Any mers in the Brisbane or Melbourne areas keen for a meet up?

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Hey everyone, I'm going to be in Queensland (Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast) and Melbourne end of October, early November this year, and I'd love to meet up for a swim if possible! I'll probably only be bringing my old fabric tail as I can fit that in a normal suitcase. Is anyone keen? I'll be in the Brisbane or Sunshine Coast area from the 24-27 October, and Melbourne between 28 October and 4 November for PAX :)

[Mer-Crazy]

I'm in Tweed (which is an hour and a half from Brisbane) but I will be there! You give me a time and date and I will be there! I've been dying to meet up with mers more often. I just have a fabric tail at the moment too, which is fine since it travels better on my bike <3

[Luna Dreamtide]

Ooh where are you thinking in Brisbane? Have you ever been to the lagoon at South Bank?

[Mer-Crazy]

The lagoon would be packed that time of year, probably not very safe to go memaiding. Especially if people had bigger flukes.

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

I really had no idea about where to go swimming, I'll trust people with more experience in the area :)

[Mermaid Kelda]

I am keen as a mung bean. Like Mer-Crazy, give me a time and a date and I'll be there!
There are a bunch of really nice swimming holes around Brisbane/the Sunshine Coast that are lovely but a bit of a trek to get to. Or there's any of the multiple islands off the east coast that are beautiful and pretty cheap to get to by ferry.

[Luna Dreamtide]

The lagoon would be packed that time of year, probably not very safe to go memaiding. Especially if people had bigger flukes.
Good point. I forgot about that. :)

[Merman Jamie]

as long as i am not working I will be there

[Luna Dreamtide]

Well, as long as it's not too expensive I keen to join in when date and place is set.

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Yay, I'm so excited to meet you all! Does anyone have any specific locations in mind? I don't know the area overly well, so I'd love suggestions! A quick google search brought up some lovely waterfalls not far from Brisbane, but I'd be worried that they'd be very busy.

[Mermaid Kelda]

Here's a map of the three islands off the South East coast:

32957

Moreton Island:
$65 per person return for one day, including ferry trip/activities.

32961
32962
32963

Stradbroke Island:
$20 adult return, $15 student return.

32964
32965
32966

Bribie Island:
You can drive to Bribie, but it's usually pretty crowded and mostly exposed to swell so you're less likely to have clear, calm water to swim in.

32959
32958
32960

[Luna Dreamtide]

As far a swimming goes Bribie definitely isn't the best of choices. I have family there. But in terms of busyness choosing certain days and times will help. I mean if you choose to go somewhere during the day on a school day, there would probably be less people.

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Wow, those islands look amazing! Given that cost is a factor for some, I'm thinking Stradbroke Island is a good location, and if I save the Monday for this (26 October) I imagine it should be fairly quiet. Does that suit everyone?

[Mer-Crazy]

I will book it off next time I'm in work :)

Also, since this will be like an hour and a half hour drive for me would and mers be willing to put me up for the night? Since I've tried to do the ride up, do the swim thing, ride back in one day and it's just exhausting.

[Mer-Crazy]

Also I'll bring my DSLR up with me to take some pics :D

[Luna Dreamtide]

So we're doing the 26th of October? I hope I can make it.

[Mermaid Kelda]

I live in Brisbane and can put up a few people if they need :) it's a half hour train ride from the station near my house out to Cleveland.

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Awesome, thanks Mer Crazy :) I will likely be bringing my waterproof camera :)
Is that date good for everyone? I like the idea of the Monday better than the Tuesday so my tail has time to dry before flying with it (eww wet tail on a plane).

[Mer-Crazy]

I think it's a good day because it gives everyone who works time to swap shifts or ask for it off.

[Mermaid Kelda]

Monday works for me!

[Luna Dreamtide]

Just need to work out a place to stay, but it looks like I might be able to make it! Checking with work today.

