Mr M and I have made a New Year Intention to have a ‘Date Day’ on a regular basis and discover our own backyard. COVID has made socialising and travelling very difficult. We have both had our boosters but are still reluctant to get out and about and of course international travel is certainly off the agenda for the time being.
A couple of weeks ago we visited the Hinze Dam which was 30 minutes drive from where we live on the Gold Coast. This week we ventured further afield to beautiful Mt Tamborine, about 1 hour’s drive. It was a very hot and humid day on the Coast 32C so heading to the Mountains was a good idea and the breeze was delightful.
First stop was the Information Centre and from there we decided to visit the Mount Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk.
“The entire walk totals 1.5 kms and is a combination of forest floor trails, 300 metres of high-tech steel bridges through the highest points of the upper canopy, and a 40 metre cantilever bridge that soars a breathtaking 30 metres above the creek and rainforest below.” – Mount Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk website.
There is also an eco-centre and the Birdwing cafe with lovely views of the rainforest.
There is so much to see and do at Mount Tamborine that we are planning another visit soon. It’s wonderful to discover the natural beauty in your own back yard.
Time for Lunch
We then headed to the Forest Cafe for a light lunch. Mr M had a BLT (a generous serving of bacon, lettuce and tomato) with an original lemonade and I chose the HALT (Haloumi, Avocado, Lettuce(greens) and Tomato with Aioli (a fancy name for mayonnaise) on Turkish Bread with a refreshing Vita Melon Sparkling Water with Watermelon & Pineapple.
As it was a Tuesday there weren’t many people around so we felt comfortable enjoying lunch surrounded by the rainforest.
What was for dessert?
An ice cream in a waffle cone of course. So many flavours to choose from. Mr M chose Cappucino and I selected Salted Caramel with White Chocolate which we thoroughly enjoyed. It was lovely to see another older couple enjoying their ice cream. What’s your favourite flavour?
I haven’t been trying any new recipes lately so this is my contribution to the monthly What’s On Your Plate Challenge co-hosted by Donna from Retirement Reflections and Deb, The Widow Badass. I hope it qualifies.
Pop over and visit Donna and Deb and the other contributors to see What’s On their plate this month.
What’s on your plate? I’d love you to share your recipes or experiences with us.
30 Comments
I’m pleased to see you out having fun, Sue. I went there a couple of years ago, a beautiful area. Toni x
Hi Toni, yes, we are trying to start getting out and about again and enjoying life together. x
We called in once on the way back from South Burnett, but just for a coffee. I love your date days – it’s really something we need to be making more of an effort on.
Mt Tamborine is lovely Jo and I haven’t been there for about 30 years even though it is in my own backyard. We are trying to have regular date days to get out and enjoy ourselves again. We’ve had two recently and enjoyed both days. x
Nothing beats a good BLT and an icecream for dessert – looks like it was a lovely place for a date day Sue x
Hi Leanne, maybe a Club Sandwich might beat a BLT but I enjoy both, especially with chips on the side. No chips this time but we both enjoyed our lunch and of course the dessert! Mt Tamborine is a beautiful place with so much to explore that we are planning another visit very soon. x
In the U.S., we have bacon (the longer strips that you fry until crisp) and we have canadian bacon (the round circles). When we were in Ireland, their bacon was what we call canadian bacon. Is there a combination of the two on your husband’s sandwich? Do you call them both bacon? I love these sorts of fun facts to know and tell š
Hi Lisa, we have both types of bacon here but we just call it Bacon. Hope that helps! It is fun finding facts about food and other countries isn’t it? Thanks so much for visiting and enjoy your weekend. x
It definitely qualifies, Sue! Your post is giving me sweet summer vibes – desperately needed in the northern hemisphere. That cafe (and its menu) is right up my alley! Looks like you had a wonderful date!
Deb
Thanks Deb! I had given Donna a heads-up that I might not make it but managed something at the last moment. We’ve not had a very hot summer just the odd very warm days here and there. It was just lovely sitting and looking at the rainforest for a cheap and cheerful lunch. We are already planning our next one. x
What a wonderful Day Date, Sue and Mr. M!
Mount Tamborine looks beautiful. Like Deb (above), I can feel the summer vibes from here (how I long for them)!
Like you, I totally would have gone for the Salted Caramel and White Chocolate. Great choice!
Thank you for joining us a What’s On Your Plate. I am now adding Mount Tamborine to my bucket list for when I am out your way! š
It was a lovely day, Donna and we have managed two ‘date days’ so that is a great start to the year. You would love Mt Tamborine – plenty of hiking and bushwalking trails. The ice cream was delish! Thanks for hosting WOYP and I’m glad I made it this month! xx
A lovely post for What’s on your Plate Sue. It looks like you both had a great day together and it’s a wonderful idea to have regular outings together.
Thank you Deb! I really had no idea what to write for this month’s WOYP but came through at the last moment. We had a lovely time at Mt Tamborine. There is so much to see we could take a few day trips to explore it all at a leisurely pace. xx
You did really well at the ‘last minute’, that area is so beautiful I can’t wait to return one day!
Thanks Deb!
What a beautiful place, Sue. I’d love to visit it when I get to visit Australia and hopefully meet up with you and M again. As to ice cream, I’d try something tropical like coconut ice cream. Thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare. Have a wonderful week!
Hi Natalie, I know you would love it. So many bushwalks you can take, plus arts and crafts. I’ve not had a coconut icecream but it sounds delicious. It would be lovely if we could meet up again one day. xx
That looks like a lovely trip, Sue! Would that walk be scary if you have problems with heights? I’d love to do something like that to treat my fear of heights. I’m determined to cure it with photography like I’ve done with my (now gone) fear of spiders.
I’m happy to take some hazelnut icecream but only if it tastes like in Italy! I’m picky, I know… š Have a great week!
Hi Susanne, it is a lovely part of the world and right on our doorstep. I have a problem with heights but the walkway was very sturdy and I felt safe. There was a cantilever look out which bounced a bit when people walked onto it but even then I didn’t feel scared. Yum hazelnut flavour is also a favourite – there were too many to choose from. I’ve had a bacci flavoured one in Italy which was delicious. Did you know my husband was born in Italy? Enjoy your weekend. xx
I think you mentioned once that your husband is Italian! Baci icecream, and Baci everything, is lovely! I miss going to Italy so much.
Oh yes I miss visiting Italy too and not sure if we will ever revisit. Mike still has cousins there and it would be lovely to see them again. x
Sue, this looks like a lovely date day. It seems like Australia has the most wonderful places to eat. Do you know my friend Carol from Eternal Traveller? I spent three weeks with her in Australia in 2017. She lives in Queensland, too, is a great cook, fabulous seamstress and crochets, too. You’d love her. She and her husband travel all over. If you don’t know her, you’ll love her travel blog because you would know a lot of the places.
HI Marsha! I don’t know Carol but will look up her blog. We do have great restaurants and the cafe scene is big in Australia. I loved this little cafe where we had a simple but delicious lunch overlooking the rainforest. It was beautiful. Thanks for visiting and enjoy your weekend. x
I love those treetop walks. There’s one here (outside of Sydney but still a day trip. It’s great! Nice you amped it up with a lunch at the end
It was lovely walking among the treetops. So much to do here we will visit again. x
How lovely to have this resource on your doorstep (well, an hour away).
Hi Gail, yes it isn’t far and the rainforest is so soothing.
That looks like a beautiful place. Here in Washington we have the Olympic rain forest but it’s not really tropical, but it is beautiful.
It is beautiful Kirstin. I think any green space is calming. I’ve visited Washington but not the Olympic rain forest. x