Saturday, December 28, 2013

Wooli wanderings


If there is a long gap between posts and a complete lack of Christmas around this blog it is because just before Christmas we went on a little wander, to a lovely beachside town called Wooli. About four hours south of Brisbane, it is further than we would usually go to find the beach, but I can say it was completely worth that late night drive where we got lost because I fell asleep at a critical point in the navigation.

The town itself is tiny and built on a thin strip of land between the ocean and the river.  The scenery was spectacular.




We spent most of our time on the river side.




When the tide went out the sand felt like squishy marshmallow.




And there were masses of huge hermit crabs to collect and build a hotel for of course. This is what they look like when they are mostly inside the shell.





And mostly out of the shell. Yikes, that was not me holding by the way.




 We spent hours and hours in the golden late afternoon sun just fossicking around. The kids were in heaven. The rest of the time we were in here.




Doing crazy things like riding the dolphins down the waterslide.




We attempted mini golf but the competition and scorekeeping was way too much for one of us.




So we stuck with riding our bikes around and around the caravan park. And on the last day, the kids even went around the loop by themselves.




And then there were all the fibro shacks. One lunchtime, I strolled the tiny streets that make up this tiny town and sampled and hour of Wooli time. It was hot, still and barely a soul was stirring.




With one shop, a fish co-op and a tiny caravan park wedged between the two main streets, this is a small sleepy town. Most of the houses are fibro shacks and virtually all these shacks are either beach front or riverfront. It was basically fibro shack nirvana. They came in every colour imaginable. There was even purple but I couldn't get a pic due to a big ugly 4WD parked in the way.









We were amazed that nearly half of the town's shacks are for sale.




Several were in very original, renovators delight type states.





This one was my favourite, frangipani trees always win me over.




And I can even be quite partial to a good shed, of which there were many.





Anyway, shack ogling aside, the highlight of the trip was stumbling onto a taste of small town Christmas magic, the Aussie way. The caravan park we were staying in was also the starting point for Santa's annual sojourn down the river for Christmas carols held at the tip of the peninsula. We were all hyperventilating with excitement over spotting those six white boomers ( or kangaroos for those who have not heard this very Aussie Christmas carol).




The jolly fellow handed out sweets to all the kids before climbing on board.







Roboboy and I had decided to race Santa the 5 k's into town on our bikes. About half way, as we fly along the path running next to the river, we hear fragments of Christmas carols floating across the mangroves. It was magical, with the dusky light, the quiet streets with just the sounds of our pedals and strains of Rudolph over the lap of the water to guide us along. We did not see a single other soul the whole journey.




We arrived at the mouth of the river, to a pale sky and most of the town singing Christmas carols and waving glowsticks.


Soon, the SES marine rescue elves escorted Santa in to the shore and up the sands where he handed out more treats to the children.




 It was pure Christmas magic and we are so grateful to have been in just the right place at just the right time. Wooli, we loved you and we can't wait to come back.


(I'm presuming it's not just me who has fibro shack love, do fess up if you feel the same).

I forgot to add this before - if you want to look at some shacks to rent pop over here where many of local Wooli shacks are listed.

We stayed at the Solitary Islands Resort in a cabin opposite the pool and a massive jumping pillow as at this stage the  kids find these much more appealing than a beachfront shack. The resort is about 5k from the centre of town but there is a bike path all the way (which is almost entirely flat) and very little traffic.

21 comments:

  1. Beautiful puts Mel. Sounds like perfect timing to me. I'm all for the and tranquility. It all sounds so good. My favourite bit tho is the bike ride for two. It's the stuff of childhood memories for sure. Leax

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    1. The bike ride was surreal Lea, I felt like we were back in the 50's.

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  2. Puts??? Gah! Beautiful post Mel!

