UnderWater World, QUEENSLAND
Airing Date: Aug 4th, 2003
If you've driven an hour up from Brisbane and you've hit sandy shores, a bustling esplanade and great accommodation, you've made it to Mooloolaba! Home to Queensland's cleanest beach of 2002, Mooloolaba epitomises everything that is sunshine coast - blue skies, salty breezes and loads of beachside shops.
The town's newly built Esplanade now offers people a wide range of shops and dining options. There's about a 100 eateries here, including Fisheries on the Spit. This fish 'n chips joint is a bit of the old Mooloolaba, but its still good enough to be voted fish and chip shop best in Queensland.
After tucking into some food on the beachfront, head to the UnderWater World for a taste of life under the sea. This place is huge. It has an 80 metre moving walkway in a 2.2 million litre tank of natural seawater, full of fish. There are also colourful Great Barrier Reef displays, a 400-seat stadium for daily seal shows and screening of the 'Theatre of the Sea' documentary.
UnderWater World biggest drawcard is the shark dive, and you don't even need to be certified diver to give it a go. Just imagine the adrenalin rush you'll feel as you're submersed in a tank swarming with a 100 sharks, giant rays and tropical fish. Here you can get really close to these awesome and scary-looking creatures.
During the dive you'll get to meet Big Mama, the biggest shark at UnderWater World. She's a Grey Nurse and, at just over 3m long, she weighs about 180 to 200 kgs. She can be identified by her size, as well as by the huge chunk that's missing from her cordal fin.
For accommodation at Mooloolaba, head to Sirocco Resort Apartments. You have a choice of one, two, three or five bedroom apartments. Each apartment features a spa bath, kitchen and a balcony with gorgeous views of the glistening Pacific.
The facts:
Entry into the UnderWater World's normally costs $22.50 for adults and $13 for kids, but the first 300 callers will get two tickets for the price of one. Shark dives cost from $95 per person.
UnderWater World
Tel: 07 5444 8488
Accommodation at Sirocco Resort Apartments in Mooloolaba normally costs $870 for 3 nights in a 2 bedroom apartment, but the first 50 callers will pay just $400.
Sirocco Resort Apartments
Tel: 1 300 553 800
Sunshine Coast Booking Centre
Tel: 1300 553 800
Maroochy Tourism
