9. Brisbane to Maleny

Depart Central Railway Station : 8.34am
Arrive Nambour Railway Station : 10.22am

Hinterland Connect Bus Service
Depart Nambour: 11.02am
Arrives Maleny: 11.53am

Return Journey

Depart Maleny: 3.52pm
Arrive Nambour: 4.43pm

Connecting train -
Depart Nambour: 4.30pm
Arrive Caboolture Railway Station 5.33pm
Transfer at the same stop

Take train IPSW - Caboolture to Ipswich

Depart Caboolture: 5.52pm
Arrive Central Railway Station: 6.56pm.

Fares:
For the train, this is a 17 zone journey, (travelling within zones 1 - 17) so cost is Concession, $10.20 each way - that's $20.40. If I get a Go Card the fare would be $7.01 each way - a total of $14.02. Plus the bus fare which on their website is given as $2.00 each way for concession. Either way it's a lot of money for very little in my opinion.

There is an earlier bus from Maleny but it leaves at 1.02pm which would only give me an hour at Maleny which would make the journey not worth it - a long time travelling for 60 minutes!

Might be best to look at going to Eumundi and Noosa Heads (on separate days).

Edited to add:
I have just realised that I would arrive back in Nambour after the train leaves. Damn, the timetable given in the bus website is wrong. Timetable for Nambour to Maleny

8. Things to do in Brisbane

This is a question mark? I am thinking of doing this (seeing as the date is my birthday) but haven't quite decided yet.

Tuesday 10th January
River Cruise $35, normally $39.
Location
Eagle Street Pier - 1 Eagle Street Brisbane.
Includes
1.5hr Brisbane River Cruise with a 3 Course Carvery Lunch including tea and coffee, live commentary and light entertainment.

Kookaburra River Queen - MID WEEK Sights, Lunch & Cruise

A friend sent me these links:
Free Things To Do in Brisbane

Viator Brisbane Tours of which she said comes at a price!

Kidspot Weekend

Have had a quick squiz and will check them out more fully later.

7. Brisbane more tour companies

After doing some more searching I came across these links which I'm going to sort through. I'm considering the cost of hire car versus public transport. A 4 day car hire wouls cost around $131 - compare this to $45 (minimum) return bus ticket with Greyhound Brisbane to Noosa or $90 or so for one day tour.

Sunzine
Visit Brisbane
Brisbane
City Sights Bus
Queensland Holidays Brisbane region
QLD Holidays Brisbane Places to visit
QLD Holidays Brisbane Tourism

6. Day Tour to Noosa

I'm having trouble finding a day tour that goes to the places I want to see and visit. The one I really liked was with Scenic Hinterland but they only do pick-ups from the GC.

Grayline is out as is JPT Day Tours. Grayline have " Eumundi Markets with Montville (S484)" which is $119, they don't offer concession rates and they don't go to Noosa. They go to Eumundi and Montville and Maleny Mountain Wines.

JPT which I am informed is part of Australia Day Tours have "Sunshine Hinterland & Montville" operating Thursdays and Saturdays, Costs $105 goes to the ginger factory, Ettamogah Pub and Montville - no Noosa.

There other tour "Sunshine Coast & Noosa" operates Mondays and Sundays Costs $109 sees the Ettamogah Pub, Noosa but only passes through Eumundi then goes to Mooloolaba and includes entry to Underwater World. I have no interest in Underwater World whatsoever so this too would be a waste of money.

It looks like Green Triangle will be the one to go with. They have a tour from Brisbane "Sunshine Coast Day Tour - Noosa Heads and Eumundi Markets" which operates Wednesdays and Saturdays and costs $94 and $89 for concession. It may not stop at a ginger factory, but it does at least tick the other boxes - Stops in Eumundi for the market and then goes to Noosa (including Hastings Street). They do then drive to Maleny for a stop at the lookout (No wine tasting here I'm afraid) and their last stop is at a local fruit stall.

I'll have a hunt around a bit more if I can't find one exactly like the Scenic Hinterland one, then I'll book this tour. Then begs the question, do I book now or wait till I arrive? Maybe I should book before.

