I arrived in Byron Bay after about a 4 hour rainy bus ride south of Brisbane. Byron Bay is known for being a hippie enclave. It’s filled with cafes, incense-filled gift shops, places to get massages and alternative (homeopathic) therapies, and of course, surf shops.
In fact, board shorts and surfers are everywhere. By my third day, I gave into an urge to buy a pair of new shorts myself. I don’t even particularly like board shorts. Traditionally, you’re not suppose to wear underwear with them, though you need to when trying them on. Plenty of people wear underwear with them regularly as well, except that defeats the advantage of having a quick-drying piece of clothing (to live in 24/7). I bought my Billabong pair on sale for 40% off. They’re brown and orange which is why they were no doubt on sale. After I got back to the hostel and tried them on without boxers, they practically fell off me – too small. I either need to gain weight, or remain satisfied with my non-flashy blue Gap bathing suit.
It’s in Byron Bay that I booked my 2 BIG activities for Australia – a 2 day/1 night 4×4 tour of World Heritage site Fraser Island, and a 3 day/2 night sail around the Whitsunday Islands (within the Great Barrier Reef). I booked the trips at the first of a series of tour agents along a certain section of street. The guy was charismatic and patient, so I was decisive and went with it. I booked on the slightly higher end of the scale price-wise, however The Lonely Planet seems to suggest you get what you pay for, so why not pay a little extra! You must know that’s how I roll by now. :)
I can’t say I did much in Byron Bay. It rained 2 of the 3 days, and it was quite hot so lounging around, indulging in gelatos managed to fill up my time quite nicely.
My diet on January 5, 2008:
- Breakfast – peanut butter and jelly, granola bar
- Lunch – 2 beers (it was hot out!)
- Snack – Swiss chocolate gelato cone
- Dinner – instant noodles
I did catch two movies in the YHA tv room. “Notting Hill” was a bit silly, though passed the time. More my speed was “Greet Street Hooligans” about English firms associated with football (soccer) teams. Great movie, though rather violent.
Then again, I did bear witness to a street fight between a big, bald English guy and a small, young surfer around midnight as I was walking home from a dance-on-the-tables party bar called Cheeky Monkeys. The young kid was completely drunk, and kept getting up in the face of the other guy despite the fact that he kept getting punched and kicked to the ground. I heard a guy the next day mention all 3 people involved were arrested. I really don’t like fights, and a young girl was knocked over and crying as a result of this one. There were lots of people around, and some guys tried to break up the fight. Cars were honking, trying to call back the cop on a bike who had passed by a few minutes prior. Suddenly the signs up in bars about “no violence” made much more sense to me.
PS – no, I did *not* do the scenic 4km walk to the lighthouse. I’m on a hiatus from scenic walks.
About the Author:
Dave is the author of 1526 posts on Go Backpacking.
Dave (Editor-in-Chief) blogged his way around the world from 2007-2009, and then started Travel Blog Success to teach others how to do the same. When not writing, he can be found salsa dancing in Medellin. Follow him on Twitter @rtwdave or look for him on Google+
The Travel Blog Success community offers practical resources and personal support to help you build a better travel blog.
Whether you treat blogging as a hobby, or dream of building a location independent business, you'll learn what's required to create a name for yourself in the online travel world.
Benefits of Joining:
- Personal support from Dave, including site critiques and tips on negotiating advertising deals.
- Ability to learn from others' mistakes, and save yourself time, energy and money.
- Chance to network with other travel bloggers of all levels, from around the world.
Categories: Australia
35 Comments
this your first time watching GSH? oh my. Come on your IRONS! whufc is my club. lived in the east and and the road right next to green street… aah live matches at the Boleyn.
I think you’ll love fraser island.
Yep, though not having seen a lot of movies means I have something to do with my downtime!
Stay tuned for my Fraser Island recap. :)
Yep, though not having seen a lot of movies means I have something to do with my downtime!
Stay tuned for my Fraser Island recap. :)
Yep, though not having seen a lot of movies means I have something to do with my downtime!
Stay tuned for my Fraser Island recap. :)
Yep, though not having seen a lot of movies means I have something to do with my downtime!
Stay tuned for my Fraser Island recap. :)
this your first time watching GSH? oh my. Come on your IRONS! whufc is my club. lived in the east and and the road right next to green street… aah live matches at the Boleyn.
I think you’ll love fraser island.
Yep, though not having seen a lot of movies means I have something to do with my downtime!
Stay tuned for my Fraser Island recap. :)
Food looks delicious! So does the surf and sand! Quite refreshing with all the snow on the ground here in the winter wonderland of Syracuse, NY! I think I’ll make green eggs for my breakfast tomorrow. :mrgreen:
p.s.- tell all those rowdy crowd pleasers to make love not war!! :cool:
It’s hard to believe it’s January – it’s soooo hot in Australia, and apparently I’m not even in the hot part right now (the south).
It’s hard to believe it’s January – it’s soooo hot in Australia, and apparently I’m not even in the hot part right now (the south).
It’s hard to believe it’s January – it’s soooo hot in Australia, and apparently I’m not even in the hot part right now (the south).
It’s hard to believe it’s January – it’s soooo hot in Australia, and apparently I’m not even in the hot part right now (the south).
