Today was a varied day of cycling with beaches, the best bike path then motorways and skyscrapers.  We started with a leisurely pack-up which might be the last time we pack the tent on this trip.  It rained heavily overnight and the tent was very wet so we’ll need to get it out later and dry it.  We started biking on a cycle path that ran along next to the road.  It turned out that this cycle path ran all the way to Coolangatta and is one of the best paths we’ve seen on our trip.  Sorry Wollongong and Newcastle, but Tweed Shire trumps you as the best path.  We cycled to the next village north where we’d been yesterday with Simon and Gill.  We found a café and had a great cooked breakfast.  After breakfast we continued on the path next to the road.  It soon turned towards the beach then went along for over 12km between the flash houses and the beach.  The southern part looked brand new and had paved then wooden boardwalk, public art, beautiful seats and constructions.  We are very impressed.

Still on a paved cycle path we then turned into the suburbs and made our way across Chinderah Bay.  Next we were on a cycle path that twisted and worked its way along the motorway.  Although we were on a separate path, we still felt like this is the world of the car.  On reaching the top of a hill in South Tweed Heads, we got our first view of the Gold Coast skyscrapers.  Will then couldn’t shake a Johnny Vegas accent (the Lancashire Pub Quiz Champion).  We worked our way through the on and off ramps and then along a busy commercial road, past a university and then along the water’s edge, all on a cycle path.  We arrived at the border according to Google, but couldn’t find a ‘Welcome to Queensland’ sign.  We cycled around for a while looking and eventually found the concrete monument straddling the border.  After a few photos we made our way to the conveniently located Outrigger Hotel we’d booked on Wotif.  Will told the friendly hotel receptionists he couldn’t find a sign and they joked that Queensland doesn’t welcome people.

After checking in we went to the supermarket then mooched around.  Today was a nice day biking along great infrastructure.  We feel like we have almost finished our adventure and arriving in Queensland means we haven’t got far to go.  Tomorrow we are having a day off and will work out a plan for getting to Brisbane.

Highlight of today:  Amazing cycle path and arriving in Queensland.

Maybe the last tent packup

Cycle path

Cycle path next to the motorway with our first view of the Gold Coast

Will in QLD and Jen in NSW

The border