Great Ocean Food: Memorable snapper drowns out the rain

We visited Noosa for a few days last year on what was meant to be a quick break in the sunshine.

While there, it rained cats and dogs four days straight. Not like it rains here, but real rain; south-east-Queensland style. I had to pull off the road a couple of times when driving because I couldn’t see anything in front of me. The accumulated total for the short time we were there was over three hundred millimetres, or 12 inches, of rain!

Needless to say, there was no laying on the beach or frolicking outdoors. Our solution was to read, relax and eat!

We were not the only holidaymakers with this idea. On the first night, we tried to make a reservation at no less than six restaurants, all of which were fully booked.

It seems Noosa has become a wedding destination with three of the places we called holding nuptials that night. This I understand, as usually the weather is stunning and the chic restaurants make an ideal setting for wedding celebrations.

My wife did feel for a wedding party who had chosen a slightly more unconventional place for their wedding and reception. No doubt with some attachment to the area, they chose to be married on the beach.

This is not unusual, but when making the choice I wonder if the bride and groom imagined it would rain and rain heavily all day? The wedding party and guests, who numbered approximately 50, had to hike one kilometre into the national park carrying chairs, food and wine to a fairly secluded beach.

No doubt they had pictured and idyllic stroll taking in all that nature has to offer; the beautiful birdlife, dolphins and whales cavorting in the jewel-like sea and maybe even the sighting of a koala perched high in the canopy of an ancient gumtree.

The reality was a nightmare dash along a treacherous, sodden and at times downright dangerous rocky track through torrential and blinding rain.

My wife was returning from a walk and spotted the party coming her way. Feeling empathy for the situation in which the poor souls found themselves, she imagined they were at the stage of simply laughing and making the most of a pretty awful predicament.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

My wife’s wry smile was met with distraught and angry expressions; they were humourless and baying for blood.

Everyone will have their own memories of the week, but all will definitely remember the persistent rain. I will not forget the snapper I had at restaurant Locale.