The Downside
The downside of Green Triangle is they don't stop at the Ettamogah Pub. Plus they have a "pick-up point" which is a fair walk from my accommodation. Considering my accommodation is north of South Bank and they would have to travel north, perhaps they might be able to pick me up from somewhere there? It's worth looking into.

5. Brisbane

Will be flying to Brisbane Monday 9th January (2012) and returning the following Monday at 8.05pm so have 7 nights and 7 days.

Usually I so my research months beforehand but as the flights were a Christmas present I only have about ten days to research my itinerary.

Some websites
Noosa
JPT Day Tours
BCL Brisbane City Life
Gray Line
Brisbane eGuide
Green Triangle
Scenic Hinterland
Noosa Hinterland Tours

4. Tourist or Traveller?

The age old debate of are you a tourist or a traveller is one which always seems to get lots of answers and discussion. Of course there are those who say it's been done to death, or it's been discussed ad nauseum, yet still the question pops up.

According to the Oxford dictionary, a tourist is "a person who is travelling or visiting a place for pleasure", and a traveller is "a person who is travelling or who often travels".
Does a traveller travel for displeasure? Hardly. So what, really is the difference? To my mind, there is no difference - they're one and the same really, it's just a question of semantics.
A traveller is just a tourist with pretensions.
A tourist expects toilet paper, travellers carry their own, a tourist has a wheeled suitcase, a traveller carries a backpack - these are just some of the arguments.

So, let us take a look at the different styles of people travelling.
You get the ones who travel in air-conditioned buses with a coach captain and tour guide, their itinerary is pre-planned, they stay in three or four star hotels - some even stay in five star places. It depends on the money you've forked out. They get met at the airport (usually) and are shuttled to their hotel where they meet for a welcome drink and get to meet the others in their group.

Meals are usually included - again this depends on the cost of the "tour" - the more you pay, the more meals you get! The next day, they're off and it's on the bus, off the bus, look at this, take photos, on the bus, off the bus, another photo opportunity - your day is mapped out and planned. Sometimes, there will be "free" time where you either get a choice of paying to do something extra or just while away a couple of hours doing your own thing.

Then you get the ones who don't do escorted tours, but travel either on their own or with a husband, lover or friend, or with another couple. They may stay in five start hotels and pay for expensive day tours. I met a couple in Bangkok who (obviously) had money, and a lot of it, and had a "lady" as the husband said, plan their trip and book tours for them. He "used" her each time he came to Thailand.

And what about the families - mum, dad and the kiddies? A real family holiday. They do activities, see attractions, go places that fit in - being with children they have to cater for things that will interest children so they don't get bored, or where they can wheel prams or strollers, those without the little blighters can please themselves so to speak.

And what about people who travel solo - where do they fit in? Does a "tourist" stay in higher end accommodation and a "traveller" stay in cheaper digs? Finances would play a role in this - if your budget is only a few dollars a night, then you look for the cheaper ones, dorms in hostels, or small guesthouses, whereas if your finances stretch further, having a greater amount of money to play around with affords you more choice. Even so, you might still prefer to stay in an area which has a mix - some cheap, some dearer and/or where backpackers congregate and hang out.

Once, and only once, did I do an escorted tour - and realised it wasn't for me. Although there was one good thing which came out of it - I had the opportunity (for a higher price) to travel gold class on the Ghan from Adelaide to Alice Springs which was something I'd long wanted to do.

Call yourself a tourist, call yourself a traveller, you're still travelling and you're still in someone else's country.

3. Psalm of Summer

Now it came to pass that spring turned to summer again.
Recreation is my shepherd, I shall not stay at home,
He maketh me to lie down in a sleeping bag, and leadeth me down the Highway each weekend.
He restoreth my suntan and leadeth me to National Parks for comfort's sake.
Even though I stray on the Lord's Day, I will fear no reprimand,
My tent hath been erected,
My petrol tank runneth dry
Surely my trailer shall follow me all the weekends this summer,
and I shall return to the House of the Lord this autumn.
But then it is hunting season and that's another psalm.