Blogs from Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia, Oceania - page 8

3/3 We were up early to check out of our hotel to get our Greyhound bus at 9am to Byron Bay (via Brisbane!) We were woken up very early by someone setting the smoke alarm off at the hotel by burning some toast! We got a taxi to the bus stop, where there were already quite a few people waiting. We got ready to get on the bus as it pulled in, as on the last bus we ended up on the very back seat, which was extremely hot, and next to the toilet! We got on and got good seats this time and headed off. We stopped at the same services as on the way, and got ourselves a drink. We arrived at Brisbane at 2pm, where we had a 2 hour wait until our ... read more

Just over two weeks filling ourselves with the vibrant, breathable energy of both Melbourne and Sydney had left all five of us truly looking forward to the adventure that Australia would be sure to bring. Indeed, the three weeks that followed passed us by at an unnerving speed as we made the shorter, more frequent Greyhound journeys between Byron Bay, Surfers Paradise, Brisbane and Noosa, sampling the delights of the East Coast and the tourist sculpted element of Australia that came with it. Byron Bay was our first stop on the way up from Sydney and with surprising first impressions being something we were well and truly versed in by now, we all agreed that it was not what we had expected at all. If travelling has taught me any small morsel of wisdom by which ... read more

I'm in Newcastle, Get Me Out of Here... - On our way from Sydney to Byron Bay we decided to pit stop for a day in Newcastle... Worst mistake ever! - In what appeared to be a ghost town there was literally no one around, nothing to see or do and no restaurants or cafes to speak of! - Our Sunday consisted of: * Traipsing round in the drizzle with heavy backpacks finding refuge in the local supermarket to purchase and eat our picnic... We made it last! Byron Bay Renowned for housing Australia's best beaches Byron was swarming with backpackers all year round completely outnumbering the locals. img=http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b534/Rachel_1988/5E65382C-F7DF-443C-B363-F002B806E7B1-1019-000001D6F265EC79.jpg With a relaxed, hippy atmosphere and the option to go "get happy" in Nimbin you can't help but love the sound of the loc... read more

I was picked up at 8am, the car already loaded with boards, tent, sleeping bags and very importantly….the esky (cool box). We stopped at Rainbow beach for a quick surf. When we got in the waves were a little larger and messier than it looked from the car, and it took a while for us to get out back (behind where the waves brake), so I got battered by the breaking waves for a short while, but soon made it out. I thought I would be nervous as it has been a few years and the standard of surfing is just a different level to home, but I wasn’t. It certainly helped to have people I knew and who can surf around me though! After a few years and a couple of good waves later we ... read more

Friday night I walked to a small market that was on close to the hostel. A hippy style handicraft market selling everything from gemstone necklaces to natural soap and chocolate mousse. there was also a guy playing guitar, who was really good. I saw some sights whilst waiting to speak to Maher, not dissimilar to back home in the UK; young girls in skimpy outfits and both young guys and girls extremely drunk. Then as I got back to the hostel at around half 12, I found that 3 of the 7 lads were back; one of which was being sick in the utility sink! Just what I expected from them! The room was so hot. We have a tiny fan that just circulates warm air! There are only 3 of us in the room now ... read more