Byron. xxxxxxx

Friday 6th August

Byron Bay

There are so many things that spring to mind when I hear the words Byron Bay. Art, Pies, Cookies, hippies, water, paradise…And it was all that and more. This place definitely had it going on. From the moment we arrived we were flabbergasted by the pure beauty of the place. The bays there were just exquisite.

It was the middle of winter and you wouldn't have known it as we made our way up to the lighthouse where there is a lookout that you can see over the whole bay. On our way down we noticed a huge pod of dolphins down below, we stood and watched on awe as the flipped and played and leaped through the waves, it was fantastic to see!!!

Checking out a few surfing spots for tomorrow we couldn't help but notice all the beautiful houses there, all propped up on the hills looking out over the water, what do these people do for a living!!!???

Because we were in Byron we decided to do the right thing and eat a Byron Bay Gourmet Pie, I had vegetarian Mexican and Ben had Spinach and Pesto, YUMMO!!!! Then we went and bought a cookie followed by a trip to The Byron Bay Hotel where we drank our newly found favourite beer Stone and Wood while watching some whales play out on the water. Bliss!

After this we made our way down to the beach and shared a "special" cigarette ( we were in Byron after all!) and a bag of rice seawed crisps and watched the longboarders for ages as the sun went down, very entertaining!!!

It was a veggie curry for dinner and a movie in the Spider tent before nodding off to dreamland. Thank you Byron our life is better for knowing you. xxx

Gold Coast

Surfers Paradise/ Burliegh Heads/ Coolongatta

Wednesday/Thursday 4th/5th August

Driving out of Brisbane we were so glad to have stayed the extra night and hung out with our new and old friends. But Ben's eyes were bulging out of his head and he was talking even faster than usual…we were approaching Surfers Paradise.

All these years Ben had spent reading and watching video's about these places that we were about to visit. I don't think it felt real to him. The next few days were about him and surfing, which I was stoked about as I never complain about lying on a beach!! Also, I'd been told that the vintage and secondhand stores up this way were out of this world.

The first place we stopped for Ben to surf was Burliegh Heads, our good friend Lee Martin was from there and had lived there for years. He had told Ben so much about the place so the expectations were high. We pulled up in the car park and I went for a run. Ben went surfing, and had a good one. The conditions were awesome and the waves were pumping out like a machine. Not too overcrowded either which was good.

After surfing for a while Ben came back and met me on the beach and we went for a walk. Jumping back in the car we headed further around the coast through Kirra to Coolongatta where we stopped for lunch. We also went to the Coolongatta vintage and Antiques Centre where I had a nervous breakdown. Soooooo much stuff and all of it good. I wish I had a house, and some extra cash….it was almost too frustrating to bare!!!!

Leaving Coolongatta empty handed we went searching for more surf for Ben. Heading through Tweed Heads we arrived at Duranbah, a little bay that was renowned for good surf and also the home of world champion Mick Fanning. There were heaps of locals and the conditions had changed causing the waves to be a bit mushy, nevertheless Ben was stoked.

Making our way back to a camp spot at Boyd's Bay, we were buggered! It was yet again another early night as it was gonna be another big day on the Gold Coast tomorrow.

In the morning the wind had changed and it was little cloudy, we headed back to Duranhbah and then back to Burliegh to see what the waves were like there. This spot was just sooooo beautiful with a little grassy hill to sit on and watch all the surfers. Ben really loved this wave and even though it was pretty small he headed out. Mixing it with the local long boarders and dolphins he had a really great morning, and the thought of work and bills seemed light years away!!!

After another afternoon surf and a quick stock up on food etc, we went back to camp and settled in for the evening. What a special place this was, even though we couldn't stay for long we knew we would be back, there's plenty of time.

Brisbane

Tuesday 3rd August

Waking up early Ben drove us to Naomi's work. A cafe named Flamingo in The Valley. This place was awesome and everything I love about small cafes, right down to the gorgeous little salt 'n' pepper shakers, so cute!!! After a fanbloodytastic breakfast we headed down to the river where we caught the City Ferry into town.

After holding the whole ferry up because we didn't have the right change we were on our way. Brisbane is a pretty city revolving hugely around its beautiful waterways. After about a 15 minute boat ride we jumped off and started walking through the city. We walked and walked and looked and walked and looked and looked and walked some more until it was time to meet up with our lovely friend from Perth, Josh.

We met Josh in one of the city's malls and had a few drinks. It was so good to catch up with him and he was full of knowledge about the place. Including the fact that Byron Bay was only 2 hours away! After downing our drinks Josh had to get back to work so he showed us the way to the train station where we caught the train back to The Valley to meet up with another friend, Geoff.

Geoff took us to a local pub where we drank some more before heading to dinner at one of the local vietnamese restaurants. On the way Ben and I realised we hadn't yet tried one of QLD's delicacies, XXXX Beer. So on the way we picked up a long neck to have with dinner. How fancy! heheh! Dinner was great and after gobbling down our salt and pepper tofu we headed to The Valley's Ricks Bar. This place was awesome, and it was really nice to sit out in the back beer garden and have a yarn. Ben even met one of his all-time hero's "Macca", longtime guitarist and singer from The Onya's. Not bad for a Tuesday night out in Brissy!

Stumbling back to a taxi we shared a ride with our new friend Redbeard back to his place. All in all a sik night out had by all! x

Australia Zoo and Brisbane.

Australia Zoo!!

Monday 2nd August

Today we were off to Australia Zoo! I was VERY excited to hang out with some animals and hopefully get up close with them!!

After getting lost a few times we finally found Steve Irwin Drive and found the zoo!! It was slapped together peanut butter sandwiches outta the back of the car for lunch and into the zoo we go!!!

Making our way through the reptile sanctuary and then into the tropical bird enclosure you start to see why this zoo is so renowned. Not only is it because of the hype surrounding the Irwin Family, but the actual enclosures are incredible. Throughout the day we saw every single animal in every enclosure without feeling like we were intruding in on them. We hung out with kangaroos, I patted a koala and we even fed the elephants! Ben and I also caught one of the spectacular 'Wildlife Warrior' shows in the big 'Crocoseum', it was unreal! They had all different beautiful native Cockatoos and tropical birds flying around, some amazing sea snakes and of course a massive crock! I was stoked!!!

On our way out of the zoo we were lucky enough to visit the wildlife hospital and see where all the sick and injured wildlife is brought to from the area. The people there do a wonderful 'thankless' job.

So after a totally awesome successful day at the zoo we went on our way to Brisbane where we were staying with our friends Ben and Naomi!! They live just out of Fortitude Valley known fondly by the locals as just "The Valley". Naomi and Ben's house was rad, with a collectables collection to put Chapel St Bazaar to shame!!

Naomi made and awesome vegan dinner for us, their flatmate 'Redbeard' and Dan. It was so nice to be in a warm house eating around a table and talking to people!!!

Ben even cracked open his limited edition Bundaberg Rum!!! Hooraaay!

So after a big day at the zoo and a much deserved shower we hit the hay. Brisbane was waiting for us in the morning!!! xxx