Bingo

We checked out of our Hotel in Coffs Harbor Monday morning, grabbed a few groceries and headered for the beach. Nice views and all but We werent going to stay in Coffs. I cant explain why, maybe it was the noise but Nic and I both felt like moving on. 

Stopping at a famous Banana plantation on the way got our tourist on once again.

 It took us about 4 hours with pits stops to get to Byron Bay. We arrived at sunset once again so we cruised around looking for a hotel. Once settle we headed into town for dinner. But by that point, A generally sick lepri household and some guy constantly blowing his nose behind me in the Batman movie finally took its toll on me. I was getting sicker and tuesday ended up being a write off for me. We ate Dominos in the evening and that was all I got up to on Tuesday.

Finally on Wednesday I got moving again.

I

 We headed out on a long walkabout. Byron Bay has a neat lighthouse nearby as a free tourist destination. We walked up a hill and found ourselves surrounded by awesome beach views with tonnes of surfers below us.

The trek up to the lighthouse paved by a nice boardwalk with a few detours along the way.

 Once at the top I enjoyed a nice Flat White and piece of Carrot cake. A good sign that my appetite was coming back. We were served by a nice lady who had just done a whirlwind tour of Western Canada with her Hubby. They'd had a great time.

More views from the top.

A magpie looking for some carrot cake

Byron bay is the eastern most point in Australia.

 Its hard to say what makes a place feel right. Nic and I got to walking about today and decided that we like it so much, we're going to blow off the Gold Coast and spend a 4th night here.

I was told there is a Hippie vibe and it's true. But not like Denman island as I thought. Byron bay is bigger with more restaurants and things to do.

And all the ammenities are grouped closely together, a short walking distance for us from our hotel,

This place is by far my favorite location  in Australia so far. A good vibe, not overly resorty or trendy like the Gold Coast(Not that we'll be seeing that now). Tonnes of good surfing here too.

I keeping envisioning of my Brother and Nephew reading this and shaking their heads. "That idiot doesn't even surf."

Byron bay is the big Bingo of our trip so far. Just right for me, hippies and all. .

Following the Garmen

Friday Nic and I rented a Camry (I miss my Rogue) and Rosano dug out his old Garmen Navman. I took an afternoon to get used to driving on the other side of the road again. Friday night we cooked dinner for Rosano and his family, played with Oli and Mia and got ready to part ways. Saturday morning, they got their day started amidst much bustle. Soon they would be in the air on their way to Canada and we'd be on our way up the coast. 

We picked up a few groceries and a power adapter for the garmen at the shopping complex. Having flat white in hand, Nic and I headed out on our adventure. Nic was quiet for most of the trip, trying to stay upbeat but saying so long to her Niece and Nephew took its toll on her this day.

We'd half done our homework, and half left our journey to chance. Knowing better now that places like the Hunter Valley and Port Stephens are actually regions, not destinations, we had a few mishaps and u-turns, a few wasted kilometers, but overall have seen a lot of Australia's beautiful country side. 

We started at the entrance to the Pacific touring route and had lunch at Blue Bay.

Blue Bay View

From their picked Denman as our destination in the Hunter Valley, Australia's wine country. Not much goes on their so we backtracked about 40k to find a hotel and crash for the night.

A nice shot from the road of one of theVinyards

 We stayed at the Leisure Inn near a place called Broke in the hunter valley. Nice enough but the cost of hotels here is going to take its toll on my Visa. We awoke in the morning to find a couple of the locals hanging out underneath a tree.

eWe followed the Garmen to to Port Stephens. A region, not a place. The GPS routed us along some dirt roads and over some really narrow, almost make shift bridges until we arrived at our destination. Nowhere.  In Port Stephens we figured out what we were doing wrong. Getting some directions from a Local, we managed to gas up in Karuah and head out on our way towards Coffs Harbour, an actual place.

Along the Touring Route

 In Kew, we found ourselves an entrance to the actual "Tourist Route". The coastal road from Brisbane to Melbourne is one of Australia's better know tourist attractions. It's not the Sea to Sky drive though. There are nice views if you stop to enjoy them. If you are driving, you'll just blow past them. I think the idea is meant for you to go from destination to destination stopping along the way. But for the most part, can all be accomplished if you stay on the Pacific Hwy.