[Mermaid_Sarina]

I wish I could come! To bad i'm in Townsville! Good luck with all the planning!! :)

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Yay! :)
Sarina, hopefully next time! I'd love to visit Townsville sometime, and if I do I'll try to meet you and all the mers there :)

[Mer-Crazy]

Oh I'll go to Townsville with you! Haha. I've been wanting to go back for ages. We have to do it when Cora is performing <3 I missed her last time I was there.

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Most definitely, I've seen pictures of that aquarium and it looks incredible! I'd love to watch Cora and Cirra perform :)

[Luna Dreamtide]

Same here! I never got the chance to while I lived there... Visited the day after they had stopped performances!

[Mer-Crazy]

I went up to visit last year and literally the day AFTER I left was their first day of performing. I was so devoed. The aquarium was beautiful though. Wish the friend I was visiting with wasn't so impatient or I could have spent the whole day there <3

[Mermaid_Sarina]

Yay! :)
Sarina, hopefully next time! I'd love to visit Townsville sometime, and if I do I'll try to meet you and all the mers there :)

Yes! You need to come up!!! From what I know Mermaid Cora usually performs in the holidays.

[Mermaid_Sarina]

Oh I'll go to Townsville with you! Haha. I've been wanting to go back for ages. We have to do it when Cora is performing <3 I missed her last time I was there.

I wish you could come with me! We need more Mers!! <3 Hopefully you'll get to come up again sometime :)

[Luna Dreamtide]

I went up to visit last year and literally the day AFTER I left was their first day of performing. I was so devoed. The aquarium was beautiful though. Wish the friend I was visiting with wasn't so impatient or I could have spent the whole day there <3
That's a shame. It requires a whole day. Mermaid Sarina and I went one day and just sat watching the fish for ages!

[Merman Jamie]

sounds like a road trip is in order one day

[Mer-Crazy]

sounds like a road trip is in order one day
Trust me you do not want me on a road trip haha. I get terrible motion sickness haha. I'll just fly.

[Merman Jamie]

Plane trip is good also.

I want to do the drive one day since I have family about half way.

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

This meet up is only two weeks away! I'm so excited to meet you all!
I've been on the tourism website for Stradbroke Island, and it seems to have several nice beaches. Which one do you guys think will be best for us, and what times are good?

[Mer-Crazy]

Personally I'm super excited to visit the fresh water lakes! They look amazing! But out of respect to everyone bringing Silicone tails we'd probably have to settle on one spot and stay there I'd think since dragging those things around all over the place is tiring (we found out last week haha). Also are we all going to wait and catch the same ferry over? And do we have to buy tickets prior to the day or are we fine to purchase on the day?

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Yeah, I agree with the one location idea, silicone tails are not fun to carry around, I'm glad I'm just bringing my fabric tail! The same ferry is a good idea, although given the ferries seem to be a bit infrequent, we would probably all end up on the same one anyway. From what I understand, you can't pre-purchase tickets unless you're taking your car over (this is all based on their fairly poor website, please correct me if this is not the case).

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Eeee one week to go!
Mer Crazy has suggested the fresh water lakes, what does everyone else think? Also, what time should we meet up? Are there times to avoid (I know in Perth the wind picks up after a certain time, is there anything like that in Brisbane that will affect us)?

[Keiris]

I hope you'll take lots of pictures! Have FUN!!!!

[Mer-Crazy]

I'll be bringing my cameras and after Kelda's lovely shoot this week I'm happy to take a few nice/ posed photos if any one wants so long as there's time :)

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Whoo, that would be awesome :)

[Mer-Crazy]

Okay Mers time to get our butts in gear and get this stuff sorted.

I've looked at the website and the best option for ferries it the "Stradbroke Flyer" ferry, which is passenger only but gets there the fastest (25min compared to 55 on the other 2)

And the cheapest to travel on ($19 Adult return or $15 Student Return) It also travels fairly frequently, once every hour roughly, here are the times:

From the mainland (Toondah Harbour, Corner of Middle Street and Emmett Drive, Cleveland):
# 4:55 am
# 5:55 am
6:55 am
7:55 am
8:55 am
9:55 am
10:55 am
12:55 pm
1:55 pm
3:25 pm
4:25 pm
5:25 pm
6:25 pm
# 7:25 pm

From the Island (Dunwich is a township on the western side of North Stradbroke Island):
# 5:25 am
6:25 am
7:25 am
8:25 am
9:25 am
10:25 am
11:25 am
1:25 pm
2:25 pm
3:55 pm
4:55 pm
5:55 pm
6:55 pm
# 7:55 pm

# - no connecting bus

When do we wanna get there roughly and where did we wanna go?

