Kin Kin – The Sunshine Coast’s hidden treasure

After a day of rain on Saturday the garage sale we had planned was a bit of a washout, however we did make a little money and cleared out a few bits and pieces.
Waking Sunday early as I do, Elena was left to sleep. It was quiet so checking the Bom Radar for the Brisbane area I notice that the rain had cleared and Sunday was going to be fine all day. I knew that I should be working on the house as this is the most important project at the moment.

Elena’s rose early and telling her that the rain had cleared was the new that she wanted to hear. “Lets go for a ride today” was the next words she said and like a get out of jail pass I quickly agreed. It seems that Elena had a plan of where to go and what she wanted to see. As for me, well I’m just the driver. But I don’t mind. I’ts been almost 2 months since returning from Phuket and I haven’t ridden the bike much at all.

The destination was decided. A small Towns north of Noosa on The Sunshine Coast. The ride would literally take us straight up the main highway, which to some on bikes would be boring, but as I’ve been off the bike for so long it’s a good way to get back in touch with my riding skills. With Trailer in tow we took our first stop at the Caboolture Service Center. This place has all the usual mod-cons for us on the road and makes a great place for refueling and grabbing a quick bite to eat before the hitting the asphalt again.

Sometimes when you’re travelling you get an impulse to just stop and take a look around. Yandina gave me that impulse. There’s a ginger factory here that conducts tours that my father told me about and I once researched buying the motorbike trailer from a factory here. Pulling off the highway I mentioned to Elena that we’ll take a quick look at the Ginger Factory.

I was quite impressed, even thought we didn’t take the tour through the factory and just walked around the complex to give our legs a stretch.
The Ginger Factory has a lot on offer and complete with it’s cafe, ice-cream parlor, souvenirs shops spread around the tropical park like settings it truly is worth the stop. There’s is even a little train for the young at heart to take a ride around the property.

Our destination we still ahead of us as entering back onto the highway and heading north I was immediately surrounded by a dozen bikers taking in the pleasures of a Sunday ride. The noise of all the Harley engines and riding in formation soon gives you that feeling of companionship. for the next 30km we rode together before they all pulled off the highway for a pit-stop and we continued on our way.

The Highway Narrowed and became a two land road, ah the end of civilization, we are now entering the country. within a few kilometers we came to the right turn sign posted for our destination.
Riding through Pamona.
Pomona is a town located at the base of Mount Cooroora at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. The town was originally called Pinbarren siding and was renamed Pomona in 1906, after the Roman goddess of fruit and orchards and with good reason, there are numerous farms and orchids in the area. The road was good, considering that there are protests to upgrades in the area. Rumors has it that the locals want things left the way they are and in upgrading the dirt side roads they (the locals) fear that there will be more people coming into the area and they are happy in a quiet part of the country. I’m divided on the topic, it beauty is it’s isolation, but within it beauty lies it’s magnetic attraction.

Kin Kin, a very small town consisting of a pub and a couple of other small buildings initially felt like a bit of a disappointing destination but I was about to be proved wrong. Pulling the bike up outside the Country Life Hotel we decided that since it was now midday it was time for a quick feed of  Beer and Wedges (Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chilly Sauce). The Kitchen was just opening so Our orders was simple and quick. The local Publican is a little hard of hearing but the Pub is well worth the trip and is filled with local history and memorabilia.

Taking a seat in the garden bar and listing to the entertainment for the day, a guy belting out blues we soon got into the pace of things here. T big guy and his wife pull up on their bikes outside and are soon introducing themselves around the small gathering of people in the garden. It turns out John and Naomi are from an area not far from us and recently moved up to Nambour to escape the rat race of the city. Over lunch we swapped numbers and vowed to keep in touch. It’s amazing the comradeship that is felt between bikers as you travel. We can’t wait to get going on out around Australia trip and get this feeling more often.

Saddling up we headed to Boreen Point on the shores of Lake Cootharaba, the largest lake in the Noosa River System. It’s the gateway to the Everglades, a popular tourist attraction for Noosa, being 20 km away from Noosa and a great spot for fishing. Boreen Point is a small town north of Tewantin on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. The name comes from an Aboriginal word from the tribes around Moreton Bay which refers to the pathway that led between two bora rings Next time we are up here we plan to stay as the Boreen Point Camping Ground and really explore the area but as today was just a day run we were seriously running out of time before starting our journey home.

It’s always the journey home that takes longer, that could have been because we came home via Tewantin, a suburb on the outskirts of Noosa Heads. It was the original settlement in the Noosa region and is one of its three major centers today.We had to break the trip up by stopping at the ever famous Ettamogga Pub and stretch our legs. It’s a great stop and always as a little something of interest in the surrounding art and craft shops.

There is so much of this country yet still to explore and we are just scratching the topsoil.

So, if you’re on the Northern side of the Sunshine Coast and are looking for a day out in the country, why not stop at Kin Kin, the locals are friendly and it’s a great day out.