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Published: August 8th 2010
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After dragging ourselves away from Sydney we caught a short flight up the coast to Ballina and Byron Bay. With Byron's relaxed surfy style, a bit of art here and there, and some live music most nights we got to like it very much. We stayed 5 days and with better weather we may have looked to get a longer let. The point break (get me) at the far end of Byron's main beach is a cracker.
So Louise got busy on the boogie board and I managed to catch a few decent waves without getting in the way of too many locals, 'Look left!' one shouted at me as I accidently dropped in on her wave. What we loved most about the Byron Surf was that people from all walks were enjoying the surf. And there was a community feel in the water, most people knew each other and were catching up whilst sharing waves and whooping and encouraging each other along.
On the third day we took the walk to Cape Byron, Australia's most easterly point, and then onto the Lighthouse. Pausing at the outlook to the main beach as well as surfers we spotted a couple
of dolphins catching waves. And it was whale watching season with the humpbacks migrating north along the east coast and we were lucky enough to catch a few glimpses in the distance. On the way back we watched a wallaby munching it's way through the undergrowth and later as the sun dropped out of the sky at one end of the beach the moon came up at the other and the sunset cast colours across the sky. Kite surfers traced arcs across the shallows in the fading light and back at the hostel we watched as the flying foxes came out and flapped low across the rooftops. Then to the beach front for live music, dancing, and a few too many handles of beer. Blissful days in Byron Bay.
In Byron We bought a Greyhound flexi pass ticket to get us the rest of the way to Cairns with unlimited stops on the way. Angie and John back in NZ had organised us to stay with Angie's sister Shelly and her husband Ian in Brisbane and, although we had never met them, they were lovely enough to put us up. Ian even picked us up from the Bus station.
We stayed for 3 nights and were treated to some great hospitality, tasty food, and very good wine. During the day Louise and I had a good look around Brisbane. We liked the South Bank with it's Theatre, Library and Museums. The Gallery of Modern Art or GoMA had some cool displays especially an exhibition called 'Unnerved'.
On the river the Fast Cat zigzags it's way along and actually forms part of the Brisbane commute (how cool to get a catamaran to work!) but makes just as good a cruise up and down for visitors. And although inland, Brisbane has got a beach, a manmade pool also on the south bank but it was a bit too cold for a dip.'If there's anyone swimming in there at this time of year' said Ian, 'they'll be Poms or South Australians'.
Next stop Noosa which is pretty but knows it a bit. It's also actually 3 separate towns Noosaville, Noosa Heads and Noosa Junction that are a little bit too far apart to walk between. You have to chose to stay in one and then take the courtesy buses laid on by your hostal between them. We stayed in
Noosaville, wooed by the promise of a free hot breakfast, but it didn't really suit us and, with the weather not great, we probably didn't get the best out of Noosa.
The National park though made for a great walk and it was there that we saw our first Koala. As we rounded a corner through the forest there he/she was (let's say it was a girl), making her way slowly across the path. We stopped and stood quietly watching as she climbed a tree and then turned to give us a look. I was so gobsmacked it was a few moments before I remembered the camera.
The other reason to thank Noosa is for the free courtesy bus to Australia Zoo, home of the late great Steve Irwin and a must do if you ask around. Some may question Australia Zoo's policy of allowing visitors to get so close to the animals (you can touch the kangaroos, wallabies and koalas) but there's no denying it pulls in the crowds and they do great conservation work with the money they get on the door. And the Zoo is well laid out, informative, and fun to visit. Louise loved
the Red Pandas. Wombats for me.
The main draw though is the 'Crocoseum' and despite our reservations (they lay it on a bit thick) it was an amazing show. How they have managed to get fully grown crocodiles to respond with the consistency on which they can base a show I really don't know, but they do, and it's definitely worth seeing. And the family were all there, Steve's wife Terri, daughter Bindi, son Robert and best mate Wes. The crocodile 'Graham' and Wes apparently had previous. As Terri explained to the crowd, 'Graham once left 7 nasty holes in Wes's backside. Fortunately 6 of them healed up fine'.
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Sandra
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Is that a real crocodile?
Hey Jonty, Your blog is amazing....such beautiful pictures! I am hoping this isn't a real crocodile...if so, heavily sedated...:) Enjoy the rest of your trip and see you both soon. xx Sandra