'Moondarewa Spit.' Gold Coast, Australia.
Last week I shared images from Southport, on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. This is Part 11, as the Spit is situated close by and I enjoyed taking in the beauty of the surroundings and the warmth of the sun, even though it is the middle of winter here.
The Spit consists of a 5km long, sandy isthmus which begins at Main Beach and finishes at the stretch of sea known as Broadwater where it greets the Pacific Ocean. This area comprises of public parkland and is a popular place for fishing, boating and relaxing. House boats are moored in a very sheltered part of the river.
Two men were trying their luck at fishing.
Many people took advantage of this idyllic area to relax due to the wonderful weather.
There were heaps of cars parked along the roadside and in the parking lots from one end of the Spit to the other and yet most people had plenty of space to enjoy their own, unhindered patch of paradise without the sense of being crowded.
The Spit is a favourite spot for those interested in snorkelling and diving. The Broadwater is located along the western side and I spotted many water vessels heading in both directions.
And then I saw a strange looking duck. Quackaduck was chugging along the waterway ferrying passengers along the Broadwater.
The Spit features seven precincts which include the ‘Village Centre’ and these are based around the existing developments of Mariners Cove, Marina Mirage, and Sea World Resort.
Other Highlights include;
• Cruise Ship Terminal option
• Light Rail Extension
• Ferry services
• Superyacht berth
• A tower at the top of the Spit as a viewing platform and landmark
• A plaza at the top of the Spit
• Enhancement of Federation Walk
• A Centre for Coastal Resilience
• Improved boating facilities at Muriel Henchman Park
• A Village Centre featuring retail, commercial and tourist activities. This includes shops,
food and beverage outlets, markets, tourist facilities, theme park activities, cultural facilities, and related accommodation and office functions.
The world famous Seaworld Resort and theme park, the luxurious Palazzo Versace and Sheraton Mirage are also located halfway along the Spit on the Broadwater side. Here is a picture of the Seaworld cruise boat returning passengers back towards their accomodation after touring further out to sea.
The two parks on the Spit are Doug Jennings Park at the northern end and Philip Park on the ocean side. The Doug Jennings Park is approximately 30 ha in size and this prominent, sandy peninsular on the eastern side of the Broadwater spreads out to the southern boundary of the Moreton Bay Marine Park.
Over the years some areas of the park had become degraded but millions of dollars has been invested in providing Seaway Emergency Access Stairs, an Amenities block with beach showers plus upgrades to the Seaway Kiosk and the rehabilitation of Moondarewa Spit.
One of the highlights of the Spit is the panoramic views of the Broadwater and the public have been encouraged to care for this area by keeping it a camping free zone, ensuring that dogs are kept on leashes and disallowing 4 wheel driving on the dunes.
Since the upgrade of Moondarewa Spit, 150 parking spaces have been made available, and many native trees have been planted to provide welcome shady protection during the summer months. Open grass areas have also been created to enhance the relaxation for visitors. Plus, extra sand was transported to the western peninsula beach for the convenience of beach lovers.
An obliging seagull flew east as I photographed this panoramic scene of Southport (below) from The Spit.
As we drove away from Moondarewa Spit I saw a splash of pink up in the sky. Can you see two skydivers on the right hand side of the image below?
Here is a better shot of them as they come into land.
On the way towards Southport I took a couple of photos from the passenger seat.
This was one of the last views from Southport as we made our towards Brisbane after spending a thoroughly enjoyable time on the Gold Coast.
THANK YOU FOR VIEWING. HAVE A GREAT DAY.
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
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