Oceania Travel: A Journey Through Queensland (Photos)

The second major stop of the journalists' Oceania tour was to Queensland, Australia. At 19:20 Sydney time on April 28, 2015, the journalists, accompanying the Australia-New Zealand tour group, successfully concluded their itinerary in New South Wales and departed from Sydney Airport on a Jetstar domestic flight. After a flight of over an hour, they arrived smoothly at Gold Coast Airport that evening.

View from the airplane (Photo by Zhao Shuxin)

At 8:40 Sydney time on April 29, after a night's rest, the Australia-New Zealand tour group began their new itinerary in Queensland. Led by team leader Qiao Liang, they left their accommodation at Tweed Ultima Hotel and set off for the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Along the way, the tour guide briefed them on relevant information about Queensland.

Gold Coast scenery (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Queensland, located in Australia, is one of the six states of the country, named in honor of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. It borders the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Northern Territory and South Australia to the west, New South Wales to the south, and the Gulf of Carpentaria to the north. With an area of 1,727,200 square kilometers, it accounts for about 22.4% of the Australian mainland, making it the second-largest state. Approximately 54% of Queensland lies north of the Tropic of Capricorn, characterized by low rainfall, warm climate, and abundant sunshine, earning it the nickname "Sunshine State."

Famous Burleigh Heads (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Queensland boasts many famous scenic spots and numerous renowned travel destinations. From the surfer's paradise of the Gold Coast to the colorful underwater Eden of the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns, and the lush Daintree Rainforest.

Surfers on the Gold Coast (Photo by Wang Libao)

On this trip, they would visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast, watch thrilling surfing battles by the sea, explore "Danger Point" at the border between New South Wales and Queensland, and visit the smallest church in the South Pacific. Then they would proceed from the Gold Coast to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland.

Koalas in the zoo (Photo by Zhao Shuxin)

That morning, under a drizzling rain, the team first arrived at the famous Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast. Established in 1947 and covering 27 hectares, it is one of Australia's best wildlife sanctuaries, known for feeding rainbow lorikeets and also a filming location for Running Man. The sanctuary is home to over 1400 species of Australian animals, making it an excellent place to get close to nature.

Sightseeing train (Photo by Zhao Shuxin)

Upon entering the park, the first thing that caught their eyes was the adorable koala zoo, with little fellows lazily perched on tree branches, their various expressions and innocent poses extremely endearing. If visitors wanted to take photos with the animals, they could spend some Australian dollars, and the park staff would let them hold their favorite animals for a souvenir photo.

Up close with kangaroos (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Not far from the entrance was the sightseeing train station. Everyone boarded the train for a tour of the wildlife sanctuary. The park was lush with various vegetation, and the train ride felt like traveling through a forest.

Group photo on the zoo train (Photo by Zhao Shuxin)

After a ride of over ten minutes, they arrived at the kangaroo feeding area. Here, group members got up close with the adorable kangaroos, watching their charming and amusing "performances," sharing the joy of harmonious coexistence.

Sheep shearing show (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

In addition to viewing Australian specialties like kangaroos, koalas, crocodiles, cassowaries, and possums, the park also offered a variety of daily shows: rainbow lorikeet feeding, bird flight shows, sheep shearing shows, amphibian shows, and more. Due to time constraints, the group only watched one wonderful sheep shearing performance that day.

Interactive show at the zoo (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

In fact, the sheep shearing performance was more than just shearing. The shearer was practically a stand-up comedian. Before shearing, his witty and humorous remarks kept the audience in continuous laughter. He invited three audience members on stage for an interactive performance. In a relaxed and lively atmosphere, the humorous shearer displayed his impressive shearing skills before the crowd, leaving everyone amazed and applauding.

Mirage-like scenery (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

With joy and delight, the group finished their visit to the wildlife sanctuary. After lunch, they went to the famous Burleigh Heads scenic spot on the Gold Coast beach. Walking down the coastal path, on one side was the azure ocean with rolling waves, and on the other was the lush tropical rainforest, emitting a unique fragrance of vegetation in the fresh air.

Gold Coast view (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

From here, they could fully enjoy the beautiful ocean scenery. Lucky once again, the weather favored them: the rain gradually stopped, and the sky cleared, revealing a lovely smile. Under the bright sunshine, the endless sea turned a deep blue.

Photo with a surfer (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Watching thrilling surfing performances from the observation deck was an exhilarating experience. The Gold Coast is a place where surfers battle the waves.

Long coastline (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Along with Hawaii in the United States and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, the Gold Coast is known as one of the world's three surfer's paradises.

Photo on the Gold Coast (Photo by Wang Libao)

In the waters of Broadbeach, Kirra Beach, and Main Beach on the Gold Coast, not only could one see countless surfers showing off their skills, but if one wanted to try, they could also enjoy world-class surfing experiences, and the underwater scenery would be equally breathtaking.

Night view of the sea church (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

That evening, they arrived at the smallest sea church in the South Pacific. From a distance, the church's night scene with twinkling lights exuded a mysterious charm. Upon approaching, they boarded the deck and entered the brightly lit church. The sumptuous and solemn interior instantly evoked a sense of sanctity. Many couples took photos together.

