Maroochydore Warnings and Dangers

See my VT Queensland Travel page for information on the paralysis tick...Just scroll down in the Warning and Dangers section with this link..

Australia is home of arguably the most deadly animal in the world, the Box Jellyfish. Its venom is the most toxic in the animal kingdom. As a result of this one hears and reads much about these jellyfish and its cousin the deadly irukandji jellyfish.
Did you know that on surfing beaches in Sub Tropical & Temperate Areas a less deadly jellyfish causes pain to thousands of swimmers each year.????
The Bluebottle jellyfish arrives with Northerly and Easterly winds and can be seen washed up on beaches. The buoyant body of the stinger acts as a sail and is driven by the wind. The blue tentacle or tentacles can be a metre or more long and wrapped around delicate parts of the human body will cause extreme pain.
Life Savers on patrolled beaches will often close the beach if there are a lot of bluebottles in the water. However, that doesn't prevent people swimming and wading in water outside the patrolled area from being stung.

Please be aware of the possibility of having your day ruined by a nasty painful sting if you ignore the warnings.

Treatment for stings

1 more image

Remember if you are a stranger to our beaches you will not be able "to read the tide".
Always swim on patrolled beaches and between the flags. Look at the signs to tell what the flags mean.
There are rips and rogue waves. If you are caught in a rip do not struggle but hold your arm up high so the lifesavers know you need help.
If you swim in areas where the board riders are you may be knocked out by an incoming board rider. Not a good idea.

Sharks are an ever present danger even with the safety net.

We have some unpleasant jelly fish too esp further north.

Remember too if you are foolhardy you put other lives at risk especially those who come to help you.

When you scramble over the rocks along the coast you will come across some beautiful rock pools. But beware. You may see a blue ringed octupus, and as it looks so beautiful be tempted to pick it up.
"The octopus bites prey with its jaws, then injects a potent venomous saliva into the bite wound. This venom contains tetrodotoxin, one of the most potent neurotoxins known. Human death from heart and respiratory failure can occur within minutes. However, this non-aggressive octopus only bites people in self-defense."

First Aid InformationBlue-Ringed Octopus
Phone or send for medical assistance.

Reassure the patient and encourage them to remain calm and still.

Pressure-immobilisation first aid is recommended for blue-ringed octopus envenomation.

The patient may be completely paralysed and unable to respond, sometimes with fixed dilated pupils, but may still be completely aware of their surroundings.

Artificial respiration may be required following a bite.

There is no blue-ringed octopus antivenom available.

PS. Further north in beach ares and near where the rivers enter the sea the dreaded stone fish may await you.

Sorry to say you need to lock your car around Sunshine Coast. Follow all the usual precautions. Some picnic and walking areas are real targets for these thieves...even in the beautiful tranquil areas. In fact there are some real danger spots so keep alert.

But some cars are hard to lock!

At nesting time both magpies and plovers ,which swoop from the skies ,often give the unwary a nasty time.
Not that I blame the birds, the behaviour was caused in the beginning by humans.
I know from personal experience that some magpies never subjected to human aggression do not worry you even if you go near their tree. This does not help if under attack.

These birds are protected but sometimes authorities will move them to another location.

If I remember correctly should the head magpie be shot(highly illegal) the next male will take over and the memory of horrible humans is passed down to subsequent generations.

So in the Spring you may need to keep your sunglasses over your eyes and a hat on your head and be aware.
If you like a game of golf you might find a few birds waiting for you on the course and not the two legged kind.

1 more image

Twin Waters beautiful beach is located within metres from the Novotel Resort.

The beach is patrolled by the Royal Surf Lifesaving Club but please check the conditions before entering the water.

Tje club keeps a blackboard on the beach with useful information on water conditions, local weather, water temperature and even the name of the lifeguard on duty.

Rips and dumping waves are common on this beach and unless you are a strong swimmer you can easily get yourself in deep water.