Not much paradise at surfers

Anywhere that has paradise in the name is definitely going to increase the draw card factor, a kind of 'yeah come on let's get down there' sort of feel. Our first mistake.

Our ride for the final leg of our Aussie 3 month experience, a Jucy Toyota. Not quite a full camper, more of a Japanese younger brother. Kitted out similarly to our old van we had back home, but just maybe not as mechanically slick. She rattled a bit and she's a bit basic but does the job well. We left a, soggy at times, Brisbane and joined the Pacific Highway and turned right, south.

Now we accept the sun wasn't fully shining as we pulled into Surfers, and at present on your arrival you're greeted with a building site style foreshore. But then you hit the all too many brightly coloured 50+ storey high rise towers that run right up to the beachfront which do absolutely nothing for it's famed name being that of paradise.

The building site foreshore is a much overdue 25 million dollar revamp. As part of the revamp there are plans for outdoor photo galleries positioned right along the boulevard to celebrate the changing skyline of Surfers Paradise since the 1930s. On view of whats been achieved in these 80 odd years we're not too sure it needs celebrating ! Or is this another twist of Aussie humour !! Either way after an hour or so we moved onto Burleigh Heads......

.....Better, but just ok. At least the high rise count is less. We headed for the point to see locals rip up the onshore wind swell white water. Just over the head we found a good camp ground which had a great camps kitchen so we took shelter here as the night skies filled with heavy rain clouds. To ease the dampness we cooked up a fab curry before settling down for our first night in Jucy. As the storm clouds opened, it was just like being in our old van !!