Blogs from Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia, Oceania - page 7

So today we are off to Brisbane from where we are going to pick up a car. First time we will be under our own steam. Although only for two nights as we drive down to Byron Bay. So after breakfast, another eggs Benedict but still no picture we were off in a transfer bus to the airport. Unfortunately we were first pick up of 12. Now every trip we have been on, one of the transferees have been late. Every time we have waited till they finally arrived, often clutching a bag from the local supermarket or Subways. Not once have they apologised to the waiting passengers on the bus. Call me a grumpy old woman....... So got to Proserpine airport 5 mins late. On the journey we finally saw our first kangaroo or maybe ... read more

The coach journey was soooo long (overnight!) and I forgot my subway to eat on the coach and forgot my water.. Had to pay almost $5 for one at a service station! Also I only had my shorts on and the aircon was on so got really cold - had to wear my hoodie on my legs so I put my legs through the arm holes!! I took my blow up pillow with me too and that burst as we were leaving Sydney so the whole coach journey was a disaster! I finally arrived in Byron bay and the weather was really hot, a girl came to pick me up from the bus stop who seemed really nice and told me all the plans for the evening! I thought things were starting to look good until... ... read more

Sorry I've not blogged in a couple of days.. Have been a bit busy! The overnight bus was as expected, uncomfortable and boring. Managed to get a couple of hours sleep though. Got to Byron Bay at 10am, met a couple of girls my age on the shuttle bus to the hostel. Kim and Natalie. They've been travelling for 14 months so far, travelled India and Thailand, then been working in Melbourne for 9 months. They've got the rest of Oz, new Zealand, India and Thailand (again) to do before they go home. They're lovely and have got me addicted to Aldi... Also met a lady from Brisbane called Kelly. We went for a beer or two and fancy dinner at the restaurant/brewery across from the hostel. Was delicious! She's good company and we're going to ... read more

Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, 28 juillet Depuis la Sunshine Coast, je gagnai Brisbane hier matin. Nichée dans les méandres de la Brisbane river, cette ancienne colonie pénitentiaire (tout comme Sydney et Hobart) offre aujourd’hui un visage moderne et dynamique. Le centre-ville est agréable, aéré et son jardin botanique offre un bel espace de verdure au milieu des tours futuristes. Ma promenade m’a mené ensuite vers le cœur de la «city», le Queen street Mall, large rue piétonnière qui bourdonne d’activité. En bref, j’ai adoré «Brissie» et cette troisième grande ville australienne que j’ai rapidement parcourue me laisse une aussi bonne impression que Sydney et Melbourne. Dans l’après-midi, j’ai pris la route vers la Gold Coast, et là ce fut une toute autre histoire! Surfers Paradise est un clone géant du modèle floridien, avec ses tours ... read more

After waking to a rather grey morning we drove back to Byron Bay to visit the old lighthouse at Cape Byron. We timed it well for the free tour around the lighthouse. The light was built in 1900 following 85 shipwrecks. The light has clearly been successful as there have been no further wrecks. The light house, like all in Australia, is now automated from Canberra but uses rotating bulbs to prevent call outs from Brisbane for repairs. The light is the brightest in the Southern Hemisphere and uses a fresnel lens floating on a liquid mercury bearing. In the past the mercury when heated by the reflecting light on the prisms, caused the lighthouse keepers to go mad from heavy metal poisoning. There is now a mercury monitor which indicates when the lighthouse is too ... read more