Scenic ... the view from Pumicestone Passage.
I could have opted for a sedate cruise or a gentle kayaking trip but the temptation of zooming down the Pumicestone Passage on a power-ski was too great. Combining an eco-tour with a few thrills seemed a great way to explore this marine park off Caloundra on the southern Sunshine Coast.
Now I'm wondering if a gentle cruise with coffee and scone in hand might not have been such a bad idea. It is an unseasonably cold and windy day and the water is what our guide, Brendan, describes in his very Australian way as "a little bit lumpy".
I've never ridden a power-ski before and can see myself ending up in the murky water, but Brendan assures me I will quickly get the hang of it. If I understand him correctly, the rule is, if you're struggling, go faster.
It is advice that defies the instinct for self-preservation but proves valid; once we get on the plane, the large power-skis zoom across the water with ease. The faster we go, the less the lumpy bits matter and the more the smile spreads on my face.
Once we are inside the passage, protected from the wind, the water smooths out and we weave among navigation markers in a fun zigzag. We then cut the engines and float quietly as Brendan tells us about the mangrove and salt-marsh habitats we can see and some of the wildlife they host.
The Pumicestone Passage runs between the mainland and Bribie Island, a sand island that is mostly national park. Some of the places Brendan points out are accessible by four-wheel-drive, others only by water.
Further down, the passage opens into an expanse of water and we get a fantastic view of the distinctive Glass House Mountains, which cut clear shapes against the stormy sky.
Brendan explains that the mountains are volcanic "plugs", formed by molten lava more than 25 million years ago and left behind when the softer rock eroded. It was these ancient volcanoes that produced the large amounts of pumice you can still find on the banks of the waterway.
"That's where the passage gets its name," says Brendan. "When I was a kid, you couldn't swim anywhere in here without being surrounded by pumice floating in the water."
Brendan also tells us some of the Aboriginal stories about the mountains. Mount Beerwah, for example, is said to be pregnant. "She's been pregnant for a long time," he laughs.
At Mission Point on Bribie Island, we get off the power-skis to have a look at an Aboriginal midden. It has been almost buried by sand, but we can still see bits of shell sticking up; the surviving remains of a feast gone by.
On the way back to our starting point at Golden Beach in Caloundra, Brendan gives us a chance to try some free-styling, otherwise known as "doing doughnuts". My circles are rather loose but it's great fun.
We power through waves as we head to shore and come back thoroughly soaked but grinning like idiots. I bet they didn't have that much fun on the coffee cruise.
TRIP NOTES
- Caloundra Jet Ski, phone 0434 330 660, email caloundrajetski@virginbroadband.com.au.
- Suitable for children from school age upwards. Children can control a power-ski from age 12 if there is an adult on the back or from age 16 on their own. No licence is required and all safety equipment is provided. Wetsuits are provided in winter.
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