Food looks delicious! So does the surf and sand! Quite refreshing with all the snow on the ground here in the winter wonderland of Syracuse, NY! I think I’ll make green eggs for my breakfast tomorrow. :mrgreen:
p.s.- tell all those rowdy crowd pleasers to make love not war!! :cool:
It’s hard to believe it’s January – it’s soooo hot in Australia, and apparently I’m not even in the hot part right now (the south).
hey I left you a dare ;) its a food challenge (not so much a challenge…) on your dare page.
The dare is for a hamburger with the lot + two steamed dim sims…
Whilst not a dare, you need to get a good old meat pie. I miss them so much and since I cant get them here, you can eat one for me ;) Any meat pie from a real bakery or even a plain old four-n-twenty meat pie. ooooooooooooh :/ i miss em.
anyway, I left a note on your dare page.
I noticed – quite detailed! I will be doing some recon on it soon enough. :cool:
I noticed – quite detailed! I will be doing some recon on it soon enough. :cool:
I noticed – quite detailed! I will be doing some recon on it soon enough. :cool:
hey I left you a dare ;) its a food challenge (not so much a challenge…) on your dare page.
The dare is for a hamburger with the lot + two steamed dim sims…
Whilst not a dare, you need to get a good old meat pie. I miss them so much and since I cant get them here, you can eat one for me ;) Any meat pie from a real bakery or even a plain old four-n-twenty meat pie. ooooooooooooh :/ i miss em.
anyway, I left a note on your dare page.
I noticed – quite detailed! I will be doing some recon on it soon enough. :cool:
I see you finally saw Green St Hooligans!! I mentioned this movie to you several times before and it’s one of my favorites. Be careful not to get into any trouble there, didn’t the Kiwis warn you about the Aussies? ;-)
Enjoy your time in AU!
Leo
I see you finally saw Green St Hooligans!! I mentioned this movie to you several times before and it’s one of my favorites. Be careful not to get into any trouble there, didn’t the Kiwis warn you about the Aussies? ;-)
Enjoy your time in AU!
Leo
Hey Mate,
I’ve only just found your blog in the last few days, and I’ve been reading up to catch what you’ve been doing. Good on ya, mate!
I’m from australia, and i implore you to spend less time in byron bay/barrier reef/other boring tourist places. and more time in places like melbourne (best city in australia, especially for music and concerts) and the far south coast (ie; nsw below sydney). Then again i’m not a tourist, so the touristy things don’t appeal to me. The Museum(s) at Canberra are pretty good, aswell as the Melbourne Museum. Melbourne architecture is pretty good as well.
And finally, thanks for blogging! it’s really interested reading about other people doing what i want to do.
Hi Darcy –
Glad to hear from you! I’m in Cairns for 2 more nights before flying to Sydney for 5 nights, and Melbourne for 4 to round out my trip. I look forward to some city life after all these beaches! ;)
Hi Darcy –
Glad to hear from you! I’m in Cairns for 2 more nights before flying to Sydney for 5 nights, and Melbourne for 4 to round out my trip. I look forward to some city life after all these beaches! ;)
Hi Darcy –
Glad to hear from you! I’m in Cairns for 2 more nights before flying to Sydney for 5 nights, and Melbourne for 4 to round out my trip. I look forward to some city life after all these beaches! ;)
Hi Darcy –
Glad to hear from you! I’m in Cairns for 2 more nights before flying to Sydney for 5 nights, and Melbourne for 4 to round out my trip. I look forward to some city life after all these beaches! ;)
Hey Mate,
I’ve only just found your blog in the last few days, and I’ve been reading up to catch what you’ve been doing. Good on ya, mate!
I’m from australia, and i implore you to spend less time in byron bay/barrier reef/other boring tourist places. and more time in places like melbourne (best city in australia, especially for music and concerts) and the far south coast (ie; nsw below sydney). Then again i’m not a tourist, so the touristy things don’t appeal to me. The Museum(s) at Canberra are pretty good, aswell as the Melbourne Museum. Melbourne architecture is pretty good as well.
And finally, thanks for blogging! it’s really interested reading about other people doing what i want to do.
Hi Darcy –
Glad to hear from you! I’m in Cairns for 2 more nights before flying to Sydney for 5 nights, and Melbourne for 4 to round out my trip. I look forward to some city life after all these beaches! ;)
I was just chatting about Byron Bay with a friend the other day – we were saying how “that crossroads” was one of the most likely spots in the world to randomly bump into someone you knew – or at least, someone who looks like someone you know :razz:
I was just chatting about Byron Bay with a friend the other day – we were saying how “that crossroads” was one of the most likely spots in the world to randomly bump into someone you knew – or at least, someone who looks like someone you know :razz:
I was just chatting about Byron Bay with a friend the other day – we were saying how “that crossroads” was one of the most likely spots in the world to randomly bump into someone you knew – or at least, someone who looks like someone you know :razz:
Aha, the board shorts. Too funny. Keep up with the beers though and perhaps we’ll make a surfer out of you yet! Are you going to take a surf lesson? It’s absolutely amazing if you can…
Too bad about the rain. Nice to hear that you’re getting some realxation though.
Aha, the board shorts. Too funny. Keep up with the beers though and perhaps we’ll make a surfer out of you yet! Are you going to take a surf lesson? It’s absolutely amazing if you can…
Too bad about the rain. Nice to hear that you’re getting some realxation though.
Aha, the board shorts. Too funny. Keep up with the beers though and perhaps we’ll make a surfer out of you yet! Are you going to take a surf lesson? It’s absolutely amazing if you can…
Too bad about the rain. Nice to hear that you’re getting some realxation though.