Ticking off bucket list activities is something travelers all desire to do. We have those overseas countries we dream of, the luxurious hotels we save up for, the rugged escapes that inspire us and all the unique places in between that meet our wanderlust and keep us coming back for more. With our international borders currently on pause we are being asked to reimagine new ways of topping up our travelling cup in our own backyard.
Australia is a vast and amazing country, from pristine coastlines, enormous deserts and towering waterfalls; to surf, snow, hiking, island hopping and four-wheel driving; to resorts, boutique bed and breakfasts, one of a kind air bnbs and caravan parks. We are rich with choice when it comes to choosing our next backyard holiday. Surprisingly though, for a country surrounded by water, many of our Aussie adventures are land based despite the world of water that is on our door step.
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This is where a Houseboat Holiday comes in! For travelers looking for something different, where the east coast of Queensland’s beautiful warm waterways could become your floating home, a houseboat is the vessel that will make your next holiday an unforgettable one. What especially sets this apart from other water based tours and excursions is you are the Captain of your own ship, with a splash of comfort, independence, adventure and the accolade of skippering your own boat.
When we try to make comparisons to overseas plans it can be challenging to find something that ticks all the excitable boxes of jetting overseas, so we have to begin to think outside the box. For many, hiring a Houseboat of their very own is precisely the exclusive holiday they are yearning for, as they get to experience the freedom of holidaying on the water with gorgeous swimming spots, an abundance of fishing and crabbing, access to south Stradbroke Island, meals shared with friends and family with the water lapping by the boat, sunbaking in style on your private boat deck and sunsets that feel like you are a million miles from land.
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For travelers who are wondering when they will be able to rekindle their love of foreign travel again perhaps it is time to try your hand at captaining your own boat, for there is no greater feeling of freedom than standing at the helm of a boat navigating your way to a secluded anchorage. Maybe you have never heard of Houseboating and you are wondering why you have not tried this earlier, or maybe you have been on a houseboat holiday before and it’s time to dust off the Captains hat again; either way we have a large fleet of Houseboats on offer, from our smaller more intimate boats to our larger luxury spa vessels, with options for all your crewing needs. Plus a cruising ground that is one of the largest, safest and most sheltered areas for exploring on a Houseboat.
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Have you ever wanted to get up and personal with one of the gentle giants of the deep? Is seeing whales as they travel through the Gold Coast waters on their annual migration routes on your bucket list? Then now is the time to experience this magical activity!
Whale Watching Season
The 2020 Gold Coast whale watching season is just beginning and will run until November. The best times to almost guarantee sightings would be early June to late October, which is when most whale watching tour boats operate.
Over the last decade or so, the Gold Coast has enjoyed the longest whale watching season in Australia, and the Eastern Coast of Australia has become what is known as the ‘Humpback Highway’. Regardless of how prepared you think you are for a whale sighting, if you are lucky enough to find a traffic jam on this highway it will be an experience you will never forget!
What To Expect
Around 25,000 humpback whales travel on a migratory route from Antarctica, past Tasmania and swim through Byron Bay, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast. They then head on to the subtropical North Queensland waters each year to mate and give birth in the beautiful warm waters from Hervey Bay, right up to the Great Barrier Reef.
The large numbers of migrating whales means that your chances of spotting these charismatic animals is actually guaranteed by most whale watching vessels. You can expect to see the mighty male humpbacks earlier in the season, as they lead the charge, ensuring the migration route is safe for the rest of their pod. The females and calves follow their males along the migratory route, moving more slowly as the calves tend to enjoy frolic a bit more than the males.
You need to have your camera ready as you never know when they are going to appear! You may catch a glimpse in the distance of a huge whale tail slapping the ocean, or a calf coming up to check out what type of animal you are, but if you are one of the lucky ones you could experience a close up view of a huge creature breaching right out of the water and crashing back down into the ocean.
The Best Way To Experience Whale Watching On The Gold Coast
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Whatever you think you will feel when you see one of these majestic beauties, you can double it and then some. It is an indescribable moment when it occurs. When you feel like you can just stretch out and touch this giant of the sea, or when you are eye to eye with a humpback whale as it glides silently past your vessel, checking you out.
So you have to make sure that you arrive at the Gold Coast at the right time and the right place to be able to enjoy this experience to the fullest. Coomera Houseboats want to make sure that you have an unforgettable whale watching trip, and there are a couple of ways this can happen.
The whales follow their migratory routes along the east coast of Australia and as the Coomera Houseboat cruising area does not include oceanside cruising, unless you stumble across a whale taking a slight detour, you will need to anchor up and head out to enjoy your whale watching experience.
Whale Watching From A Tour Boat
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The best way to enjoy a guaranteed, up close and personal, humpback experience, is to take to the ocean and get out on the Humpback Highway by booking a trip with one of the many whale watching tour boats along the Gold Coast.
There are a couple of tours that operate from Runaway Bay Marina, which is within the Coomera Houseboat cruising area, and this means you don’t have to travel far to start your whale watching experience. Check with the Coomera Houseboat staff and they can let you know the best place to anchor up close to Runaway Bay Marina.
