Our Family Pact

 

Holiday Apartment Review

“Access Mudjimba Shores”

My family and I have developed a pact; “Spend at least 3 nights away from home at least every 3 months.” This doesn’t seem like much but, for a family affected by disability, it’s a reasonable goal to have. I am a quadriplegic, completely reliant upon my trusty wheelchair and personal care for, well, my personal care! I can tell you though, I enjoy a break from the daily grind just as much as my beautiful wife and two sons (aged 5 and 1). So our little (and not so little) holidays are important. Not only for our own mental health and break in routine but to give our boys opportunities to explore and grow curious of the world around them.

My wife and I agree that our favourite memories as kids were of our family holidays; exploring new places and returning to our old favourites. So, naturally, as a young family, we want to create those same memories for our own children.

As a family affected by disability though, it is more than frustrating when our holiday destinations are governed firstly by their accessibility, rather than the destinations themselves. 

Living in Brisbane, we love the Sunshine Coast as a weekend getaway. Unlike the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast has a relaxed, “sleepy” vibe. It’s only a short drive North (1.5hrs), yet the hustle and bustle of Brisbane feels a million miles away. Our choice for accessible accommodation on the Sunshine Coast however is limited. High-end resorts are expensive and not always as “accessible” as promised and the caravan parks and cabins just don’t cut it in terms of space and amenities.

This is why it was very refreshing to have the opportunity last weekend to spend 3 nights at Access Mudjimba Shores, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Access Mudjimba Shores is a newly renovated one-bedroom holiday apartment, built with access for people with disability at the forefront of their minds. With a background in working with people with disability it’s obvious that owner, Lea, has put a lot of thought into creating a seamless holiday experience for those with additional access requirements. From the level access to the ‘front’ door, to the ever-important accessible bathroom, everything just works.

We arrived just after lunchtime on Friday and were able to park inside the gates, just meters from the side entry gate to the apartment. Lee greeted us in the car park and handed over the keys. From then until lunchtime Monday, “the room was ours.”

The apartment is located on the ground floor, at the back of a duplex dwelling, so it doesn’t have water views or anything like that but, being immediately across the road from the beach, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore definitely gives you that “holiday feel.”

As we arrived at the door to the apartment, I smiled to myself – wide doorway, D-shaped handle… “I can use this door!” Entering the apartment, the living area was tight but with sufficient circulation space. The fold-out table is at an accessible height and folds down against the wall to create more space when not in use. It also has a new fold-out sofa bed for Personal Support Workers or children to sleep (however would need to be folded away each day to enable moving about the apartment). The kitchenette doesn’t provide under-bench clearance but does provide all of the necessities – microwave at an accessible height, kettle, toaster, cutlery and crockery. It’s what you’d expect from a standard holiday apartment, but the bowl of fresh mandarins shows that the owner wants to make you feel at home.

Where the apartment really shines though is in the most important rooms in any accessible apartment; the bedroom and bathroom. Both rooms have ample space for wheelchair, hoist, and shower commode.

The bedroom features a remote controlled, fully adjustable, queen-size hi-lo bed, complete with pressure-care (similar to my old ‘Vaperm’) mattress. And, while the bed is great, our biggest “tick” for the bedroom was the storage space for your luggage – something that most holiday apartments lack. The spare blankets came in handy on the cool winter nights and, should the unfortunate bowel/bladder accident occur, the spare sheets and pillows in the cupboard would come in handy.

Speaking of going to the bathroom, the bathroom at Access Mudjimba Shores is actually the highlight of the apartment. The newly designed, open plan bathroom is one of the biggest I’ve ever used. I didn’t run the measuring tape on it but it’s about the size of our main bedroom at home. The open shower has no lips, no screens, just a shower curtain should you choose to use it. The toilet has accessible features such as grab rails and backrest. 

If I put my Access Consultant hat on, the grab rails in the shower wouldn’t meet Australian Standards but they’re present and thought about. The towel rail impedes the circulation space in front of the washbasin and the bench-top doesn’t quite provide the appropriate under bench clearance. A slight threshold ramp into the bathroom was inconvenient but manageable. If you can live with these minor faults, it’s a seriously awesome bathroom. 

The bathroom also incorporates a washing machine and laundry tub, which came in super-handy when washing and sterilising my overnight drainage bottle, bowel and bladder equipment. The washing machine, clothesline and clothes horse were also put to use, as my wife stayed on top of the boy’s washing.

Outside, Mudjimba was a pleasantly modern and surprisingly “hip” little beach suburb, conveniently located just 5 minute drive from the Sunshine Coast airport. Just two-doors up from our apartment we discovered a quaint strip of restaurants, cafes, and a bar. Our three-night stay was perfect for sampling the local restaurants; Pizza, Fish and Chips and “High Tide” (which is very popular for good reason). There’s also a breakfast/brunch/lunch café that closes after the lunch shift and an Indian restaurant that opens its doors for dinner (a word of warning: local reviews don’t rate the Indian restaurant very highly). 

We definitely recommend a cocktail and afternoon nibbles at High Tide and, next morning, a coffee and cronut from The Island Surf and Espresso. Tick those off your list and you will be well on your way to having enjoyed a good holiday! 

Immediately across the road from your accommodation and adjacent eateries is the Mudjimba Surf Club and parkland. The park is great for entertaining children with an impressive playground but the highlight is the beach. There is a short boardwalk to a viewing deck that overlooks Mudjimba Beach, Old Woman Island just offshore, and north to Point Arkwright. You could literally spend your whole day on that deck, watching the surfers and chatting to the locals who are all up for a story.

For those that want to get their toes wet and sandy, the Mudjimba Surf Club has two beach wheelchairs available for use. Simply check-in with the lifeguard on duty and they’ll arrange for them to be available.

All-in-all, Access Mudjimba Shores was a pleasant, quaint getaway that lived up to its promises of an accessible holiday destination. 

For more information regarding Access Mudjimba Shores, visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/accessmudjimbashores/ and chat with Lee about booking your next three-night getaway.



Dane Cross

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