Markets and Cruising the Rainforests!

This is all of us crammed in and loaded up including roof rack
as we headed for Noosa.  Every trip was a joy packed like
sardines in the Good Ol' Pajero!

You may be wondering how we managed to get around to see all the amazing places we saw when my parents were here?  Wellllll, the ol' Pajero of course!  What a champ.  Seriously, if that vehicle can just make it another 5 months we will be so stinkin lucky!  But through all its hiccups, we've come to love our tin can on wheels.  Cars are...well, they are crazy pricey here.  So, being determined to have a 4 wheel drive that we could take camping and drive on the beaches, also that would hold 7 of us when my parents arrived (who wants to have 2 separate vehicles when my parents are here?  We all wanted to sit with them and I couldn't bear the thought of missing out on any chat time!) So we lucked out and found ourselves an Aussie favorite.  The Pajero!!!  They are really popular here.  But yah, ours is "the older" model :)


Here we are crammed in and headed for another adventure.  Notice the ceiling gaping open?  Well, rather than dwelling on the downfalls...we made use of it  It's a great place to store the ipad while we travel :)

Syd's going crazy and Oaklee...well, as she would say, she's" just taking a long blink".  All the travels, hikes, beach days, shopping etc. would pretty much poop her right out.  She'd have to take some long blinks while she could as we traveled from one awesome place to the next!  Ah, the comforts of luxury driving!

Here we are at Rocklea Market!  Enjoying our favorite breakfast of pofferties with icecream and Spanish omelets.  Grandpa bought the fresh squeezed OJ.  Yum!  It doesn't get better!!!!

This is Birdy not wasting a single drop of her maple syrup and melted vanilla icecream.  She'll just drink what's left!---Worth It!!!

At the market...we found some things that were "almost American"!  It's Snap, Crackle and Pop but rather than being on the Rice Krispies box...they were in full Aussie fashion on the Rice Bubbles box.  Same great taste--thanks Kelloggs!
And since everyone in our house got American marshmallows in their stockings for Christmas.  We can enjoy rice krispy treats for the next couple months!  Yahoo!!!

We took my parents to our favorite rainforest hike at O'Reilly's in Lamington National Park.

We saw huge trees, vines, Picnic Rock, Elabana Falls and lots of wild life!!!

The three kiddos at the top waterfall of Elabana.

Grandma just enjoying the scenic view.  I took this shot seconds before slipping on the mossy rocks and gliding (such a graceful word) down a small waterfall-- yah, plenty of sharp pointy rocks and nooks to wet my bottom up to my waist.  Oh the things we do for a great picture!  Wow, so embarrassing.  Luckily the large group of Asian high school students had just moved on when I took my bow!  Laws, I hate mossy rocks! Don't worry Grandma, I'm fine.  Just keep enjoying your view up there all dry and cozy!

Love Birds in the rain forest...isn't that tender?  They're going to be so glad I included this shot on my blog :)

Best grandparents ever.  Troopers on this hike.  It was probably about 8 or 9 kms.  Go them!

Seriously love hanging with this guy!  So awesome, no words!

We love these umbrella fern trees.  They really look like umbrellas.  And they make the coolest shadows.  So pretty!

We had to show them the treetop walk.  It's literally a hike through the tops of the trees.

Grandpa took the 2 ladders all the way to the tippy top of the highest tree tops.  You go up these caged ladders and reach a look out platform.  It's an awesome view from the top.  Everyone had a go!

We loved O'Reilly's.  My parents even got to try true Australian meat pies for lunch.

Heading home at sunset.  We saw some great wildlife on the way home.  Lots of walabies and roos prancing through the fields. The Pajero just whipped right over those dirt roads, atta girl!  Great day at Lamington!