Looks like awesome surfing

We arrived in Coffs Harbor after 5pm after being on the road for the better part of 9 hours. We had Thai for dinner and are getting ready to crash for the night as best we can with the sounds of engine brakes thundering down the road in front of our hotel.

We're both feeling sick now. I think we'll head to Byron Bay sometime tomorrow.

Laying Low

We saw Batman Rises on the the worlds biggest IMAX screen last night. Awesome movie. A few surprises as long as you aren't looking for them.   Me, Nic, Rosano, Kylie and their friend Adrian found our way to Chinta Ria in Darling Harbor for some great Malasian(?) food. Then the movie. When it started I was a little yawny but as things got going I lost all desire to sleep. I don't want to review it. Just a thumbs up from down under. (Is that dirty?)


Today Nic showed me her favorite beach in Sydney, Manly Beach. Our trip today was reminder for me of what vacations are really all about. I've never been a touristy tourist. This is way better.

Proof that the sun does come out in winter

Touristy Ted is Touristy

 First full day in Sydney. Nic and I seem to be getting settled so we decided to transit into the downtown core and have a look.

Note for travelers to Sydney, don't bother asking the bus drivers how to get somewhere. They don't know. They just drive the bus. Also, don't try the "Arnotts Butternut Snaps". They're like Crack Cocaine.

The day was grey and wet so instead of plan A, the zoo, we did the Aquarium and Nature park in Darling Harbour.

Sydney is a seriously big city. I've been to Tokyo and Guadalajara so I get big, but even though supply and demand is out of whack in Vancouver, I'm a bit glad our city is landlocked and jammed up in one little corner of the country. 

I hope to have better pics than these sometime in the next few days. The was out when we first got here but we haven't seen it since.


And thank god for coupons and other money savers in Sydney. No Joke this place is expensive. We had 2 for ones for the Aquarium and the Nature park. With out help each ticket is $35 aussie bones a head.

If you travel here, it helps to find an entertainment book. Trust me. Kylie has been nice enough to let us flip through hers.

 Anyways, just a touristy wind up the trip for us. Pics from the Aquarium and Wildlife Sydney.

 Japanese Spider Crap.

 Under the shark tank.

 These pics are all from the other side of the glass. I took a crap load of pics on our visit and am just post up the ones that turned out half decent.

pretty colours

I think this is the face I walk into work with on monday mornings

Found Nemo, and Dorie

Think George Lucas has ever been here?

Tiger Snake

 And starting at Wildlife Sydney.

We caught the Koala's at Nap Time.

Scrub Python, up to 5m long.

Red Bellied Black Snake

Diamond Python

I used to bulls eye Wombats with my T-16 back home.

Cassawary

Kangaroo Jack

Kangaroo Jill

Top View of the Croc

 

And through the looking glass

We made it to the Circular Quay for around 11:30 and were done everything for around 4pm. We made a mad dash (me hopping along, Dad would have been proud, I have his feet.)for the 607x back to Kellyille Ridge. Then a quick backtrack on the T63 to Stanhope Village and a 10 minute walk back to the house.

There wont be much in the news tomorrow. We're heading back downtown tonight to see Batman Rises  and not much on the menu tomorrow either. We're just getting rested up before Nic's brothers clan heads to Canada and we get on our way. So we're just hanging out with Nic's niece and nephew and eating all of Kylie's food and drinking Rossano's beer.

Rough life. How's work Vancouver North?

I stink. Time for a shower.

Made it

Nic and I made it into Sydney this morning, touching down at around 6:30 am local time. Its monday here. Rosano and Oli came to get us at the airport.

 A longish drive, (roughly Vancouver to Abbotsford) got us back to there place and took us over the harbour bridge.

 Not much else to report. Im just trying to stay awake for the rest of the day so I can get a good nights sleep and start all the touristy stuff tomorrow.

Kylie served us up some awesome tea and biscuits. Yum.

This is pretty much the rest of our day today. Playing Wii with the kids, eating and resting up.

 

We'll pick it up again tomorrow when I have more gas.

Kylie's been a great host. Looks like our first day of meals are all taken care off

.