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Hmm, I was thinking of the 9:55 ferry? Not too early, but before it gets too hot (I assume it gets quite warm during the day, I've never been to QLD at this time of the year, so correct me if I'm wrong). How far away are the beaches do you know? I read that there is a bus, but it is $10 each and I'm not sure where it goes.

[Mer-Crazy]

On North Stradbroke Island a bus will meet each water taxi arrival at One Mile Jetty, Dunwich. The bus route includes Point Lookout and Amity Point.

Within 20 metres of the One Mile Jetty, Dunwich are:
. Little Ships Club bar and bristro
. Stradbroke Island Historical Cemetery
. Bradbury’s Beach (tidal)



Within 1 kilometre of the One Mile Jetty, Dunwich are:
. North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum
. University of Queensland Moreton Bay Research Centre
. Island Fruit Barn cafe

Blue Lake National Park is by road 9 kilometres west of Dunwich. If I had a car I'd offer to bring it over to drive people but I don't :(

[Mer-Crazy]

Amity Point looks like it has a little jetty/ pier thing
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Point lookout looks really nice, but it's on the other side of the island so is probably out of the question.
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[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

We may have a car; we've hired one, but the t&cs say that we need permission to take it over water. I'll ask when we pick it up, but that means we are limited to a car-ferry...

[Mer-Crazy]

From the looks of it they travel as frequently as the people ferries anyway so it'd be easy enough to meet you over there. Are you coming with a friend Kate?

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

My partner/mertender will be coming too! He's happy to take pictures and help out :)

[Mermaid Jaffa]

How was the swim meet? Are there pics n videos?

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

It's not till this coming Monday Jaffa :) We will take pics though!

[-Annwyn-]

Have fun, everyone who's going. :)

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Kelda, Leina and Jamie, can you still make it?

[Mermaid Kelda]

Yup, I'm still coming! :) I've just been bogged down with uni and other stuff so I didn't have anything useful to contribute xD

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

No worries at all, I just wanted to check in! So glad you can still make it :) Does this time work for you? Good luck with all of your uni stuff!

[Mer-Crazy]

I'm gonna be traveling over with Kelda so I think the time is fine. My camera gear didn't arrive on Friday like I was hoping so I'm gonna try and wait for it to arrive Monday before I come up but I'll make sure to leave with plenty of time. I will let you guys know what's going on :)

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

I have my DSLR too, so I can bring mine if you can't get yours in time :)
We just arrived in Brisbane! Unfortunately the hire car company won't let us take the car on the ferry though, so that's out of the question :(

[Mermaid Kelda]

I've had another look at the ferries and buses (I might be repeating some stuff from previous pages), and it looks like it'd be cheapest to walk-on to the vehicle ferry, which is $10 return per person (both adults and students). We don't have to book a place on the ferry, we just show up and buy a ticket. The ferries leave from Cleveland on the hour from 7am onwards, and from Dunwich back to the mainland until 6pm.

http://i.imgur.com/t2gYiep.png
http://i.imgur.com/BVNnhaj.png

The buses that meet the ferries cost $4.40 (adult) or $2.20 (student) for a return ticket in zone 1, or $9.40 (adult) or $4.60 (student) return in Zone 2. There's no explanation that I can find on what exactly "Zone 1" and "Zone 2" are, but it might be for the buses that stop at both Amity Point and Pt Lookout. The return tickets are valid for the day of purchase, so there's no rush to get back on the bus.

http://i.imgur.com/lSNfClT.png

The website quotes a 20 minute bus trip from the ferry to either Amity Point or Pt Lookout. The bus straight to Pt Lookout is a bit more frequent than the bus straight to Amity. It looks like there's a few different possible routes, and we might be able to go to both Amity and Lookout if we feel like it, but that doesn't leave a whole lot of time to catch the right buses.

http://i.imgur.com/6pTmRnn.png

Personally, I'd be keen to go to Pt Lookout, since it looks the prettiest of all the photos and seems to be the same amount of time by bus. Apparently there's a N-NW wind blowing on Monday which might hit the headland and push down into Pt Lookout, but I don't think it'll be enough to make it not swimmable. Perhaps that's something we can ask someone on the day and decide then which bus to catch?

