So, I’ve forgotten how to blog. So, another mammoth catchup session?
Maroochydore – or Maroochybore? It weren’t that exciting. Went to the Eumundi markets where I could have spent loads of money, had I not already spent it in Noosa a few days before. Went to the beach which was too hot to walk on. Swung in a hammock.
Next stop was Brisbane. Ah, Brisbane. On the bus I heard Billy Idol’s ‘Hot in the City’, and it was kinda hot in Brisbane. Bumped into Eric from Holland in the corridor in the hostel and made plans to go to the pub and visit a brewery the next day. Ah the benefits of hindsight… waking up at midday with a headache is not the best state to be in for a brewery tour and 4 free beers at 4pm… Anyways, off to the Castlemaine XXXX brewery we went. I wouldn’t give a XXXX for it though… bleurgh, horrible, tasteless brew. What more of Brisbane. To the Botanical Gardens and to the market. Oh, and a day trip to North Stradbroke Island – the world’s second largest sand island – which was lovely! I had a swim in the clear crystal blue sea… amazing!
From Brisbane, bypassing Surfers Paradise, to Coolangatta, which sits on the border between Queensland and New South Wales. Which means the clocks change if you wander too far south. Luckily I managed to stay north of the border and away from any confusion during my time there. More beach, more swimming in the sea. Fantastic beach, but it was a really grotty hostel, and there was no natural food to be found for miles, so I ended up with a beef soup and a snack-pack of cheese and biscuits for tea.
Byron Bay was up next. A really lovely place, but just jam-packed full of tourists. Some of them were familiar though! Like Rachel I had met in Mission Beach, Roisin I had met in Noosa, Eric I had met in Brisbane and Florian I had met in Hervey Bay. Strange to wander down a street in a foreign land and bump into familiar faces! Apart from the people, I also spent time with dolphins in Byron Bay, on a sea kayaking trip. Very much to be recommended, apart from the seasick girl I had to share the kayak with, and the falling in the sea when riding the tiny waves back to the beach.
Next stop, Lennox Head. The hostel formed a triangle with the sea and the tea tree Lake Ainsworth. Add in the very friendly and helpful pharmacist and you make a nice pointy arrow. Picture this… me in night-vision goggles on a ‘Vision Walk’ (a pitch black bush walk to spot the creatures of the night!).
Yamba! Totally lovely hostel, totally lovely little place, shame about the regulars in the hostel who are not the most open and welcoming bunch in Australian hostels (we’ll get to them soon though). Took Shane’s ten buck tour, which involved snake fighting, piranha feeding, cliff jumping, and all manner of tall tales. A great tour, and super-good value for money! Plus, beach, swim in sea, pelicans… yup, pelicans!
Coffs Harbour, land of beach, swimming in sea, erm, and that’s about it.
Bellingen, Bellingen, I love you Bellingen. Totally lovely place, lovely people. They say it is what Byron Bay used to be like without the tourists. Well, I flippin loved it. Didn’t do a lot, but then it is possible to do nothing and not feel the slightest bit guilty there. Although I did find the time to eat the most amazing chocolate ice cream, whip everyone’s *sses at pool, read a fine book, detox at a far infrared sauna, make couscous and haloumi summer salad twice, drink goon for the first time, rattle on an escaped mini-punk-chicken, and generally chill out so much I didn’t want to leave. I did though and on to…
Port Macquarie, with the worst YHA hostel in the world ever. I had to upgrade to a family unit, the dorm was soooo bad. Never go there, please, ever. All the healing effects of Bellingen lost in one fell swoop… how horrible.
Laurieton saw me stay with my old penpal Elayine, in her house of children, cats, dogs, fish and husband. A jolly nice stay it was too.
Newcastle next. Might save it for next time, whenever that might be!
Recent Comments