I'm a learer too, I've picked up 2 Bic Calypso's (1990ish) which has been really good to learn on. It's quite stable and not the heaviest board I've picked up (15kg), got it for $30 at a garage sale - full rig but nothing matched

, but I've seen some nicer ones and picked up a good set for a couple of hundred (the extra bits made the 30buck board a goer). My boyfriend is on the good set and got the harness 'cos it doesn't fit me, and he gets pretty good speed on it. We had to go to the Sunshine Coast to get the good set, there are alot of good rigs out that way if you don't mind the drive.
Also talk to Simon Fyfe at Board Crazy in Woolloongabba (Brisi), he has been very helpful and if you're stuck for lessons on the Coast, he does them up at Manly at a good price.
I've been practiceing off the broadwater carpark... I don't want to get in the way of the people at the train, but once I have a bit more confidence, I'm there! ... and maybe when I have a cooler board or a two piece mast (don't follow my lead, I'm a bit shy

).