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

I think the reason why the vehicle ferry is cheaper to walk on is because it takes a lot longer (50 min rather than 20 min if I am remembering correctly).
I'm fine with going to pt Lookout, but we can always discuss it during the ferry ride.
On another note, I'm really hoping my monofin works. I didn't get to test the final iteration before I left (there were some disasters with the earlier versions that meant I needed to rethink the whole thing last minute), so I'm hoping it will be okay! I'll hopefully get to test it in the hotel pool depending on how late we get to Brisbane today. Fingers crossed!

[Mermaid Kelda]

Ah, I see. Well we can go on the water taxi if you'd prefer, it's $20 adult or $15 student. I don't mind paying a little extra to get there a little quicker.
Crossing my fins for your monofin!

[Mer-Crazy]

I'm fine with whatever you guys want :) Good luck with your fin Kate!

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

I think I'd prefer a bit more swim time, so I'm fine with paying a bit extra too so we get there quicker. What time do you think we should go for? I'm still fine for 9:55am, is that okay for you guys since you have to drive a lot further?

[Mer-Crazy]

Well I'm still hoping to get my camera gear, but I think if I leave by about 7:30 I should get to Kelda's around 9, then we'd have to catch the train to Cleavland and I'm not sure how long that takes.

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Whereabouts in Brisbane will you be before you catch the train? We will be in Windsor, so if you're not too far away, we can pick you up :)

[Mer-Crazy]

Dutton Park (sorry I have no clue where stuff is in Brisbane haha)

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

That's on the way to the ferry for us, so we can give you both a lift if you like?

[Mer-Crazy]

As long as it's okay with Kelda I don't mind :)

[Mer-Crazy]

Oh my gosh! I also just realised, depending on whether we can see the mainland from the island or not this may be a great chance to get some 'sunset over the ocean' photos!

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Maybe! I'd check when the last bus and ferries leave though, don't want to get stuck!

[Mermaid Kelda]

Kate that would be SO helpful if you could pick us up! I'll pm you my address :)

[Merman Jamie]

Kelda, Leina and Jamie, can you still make it?

yep. ill be there.

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Okay cool!
Yay Jamie! Looking forward to meeting you!

[Mer-Crazy]

yep. ill be there.
Don't suppose you wanna bring your car haha

But seriously though are you gonna be able to swim this time? Are you bringing your camera?

Also since there are already gonna be a camera or 2 there I won't worry about waiting for my camera stuff tomorrow and just bring my underwater one :)

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Whoo, the franken-monofin works! First thing I did at the hotel was try it in the pool :p

[Mermaid Kelda]

Glad to hear it! :D

[Merman Jamie]

Don't suppose you wanna bring your car haha

But seriously though are you gonna be able to swim this time? Are you bringing your camera?

Also since there are already gonna be a camera or 2 there I won't worry about waiting for my camera stuff tomorrow and just bring my underwater one :)

I will have my fins with me. I plan on swimming (haven't had a chance to swim with fin yet since before I hurt my foot). I will be bringing my camera. I will have my car there but it is a really small car so don't know how comfortable it would be with 5 people in it so wasn't planning on bringing it across.

[Merman Jamie]

Whoo, the franken-monofin works! First thing I did at the hotel was try it in the pool :p

Awesome

[Mer-Crazy]

So I put some of the footage together and put some music to it, it won't win any awards but it's still nice, it's uploading now and I'll post a link when it's finished :) There's also a longer version that uses pretty much all the good/ usable footage that I'll put up later today or tomorrow depending on the unload times.

