The town of Woombye is not exactly on the main tourist routes or in the centre of things, but it is still a beautiful spot to stop for a wander. The area of Woombye has seen significant growth in population over the past 20 years, with the latest population for the area recorded in 2011 of over 2,700 residents. But even with this growth the main street still holds the charm of a past era and a couple of sights to match.

Woombye is located around 100km north of Brisbane and is just a few minutes from the main highway northbound. We visited on a week in mid-March and had no problems getting a parking spot, but this could be different in peak periods. While you are in the area another attraction that you can visit is the Big Pineapple. While I did not visit the big pineapple this time, it was something that I remember visiting as a child. You can find out more details on the Big Pineapple Website.

Walking Woombye

I parked at the western end of the main street and set out for a walk to see what was here. The first thing that caught my attention was the Woombye Bakery. Although it was not the right time to eat, a local that I got to speak to did mention how good the pies are. I guess I am going to have to stop back another time to confirm this for myself.

Woombye Shopping Strip

The main part of the township of Woombye covers a second of around 300 metres along Blackall Street. Starting with the Woombye Butcher at the eastern end going to The Woombye Pub at the western end. Along the street, you will find numerous small shops, cafes and service businesses. The majority of the businesses are those that serve a purpose in the town, but there are a couple that are more tourist-focused as well.

Woombye Anglican Church

As you continue along Blackall Street, you will come to St Margaret’s Anglican Church. The building looks nice and simple with a beautiful grassy area and gardens in front. The only information that I could narrow down about the church is that it was established in 1898.

Woombye Memorial Park

At the point where Blackall Street intersects with Keil Street is a Memorial Park where the Woombye War Memorial is located. Originally the memorial was erected to commemorate the fallen and returned of World War I. The monument was originally dedicated on the 18th of June 1925. Since this date, additional plaques have been added to commemorate those from World War II and additionally to honour those who served in all campaigns since 1945.

Woombye School of Arts

Another interesting feature of Blackall Street in Woomby is the Woombye School of Arts. The hall for the school of arts was built in 1898. Reading the history, the building looks to have played an essential role in the development of the are over many years.

To the front right of the School of Arts building is a sign which does appear quite dated shows the layout of the township. While some of the locations do seem to have been updated there are some that are different. But it is still an excellent piece to take a look at even if it is not entirely accurate.

Finally, something that I don’t often include in my posts is a photo of the toilet block. The block is located behind the School of Arts building on Hill Street. The painting that adorns the building is what caught my attention. You would hardly recognise the building as a toilet block except for the signs that signify it as such.

Visit Woombye

It might be a small town, but it is still a lovely place to visit. So if you are heading north from Brisbane, Woombye can be a great stopping off point. Otherwise, if you are staying on the Sunshine Coast, it is a beautiful little drive. So why not consider adding Woombye as a stopping off point.

When travelling sometimes the best things happen without a plan. On one afternoon while staying in Caloundra, there was no plan, in the beginning, I just stopped to take the first photo below of the view. Thankfully on this occasion, I was not the driver and instead of jumping back in the car and continuing on decided to walk. The walk ended up being roughly 2.4km from just north of Caloundra Head, around to Bullcock Beach.

Shelly Beach

The starting point of the walk was somewhat motivated by the view that I saw as we were driving around past the beaches.  From the top of the cliff looking out over the rock shelf to the Pacific Ocean is quite a dramatic view. Made even more so by the waves breaking over the rock shelf.

We noticed along the pathway here that there were many markers for veterans of many different conflicts who had served in all forms of the military. Looking at the number of plaques we decided to follow them and it turned out they continued for quite some way. Passing a number of locations with more significant monuments to specific conflicts or incidents.

Caloundra Memorial Walk

Along the heads and cliff top, there are many memorials. The first collection of memorials is at Caloundra Head (Wickham Point). At this location, there are I think four memorials and what looks to be a representation of a ships mast.

Continuing a little further along the path is ANZAC Park, with a cenotaph with the inscription “We will remember them.” The location here has an absolutely beautiful view of the inlet to Pumicestone Passage and across the ocean.

The last memorial that I photographed was in Centaur Park. The memorial is to the lives lost onboard the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur. The ship is believed to have been sunk by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine in May 1943. There were 250 lives lost in the tragedy with just 64 survivors. The remains of the Centaur lie roughly 100 km out to sea from this location and were discovered in 2009.

Kings Beach

You have a great view looking along Kings Beach just before you get there. The path goes away form the water for a moment to go around the Caloundra Surf Life Saving Club before continuing at the top of the beach.

You arrive in one big open area at Kings Beach which looks a little more interesting from above if you look at the pattern on Google Maps. But there is plenty of seating and open space here as well.