Capturing an unforgettable moment (Photo by Zhao Shuxin)

To the journalist's surprise, on the way there, they received blessings from their daughter. It turned out that day was also their wedding anniversary. So, the journalist and their spouse took a very unforgettable and romantic photo to mark the occasion.

Emu skewers (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Even more memorable was the late-night meal after the evening's activities. Among the dishes were two items: emu skewers and kangaroo stir-fried noodles. These two animals are featured on the Australian 50-cent coin, one on each side. They share a common trait: due to physiological reasons, they can only move forward, not backward, and are mainly found in Australia.

Kangaroo stir-fried noodles (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Both types of meat are lean, tender, and delicious. Tasting these "national treasure" delicacies in a foreign country made the trip truly worthwhile.

Gold Coast night scene (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

On April 30, 2015, the second day of the Queensland Gold Coast itinerary for the Australia-New Zealand tour group was not so lucky. The weather forecast predicted moderate rain, and although there was no downpour at the first stop "Danger Point," the rain fell steadily and persistently.

Danger Point state border (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

"Danger Point" at the southern end of the Gold Coast marks the boundary between New South Wales and Queensland. Standing at a circular marker point, the ground has two colors representing the two states. Visitors standing on the two lines can feel as if they are on the lands of both states. The sea here was still blue, with waves ebbing and flowing, but beneath the surface lay treacherous reefs and numerous hidden dangers.

Danger Point beach scenery (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The shore here was no longer covered with golden fine sand and filled with a lively atmosphere. Instead, the exposed crust presented a fierce appearance, with dark, jagged rocks forming cliffs or lurking in the shallows. The entire coastal area presented a different complex landscape. Hence, people straightforwardly named it "Danger Point," a cautionary place name.

Gold Coast coastline view (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

At Danger Point, there is a Cook Monument and a lighthouse. The area features several kilometers of beautiful coastline and flocks of seabirds. Standing on the cliff, one could gaze at the endless coastline and layers of white waves, with a gentle breeze blowing. The scenery was like a mirage. Although called Danger Point, it is also a most beautiful cape. Despite the drizzly and chilly weather, there were still many surfers in the distance bravely battling the elements. It is said that in Australia, Bondi Beach is the best for surfing, while this place ranks second.

Watchers by the Gold Coast (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

There is a lighthouse made of four stone pillars. The pillars point to the four cardinal directions and converge at the top to form the lighthouse. This design is quite unique. At the base of the pillars are portraits of the famous British explorer, navigator, and cartographer James Cook, along with diagrams of his voyages.

Gold Coast street view (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

From this perspective, the lighthouse also serves as a memorial to Captain Cook. When Captain Cook landed on the Australian continent for the second time, he came here but lost two ships due to too many reefs, hence the name Danger Point. Although called "Danger Point," this place is a beautiful scenic spot on the border between the Gold Coast city and Sydney.

Seafood shop on the Gold Coast (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The group left Danger Point and went to a local seafood market to experience the local culture. They were surprised to find that large prawns, lobsters, crabs, and many other fresh seafood items whose names they didn't know were not very expensive. Looking at the price list, they calculated the exchange rate between Australian dollars and renminbi and indeed felt that the seafood here was relatively cheap.

Seabirds gathering by the sea (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Behind the seafood market was the ecologically pristine South Pacific coast. Here, flocks of birds gathered—large ones called Tang'e (or pelicans), and small ones being seagulls—swimming near the shore and interacting with people.

Having fun with seabirds (Photo by Zhao Shuxin)

On the beach, some tourists threw food into the air, and the seabirds would accurately snatch it in mid-flight. Their speed and precision were truly amazing! The scene of humans and nature, humans and seabirds enjoying themselves together was refreshing and delightful.

Brisbane waterfront (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

At 14:50 Sydney time, the group finished their Gold Coast sightseeing and drove to Brisbane. After nearly two hours, they arrived smoothly at 16:50. But the rain continued unabated. Thus, the "Following Haitao Around the World" Australia-New Zealand tour's itinerary in Brisbane was entirely rainy. Without sunlight, all scenery looked dim and colorless.

Garden scenery (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

As the capital city of Queensland, Brisbane is Australia's third-largest city. Its name originates from the colonial era's Governor of New South Wales. A river discovered here was named the Brisbane River in honor of Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, the governor who promoted colonization in the region. The city thus took its name.

Brisbane wharf (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Upon arrival, due to heavy rain, famous attractions like Kangaroo Point (which has no kangaroos) and the Story Bridge (which has no story) were all shrouded in rain, with nothing visible.

Photo at the Convention Centre (Photo by Wang Jue)

So they went to the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, which hosted the 2014 G20 summit. They strolled through the vast building and took a few casual photos of the interior, considering it as having visited Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, without missing out.

Brisbane Convention Centre (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

At 19:00 Sydney time, the journalists' Australia-New Zealand tour finally concluded their itinerary in Queensland. They drove about 20 minutes from Brisbane city to Brisbane International Airport. That evening, they took Jetstar flight JQ567 to Melbourne to continue the final leg of their trip in Victoria. (Text and photos by Feng Ganyong)