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Yay! I can't wait to see it :)

[Mer-Crazy]

Here's the short one:

https://youtu.be/Y2dubXQhpYg

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Ooh great job! It looks fantastic :)

[Luna Dreamtide]

That looks greats. I so wish I could have come... But maybe the next time you do one. I'll living much closer to Brisbane next year. Where was that?

[Merman Jamie]

That looks greats. I so wish I could have come... But maybe the next time you do one. I'll living much closer to Brisbane next year. Where was that?

that was at south bank at the artificial beach there

[Mermaid Kelda]

Very cute! :) Next time I'll wear my full silicone instead of stealing yours, haha.

[Luna Dreamtide]

that was at south bank at the artificial beach there
Thought so. I've only swam there once. Does the water sting your eyes much or is it not too bad?

[Mermaid Kelda]

I didn't find it too bad - depends somewhat on when you go. If you go on a weekend when there are tonnes of people, the sand gets kicked up and it's murkier. It was a quiet day when we went, and the pH seems fairly balanced. I swallowed water a bunch of times and it's not noticeably chlorinated.

[Elle]

wow I wish I had logged on more recently and known about this :( But I was up on the sunshine coast on that day for my anniversary

[Merman Jamie]

wow I wish I had logged on more recently and known about this :( But I was up on the sunshine coast on that day for my anniversary

There is always next time.

[Mermaid Kelda]

Elle! When I've finished uni for the semester (21st of next month) I'd be happy to go out to South Bank to meet you :) maybe Jamie and Mer-Crazy can come up too.

[Mer-Crazy]

I'll be up there around that time for my birthday anyway so it wouldn't be too hard to pack my tail :)

[Merman Jamie]

I am up for that as long as I am not working.

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

It was great fun!
Elle, maybe next time! I may be over again next year, we shall see! :)

[Luna Dreamtide]

Elle! When I've finished uni for the semester (21st of next month) I'd be happy to go out to South Bank to meet you :) maybe Jamie and Mer-Crazy can come up too.
Ooh more meet ups! When :D
I'm actually picking up a friend in Brisbane early January and we will be spending the day is Brissy. She's a mermaid from up North. Any chance of getting together for a swim around then?

[Mermaid Kelda]

I'll be on uni holidays then, so yes, absolutely! I'd love to meet both of you!

[Merman Jamie]

January should be able to do pretty easily.

[Mermaid_Sarina]

Hey guys! I'm the friend Leina mentioned. I'm visiting her in January so I'd love to meet up. The only issue is I can't bring my monofin due to trying to get cheap flights. But yeah I'm still keen anyway! :)

[Mermaid Kelda]

What's your shoe size Sarina? I'm sure we can bring an extra monofin :)

[Merman Jamie]

I can always bring my sisters monofin along. She has size 7.5 feet and her fin will fit size 7.5-9 I think.

[Mermaid_Sarina]

Hi Kelda!

I'm an adult 9-10 and I use the large mahina merfin if that helps with sizing :) Thanks heaps for offering! Its so lovely!

Also I was just chatting to Leina and it would be good for us if we could meet up on Monday Janurary 11th at 3:00.
i'm getting in at 10:00 that morning and we're driving back to Bundaberg after. :) Hopefully that works?

[Mer-Crazy]

I have a medium sized finis trainer 1 I can brig along, may fit you, it fits my size 9 feet with booties. I usually work on Mondays, but I can easily ask for it off since there's so much notice :)

[Mermaid Kelda]

That sounds fine to me! I won't know for sure until a bit closer to the date, but so far I think it should work for me.

[Mermaid_Sarina]

I have a medium sized finis trainer 1 I can brig along, may fit you, it fits my size 9 feet with booties. I usually work on Mondays, but I can easily ask for it off since there's so much notice :)

That would be perfect, thanks for the offer Mer Crazy :D

[Elle]

Elle! When I've finished uni for the semester (21st of next month) I'd be happy to go out to South Bank to meet you :) maybe Jamie and Mer-Crazy can come up too.
Unfortunately I'll be on placement for Uni myself :(