Sea The Gold Coast
If you enjoy thrill seeking and the adrenaline rush of being right alongside a humpback whale in a small boat sounds like your idea of a perfect day, then ‘Sea The Gold Coast’ that departs from Runaway Bay has a small boat whale watching adventure that would be perfect for you. https://seathegoldcoast.com.au/
Spirit Of Gold Coast Whale Watching
For those, who think that they would prefer a bigger boat then thankfully there are many other options, such as the Spirit of Gold Coast Whale Watching. This tour has a great track record when it comes to sighting ‘Migaloo’, the famous Gold Coast white whale. They also offer a guaranteed whale sighting, which means you will be offered a free trip if the whales are elusive and you don’t see any on your cruise.
This tour departs from Mariner Mirage twice a day, so make sure you chat to our Coomera Houseboat staff before you leave and we will show you where you should anchor and the best way to get to marina mirage that will fit in with your holiday plans. If you choose the 9:30am departure then you can maybe do a Main Beach excursion/swim/surf when you get back, before you head back to your Coomera Houseboat.
On Shore Whale Spotting
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A different option, for those of you who don’t fancy an ocean tour but would still love to catch a glimpse of one of these magnificent creatures, is to set yourself up in the perfect position along the coastline and have your binoculars and camera ready.
From Main Beach right down to the Queensland/NSW border and beyond, there are beautiful spots where you can set up a picnic and enjoy a swim or a walk, and keep an eye on the water for the tell-tale splashes. You can choose a place with a good view, that will suit the activities you would like to enjoy while you wait for the Humpback Highway to offer up a photo opportunity you will treasure!
Whale Watching During Your Houseboat Holiday
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Coomera Houseboats love to be able to make every visitor’s holiday experience match or exceed their expectations. Make sure you let us know if a whale sighting is on your bucket list, and discuss the various options with our team if you are not sure which way to go.
If you want to head for places that are outside our cruising area we can let you know the best way for your crew to get there. From trams, to rental bikes, to water taxis or Uber … getting to your preferred departure spot so you can experience whale watching is absolutely do-able from your Coomera Houseboat.
Fresh fish and chips taste completely different from the cardboard filled cups of soggy chips or paper wrapped greasy fish and chip dishes you buy from your local takeaway. I know that there are some great takeaway places who can produce amazing fish and chip dishes, but seriously, if you can catch, clean and cook a fish within an hour, you will not believe the difference in the taste!
I am salivating as I type this for you, and I may just need to go and put a line in the water so I can enjoy this dish for dinner tonight! Just follow the 5 steps below and you can experience the magic of this taste bud tantalising delicacy yourself.
Step One:
Head to Coomera Houseboats and book in the best vessel for your fishing adventure. Check out the recipe below and make sure you take the couple of ingredients that you will need – except for the flathead, as it is almost guaranteed that you will reel in the biggest, tastiest flathead on the Gold Coast!
Step Two:
Make sure you bring your fishing rods or grab a couple for your crew at our bait and tackle shop on-site. We also sell the best bait and accessories to ensure that the local fish bite!
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Step Three:
Untie your houseboat, put on your captain’s hat and head out to one of the best fishing spots around.
The fishing and crabbing on the Gold Coast is great! One of the features of our magnificent cruising area is the abundant fish and crab life that inhabit our waterways and are available to you – if you can catch them.
Step Four:
So, for today’s mouth-sized morsels you now need to catch the best flathead around. Easier said than done? Not at all!
Speak to our staff when you arrive and they can give you hints and tips on how and where to catch a good size flathead for your dinner. You can also ask the staff at the bait and tackle shop on site when you are buying all the necessities you need for a victorious fishing trip.
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Step Five:
OK, you have the equipment, you have circled the best flathead fishing spots on the Coomera Houseboats Cruising Map, everyone is aboard, and the frying pan is at the ready…. Look out flathead, here we come!
After a relaxing hour or so motoring to your secret fishing spot, throwing the lines in the water, and having a lovely beverage or two (except for the captain who is, of course, completely sober and in control of the vessel) … you have done all the hard work and the flathead has been caught, cleaned and is ready to cook!
“But” you say loudly, “How do we cook this thing on our hook?” This is the easiest part of the day! Here is my tried and true, easiest ever and most mouth-watering recipe for fresh flathead fillets and crispy potato wedges.
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Fresh Flathead Fillets and Crispy Potato Wedges
Ingredients:
Baby potatoes
4 garlic cloves, unpeeled and bruised (or garlic and herb seasoning)
Salt & pepper
Olive oil
An amazing flathead, freshly caught and expertly filleted, cut into thick strips
Flour
1 tablespoon chopped chives (optional)
Method:
1. Preheat your houseboat oven to 210°C.
2. Cut the potatoes into wedges and microwave on a microwaveable plate for 4 minutes.
3. Transfer potato to a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper.
4. Add the garlic, (or garlic and herb seasoning) and sprinkle generously with salt, pepper and drizzle with a little olive oil.
5. Bake in a preheated oven for 15 minutes (while your flathead is cooking) or until crispy and golden.
6. Toss the flathead fillets in a little flour, salt and pepper, and shake off any excess.
7. Heat a non-stick frying pan with a little olive oil and cook the fish in batches for 4 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
8. If desired, sprinkle the chives over the potato and serve immediately with the fish.
And … there you go, the easiest, tastiest dinner for your family, just like that!
Make sure you send us pics of your mouth-watering flathead dinner dishes that you have created aboard one of our Coomera Houseboat vessels. Happy sailing (and cooking!).