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  3. What a great Christmas. I love sleepy little sea towns, so much charm x

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  4. What an amazing holiday! I wonder if one of those shacks would suit a family of six?? Thanks for sharing this magical place with us. Cx

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    1. Are you going to pop over down under for a visit? Will give you all the tips if you are! mel x

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  5. I loved looking at those fibro shacks Mel. Just what we've been looking for lately. A real little beach house, not too far away from the 'big smoke' so that we can run away and hide for a while whenever we feel like it. I do not want anything fancy - I'd be happy if I could sweep sand into the cracks in the floorboards. I don't want big,shiny, new or pretentious. I want old, shabby and comfy. 2014 might be the year...gosh it will be lovely if it happens.
    Take care Mel. All the best to you and your family for a happy and healthy year ahead x

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    1. Oh Kylie, how exciting to get a shack of your own! fingers crossed 2014 is the year for you. Whilst I myself would be more than happy with a shack, the kids really need a pool so we unfortunately had to opt for the caravan park down the road but maybe in a few years........ mel x if you want to do some shack drooling have a look at awhimaway.com.au as that is where the Wooli locals list all their shacks for holiday rental.

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  6. Oh gosh the beach shacks are amazing. I'm with Kylie on the basic, nothing too precious beach cottage to escape to whenever the mood strikes. Think most of the cooking on the bbq, evening walks everyday and snoozing on the hammock with a good book.
    x

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  7. A beach holiday is not a beach holiday without a fibro shack! xx

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  8. Looks gorgeous! I love a good fibro shack too. Looks like my kind of sleepy town, I might have to check it out for next year... x

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  9. Looks like the land that time forgot! I read about it ages ago and wanted to visit, so thanks for reminding me!!

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  10. I love a good fibro shack…and a shed!
    It looks like you all had a magical time!

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  11. Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous! Like its straight out of "Sea Change". The Santa alighting pic is just too perfect. Are you going to purchase a prone-to-flooding fibro number to escape to regularly? If so, can you grab me one as well? Love, M xxx

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  12. Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos with us! It's a million miles away from the weather and scenery we have here and I loved it all. x

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  13. Lovely post Mel - it's so much more relaxing finding a quiet part of the coast to holiday, rather than facing the crowds at the more popular beaches. Would love to have an old fibro as a getaway - however we have to get the old weatherboard done first. It's good that you found some time spend some one-on-one with Roboboy - I'm sure the ride was wonderful. xx

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  14. Wow, that's what my Hannah said when I showed her your post. I am in love with those shacks, if only I could have one to renovate.
    Happy New Year, Mel, wonder what we'll do now the houses are nearly done. I've loved keeping up with you, katie xx

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  15. Love your shack pictures, you are not alone

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  16. beautiful blog on wooli - a correction though - wooli doesn't flood in heavy seas and banks DO loan for purchasing shacks at Wooli - the council announced three years ago they wouldn't reinforce dunes if they were eroded in big storms (ala Kingscliff issue with erosion where some houseswere teetering on sand cliffs after big storms up there) there was such an outcry by thousands of people across NSW, Aiustralia, the Northern Rivers area, MPs, celebrities, locals that the council backed down and they are now committed to a large scale coastal erosion saviour program for Wooli beach. i was one as I like you had a drema and did buy my reno shack at wooli about five yeas ago - it is a dream wonderful place with amazing funnny quirky people and a solitude and quietness you couldn't drema still existed on our populated north coast. FYI there are quite a few shacks in town that you can rent that sleep a large family (mine sleeps 7 or 8!). BTW did you knw there's a few celebrities with shacks in town some famous ex Olympics swimmers and a Hollywood movie producer of Oscar winning flicks to name a few. Like everyone else, they don't wear shoes, lock their doors when they're in the village. its just that kinda place. best wishes and please come to see us all again some time. Nik

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    1. Hi Nikki, thank you for commenting on this post. The information you have corrected me on was told to me by a local when I queried why so many of the houses were for sale. I presumed that this information was accurate and am sincerely apologetic that I have posted something incorrect. I have removed that part of the post and will continue to dream of my own little shack. Glad to hear your shack dreams came true and I agree it is a truly special place, the kids are already keen to come back. Is your shack one of the ones in the link?

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