Mooloolaba, Australia

 

MOOLOOLABA, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

FEBRUARY 8, 2025

 

Mooloolaba sits at the mouth of its namesake river, along the shores of the Sunshine Coast which is a mecca of white-sand beaches and quaint beautiful villages set amid lush rainforests inhabited by kangaroos and koalas. 

The town derives its name from the Aboriginal word mulu (snapper fish) or mulla (red-bellied black snake).  We were very lucky to be able to enter this port as the weather and large swells prohibit many ships from anchoring here.  We anchored off shore because of the shallow waters and climbed aboard the ship tenders to take us to the pier.  On the way, the ocean swells lifted our tender to a 45-degree angle and bounced the tender into another swell!!!!!  That trip was a bit nerve-wracking but we all made it!!!!  It’s very tricky bringing water craft in and out of that harbor.   

We then boarded a ferry and cruised the Noosa River lined with stunning and very expensive homes along with “live-aboards” in house boats and yachts who spend 3 months in this area to avoid the cyclones and floods in the Northern areas.  

This home was just listed for sale at a paltry $35,000,000 AUS!

The streets of Mooloolaba are lined with outdoor cafes and boutique shops opposite the white-sand beaches and rolling swells enjoyed by many surfers. 

 The Australia Zoo, also located on the Sunshine Coast, is still operated by Steve Irwin’s family.  The zoo is home to more than 1000 animals including koalas, wombats, crocodiles, snakes and kangaroos.

Viking is contributing funds to the Irwins’ Koala Hospital, a nonprofit crucial to the survival of koalas, especially after the recent fires that have devastated their natural habitat.