There is around 500m of beach here that seems to be popular for swimming and relaxing on the beach. We stuck to the path not being all that prepared for a stop at the beach.

After you leave the beach behind the walkway again raises a little to a boardwalk style walkway. However, as we were heading onto this walkway we noticed something of a cairn that has been left on the rocks below. It looked to make an interesting little photo.

The boardwalk gives a nice view out over the ocean and what is the inlet to the Pumicestone Passage.

Pumicestone Passage Inlet

Caloundra sits on the northern side of the entrance to the Pumicestone Passage. The entrance here seems to be very popular for kite surfers, considering the wind this afternoon I can understand why. Although I could count 14 in total at one point, I could not get them all in the photo.

Bulcock Beach

The last spot we passed on the walk was Bulcock Beach. We had to stop here as the time was getting on and we were still looking for somewhere to eat lunch. It is amazing how quickly the water seems to calm though from white foamy surf to just gentle ripples.

Take a Walk

The area between Shelly Beach and Caloundra is great for a walk if you are staying nearby. The pathway is part of the coastal pathway which will eventually extend from Tewantin to Pelican Waters. Much of the pathway is already there, just a few linking sections are in the works. So if you are staying nearby why not get outside and check this walk out.

Over the past few years, I have found that Caloundra is a place I have stayed every few months. One of the reasons for this is because the Caloundra RSL puts on a free show that I like to go and photograph. But that means that I also get a chance to walk the area quite a bit as well. While there are some downsides to the area, by and large, it is a lovely place to walk, especially in the morning.

Coastal Pathway

Many times when staying in Caloundra I have found myself staying at the Oaks Oasis Resort. The hotel is located where North St and Park Pl come together and at this point is also a pathway through to the water. The path is called the Coastal Pathway and technically runs from Tewantin in the north to Pelican Waters in the south. While much of the pathway is already in place, there are still some sections to be completed.

Below is the view to the south from the pathway looking out over Pumicestone Passage. As you can see it is a beautiful location to be able to walk, and there are plenty of lucky people that get to experience this every day.

Below is one of the signs that I found outlining the route that the path takes. I am unsure just how much of the path is signed like this, but it is relatively easy to follow. The sign also does highlight some of the features that you might like to stop at. But you do also find plenty of spots that you want to stop to take a look at as well.

The Esplanade Caloundra

There is one section of the pathway that you leave the water’s edge. But soon enough you are back following along the side of Pumicestone Passage, towards the ocean inlet. The next section is along this boardwalk that has plenty of spots to sit and take a break. No time for a break on this walk though, at least not until the coffee shop.

As you get closer to the inlet, the surf does get a little rougher. It is in this area that the afternoon before I spotted quite a number of kite surfers making full use of the high winds. There is a beach here that is semi-protected, but if you want to swim, I would still recommend looking for the red and yellow flags.

Caloundra Main Street

I was heading to visit a couple of local coffee shops so made a turn away from the beach and headed to the main street of Caloundra, Bulcock Street. The street is lined with shopping, cafes and restaurants over a distance of almost one kilometre. However, it is also unfortunately lined with many empty shops as well. While there are some gems along here, there is a definite lacking here as well. I do encourage you to visit Caloundra, but try not to get your hopes too high on the shopping aspect scene. Keep in mind the beach, and the accessibility to other nearby areas.

Lamkin Lane

The cafe that I was visiting on the walk was Lamkin Lane Espresso Bar. The spot is the home of Tim Adams Specialty Coffee in Caloundra and is a little hidden away. Lamkin Lane is a street that runs parallel to Bulcock Street, and there is a small walkthrough laneway that brings you out right beside it. They offer a few different choices when it comes to coffee, so there is hopefully something for everyone. But if you are in Caloundra, I would recommend a stop to check the coffee out, that is if you like coffee.

Paisley Park

Although I have visited Lamkin Lane before I do not recall seeing Paisley Park across the laneway before. But maybe it is the new coffee & patisserie spot that is opened in the park that caught my attention today. A place that is on my radar to visit the next time I am in Caloundra. On this occasion, I was running short a little on time.

Visit Caloundra

I must admit that there are some aspects to Caloundra that do turn me off the area a little. I find that the shopping and cafe scene is a little to be desired along the main street. But what it lacks in this aspect it makes up for natural location. The beaches and the views along the waterfront are beautiful. If you have visited Caloundra, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Eumundi is a town that I remember visiting on a couple of occasions in the past few years. However, until recently it is a town that I had used as a quick stop to grab a bite to eat and not much more. So I was glad to get a chance to take a little walk along the main street and have a little closer look at the town.

