly implanted in its beak.
Ahead, a huge whale bursts through the diamonds and sprays glistening splinters of precious jewels across the watery surface. But it’s not one of David Attenborough’s beloved marine mammals from the Order of Cetacea. It is Mudjimba Island, imitating a look-alike migratory hulk, throwing white foam into the air to resemble splintered diamonds and treasures from the waves breaking on its surrounding rocks. This grass covered and tree speckled impostor lays motionless while my ski approaches along the 8km watery path from Mooloolaba Beach. We are almost in the centre of the Sunshine Coast, my home and 100 km north of Brisbane.
The ocean’s surface resembles the gentle movement of a water bed in slow motion. Paddling is easy and I have high expectation of sea creature sightings today. The waters off the Sunshine Coast are a ‘natural Zoo without boundaries’ and those who venture out come home with stories that land dwellers can only envy, or deny in jealousy.
Further on, a lump appears on the surface. Small and unthreatening, it is the head of a sea turtle come up to sift through the diamonds of sunlight. Then splash, he knows he is seen and plunges to his watery comfort and safety.
My ski continues to slice through this wonderland, with the paddle blades carelessly tossing aside the unwanted diamonds as the whale gets closer.
Whoa! That was big. My deep breath of initial concern is replaced by awe and excitement as first one, then two and finally four dolphins pop up just over a ski length away. They undulate beside the ski with a twist of their body and an eye on my ski progress. Maybe they are as fascinated of new company as I am, someone to play with. Our bonding endures for a short one hundred metres or so before they move on, leaving me feeling even more impotent after seeing their speed, grace and what looks like a permanent smile.
The whale is closer. The ski course has run parallel to the shoreline and the golden beaches are visible with their backdrop of man’s presence. The high rises dominate where the trees once were. Recognition dawns that ‘sea change’ living has caught up with the Sunshine Coast. Along here, the surf clubs of Mooloolaba, Alexandra Headland, and Maroochydore enjoy the world’s most spectacular viewing from bars and restaurants – the place to head to for breakfast once this ski odyssey has completed its visual gatherings.
Paddling around the whale island the waters become shallow. Increased surface movement allows a few small waves to be caught and the ‘runners’ are on for a free ride. Looking below the surface the water is clear enough to see the rocky bottom and some soft and hard corals that grow there.
It’s been nearly one hour since pushing off from the beach. The ski turns and the diamonds are behind and out of temptation’s sight. The sun now boldly strikes on everything ahead. Sails of small and large yachts are vivid in their white as they make way over the blue of their vast ‘go anywhere’ ocean, a space denied noisy motorists on their ashfelt tracks. Small boats on fishing expeditions skip across the smooth surface at a pace not normal in ocean conditions – today is very special.
Another bird performs its Stuka dive and splashes quietly but convincingly below the surface to surprise yet another tasty fish dinner. Maybe I could troll a line behind the ski and hook my own fish dinner – but could I beat the “bombers” to such a feast?
And now the shallow waters of the beach approach and this spectacular journey closes – until my next trip from home in nature’s astounding water zoo.
Whoever said “to do is to live” must have paddled here today.
Mooloolaba is famed for its water activities and is about an hour drive north of Brisbane. For heaps of information, google “sunshine coast tourism” for websites galore.