Located towards the northern end of the Sunshine Coast, Eumundi is located just 15 minutes from Noosaville. It makes for a great morning or afternoon outing while staying in the Noosaville area, which is exactly how I came to visit this time. It is also a great spot for markets if you happen to be in the area on a Wednesday or Saturday.

Walking Eumundi

Eumundi is a great spot for a walk as everything is all within a reasonably small area. The main street, Memorial Drive has everything in an area of around 350m. While the street does have a small incline it is something most people should be able to handle.

There are a few different cafes and restaurants as well as two pubs that I could see. In the past, I have headed to the bakery for a pie which has been quite tasty from memory. But on this visit, I was more looking for a coffee.

Eumundi Markets

For those who enjoy walking around a market, there are two days that you might want to try and get to Eumundi. The Original Eumundi Markets are on every Wednesday from 8 am – 1:30 pm and Saturday from 7 am – 2 pm.

Unfortunately, even though I know the markets are on I have still not managed to get here on the right day. But I am sure that on the right days this area is buzzing with stallholders and shoppers alike.

Coffee Stop

One of the main reasons why I was visiting Eumundi today was for a stop at Humdrum Espresso. It was on a list of cafes to try and since I was close by decided to give it a look. The spot is quite nice and they are serving up some nice coffee from Clandestino Coffee Roasters.

Other Things To See

There are a number of other spots to check out while you are in Eumundi.

The CWA Hall in Eumundi does look like it has some age. However, even with a little searching, I was unable to find out when it was built. The information might be there on the hall, but it was only after the fact that I thought to look.

The intriguing creature above is named Elsie the baby elephant. Made from recycled materials Elsie eats one thing recycled plastic bottle caps. Elsie is a symbol for Forget Me Not, a charity that helps to protect, educate and re-unite children in Nepal, Uganda and India with their families.

There is, of course, something for the children as well. Dick Caplick Park is just one park that I saw, but there is also plenty of open space parks like the one below.

Visit Eumundi

If you happen to be on the northern end of the Sunshine Coast why not go for a visit to Eumundi. Whether you are visiting for the markets on Wednesday or Saturday, or just to take a look around the town on a quieter day. I would love to hear about your time in Eumundi just leave a comment below.

The township of Buderim in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland is a beautiful spot to visit. While it does not still hold all the charm that it did in the past, there are still some great spots to visit and some great views. That is if you know where to look. On a recent trip through the Sunshine Coast, I stopped for a coffee and a walk along the main street.

Burnett Street, Buderim

While there is a lot to Buderim with a few small areas with cafes and shops, the primary area is along Burnett Street. A 600m section of this road between Main Street at the bottom and Lions Park at the top contains most of the shops and cafes. In this area, I took a walk and captured a few photos to share with you today.

Buderim Lions Park

At the top end of the shopping area on Burnett Street is Buderim Lions Park. The park is a nice spot and offers plenty for everyone. There are toilets here, picnic tables, and a playground for the children as well. The only downside is that the park does border on the busy road, so you need to keep an eye on the kids.

Another great feature of the park is the amazing view that you get to the south-east from the lookout. You can see the view below, right out to the ocean. The built-up areas you can see, include Kawana and Warana. I cannot be certain but you can possibly see up to Mooloolaba to the north and Caloundra to the south. The tree growth may impact this a little. But there is another spot a little further down Burnett Street that you get a slightly different view until they build on the land.

The Birds and The Beans Espresso Bar

While the first garage was built on Buderim in 1918, I am unsure if that is this particular building. But is more likely the garage that was built in the 1950’s by Charlie Perkins. The garage went through a number of owners, it still carries its original pumps out front, but is now serving up coffee rather than fuel.

Of course, I had to stop in for a coffee, and it was a great experience for sure. The interior has a great old rustic feel to it, and they are serving some great coffee and brownies.

Street Walk

Burnet Street is lined with shops, cafes and restaurants and seems to be a trendy spot. In the past, I have visited many different cafes along the street here for coffee and food. The location below is the roundabout at the bottom of the main shopping area. There are a couple of small groups of shops off each of the roads here, so there is a little exploring to do if you visit the area.

Hidden Lake

It depends how you look at it as to whether this is a hidden lake or not. In one respect it is next to one of the public parking areas, but you also need to go looking to find it. You enter the car park by the parking in front of the group of shops at the start of Lindsay Road and follow around behind the shops. It is a nice spot for a look, but unfortunately nothing in the way of seating.

Visit Buderim

Buderim is a great area to visit and if you are on the Sunshine Coast worth spending a morning or afternoon for the drive. From the highway, you can get to Buderim in about 10 minutes or from Maroochydore about 15 minutes. It is best to check the directions first depending on where you are coming from, but either way, it is worth the drive.