Brisbane to Sydney

Brisbane to Sydney

So we managed to pick up our new campervan (and I use the term campervan loosely, as it is essentially a toyota people carrier which has been converted to have a bed in the back) from Brisbane and started the drive south without getting lost. On day one we drove down to Coffs Harbour where we found a really nice campsite which had everything we could dream of. We arrived in the evening so we just put our steaks on the BBQ and chilled out with a couple of beers. We decided that we would head out fairly early the next day to Port Macquire as it was Australia day (which is a public holiday and a big deal over here, although I am still not totally sure what it is all about). After the long drive we arrived and couldn’t get into the first caravan park so we ended up in a bit of a dump. So keen to get out we went into the town, which didn’t really impress either and given that it was a national holiday everything was closed. After a bit of a walk around the ghost town we found a fish and chip shop where we got some good fish and chips to eat near the beach before heading back to the campsite. The rain has hit the East coast and it is torrential, but not constant. We have been caught in it a couple of times and got soaked but at least it’s still warm even when its raining.

Unsurprisingly we went to bed early and got up early to escape the campsite and first off we headed to the place we had come to Port Macquire to see – the Koala hospital. It was lovely to see the wild koalas and we even saw one who had just been brought in and was being assessed by the vet. The koalas had a range of issues, from Glaucoma to injuries from cars and even one who lived there as he had a spinal defect. The hospital looks after the koalas and then releases them when they are better. After a couple of walks around we headed off to Hunter Valley which is a wine producing area. We arrived at about 12 and proceeded to drive around several vineyards where we were able to sample wine, vodka, beer, chocolate and cheese. In the area there are over 140 vineyards but we only made it to about 8 or 10, I lost count with all the wine I was trying. It was raining all day but it was really fun to run into the different places and have a good look around and try all of the wines. In the last stop we also managed to see some wild Kangeroos in the vineyard with young joeys which was lovely. We walked in the vineyard to get a bit closer and we tried some of the shiraz grapes which tasted very different to what you would expect.

After a night parked in the YHA car park we headed off to Sydney and arrived at lunch time at our new campsite, which is in a national park. As it was raining again (you would think we were in the UK with all this rain) we decided to spend the day in central Sydney. So of we went to Surry Hills to have lunch (it’s the place to go for food apparently) we managed to find a little bakery we had read about and we had a very good pie each followed by the best lemon curd tart (it’s good not to be on my diet any more!). After that we headed to china town where we found an arcade which kept us entertained for too long (we are big kids at heart) and after dinner in China town we headed back to the campsite which is where we are now.

Tomorrow the plan is to drive the campervan back and head to our accommodation in central Sydney for the night. Then, the following day, we pick up a new campervan and start the drive to Melbourne.

Bryon Bay

Having arrived in Bryon Bay we made our way to our Airbnb for the next 4 days. This one was with a couple who were from Italy and Brazil who seemed very nice and did tell us that there is not much to do in Bryon Bay when its not sunny. Luckily for us it was sunny so after a quick run to the supermarket for some essentials we went for a cheap Thai meal down the road and walked around the town for a bit. The first thing we noticed about the town were the hippies and stoners who seemed to mix well and embrace the many backpackers who visit the area.

The next morning we got up for our first surf lesson at Black Dog surfing. We arrived at the shop to be suited up with our “rashies”, which are essentially wet suit tops. We then headed out with 8 other people for the lesson which was to take place at an area called “the pass”. The group was split into two, those who had never surfed before and those who had, including those who were on the 2 or 3 day course. There were 5 newbies in total, including us, and Dom, the instructor, went through the techniques of surfing and looking at the different types of surf to look out for. We also practiced jumping up on the board which was pretty fun. Just before we were going to head out into the water the other group came back as it was too rough so they decided to call off the rest of the lesson and try again in the afternoon. We headed back to the pass in the afternoon to try again and this time it was a lot calmer. The lesson involved the instructors lining us up for a wave and pushing us on to the wave. This allowed us to stand up and both Rich and I managed to get up on our first time. Then over the next hour and a half we perfected our techniques and even rode a couple of waves into the beach. We were knacked by the end of the lesson but we decided to go out to a local hostel where they had a couple of offers on so we had some cheap tacos and beer and even joined in on a ping pong tournament.

Lesson number 2 also took place at the pass but this time we were in the second group meaning we hit the water first. However this time there were only the 2 of us in this group and 8 newbies in the other group. Our instructor took us out into a fairly deep bit to show us about paddling and the first few waves he helped us get by pushing us while we were paddling and telling us when to get up. However this was a real struggle as the current was really strong and knocked me off my feet a few times. After a few pushes and talks the instructor went to help with the other group and we kept trying to catch a few waves. We managed to catch a few waves ourselves and learnt a few things that you shouldn’t do. Towards the end of the lesson the tide was going out which made it a little easier and the instructor gave us a hand a couple of times, Dom even managed to get me to ride a back wash wave meaning I was surfing it out to sea, rather than to the beach which was fun.

The final day of our course took place at a new beach called “the wreck” which was along the main beach. Again the class was split into two and Rich and I were the only ones in the more advanced class. We went out with one instructor to work on our paddling again. This time the current was far less severe but the waves were a lot bigger. We managed to get several waves and the instructor gave us some more hints and tips to improve our techniques. We carried on catching waves for the whole class and really improved but we did probably fall off more in this one lesson than in the other 2 combined because the waves were soo large and powerful. It was loads of fun though and we didn’t want the lesson to end.  The next day however we woke up battered and bruised from 3 days of surfing and we have decided to give it a few days before we jump back on a surf board so we are heading to Brisbane to pick up our campervan for the next 5 days to drive down to Sydney with a few stops on the way.

Fraser Island

We arrived late in Hervey Bay to spend our first night in an actual hostel. What it is to be in your late teens/early 20’s and have no worries about hygiene and how loud you are being (sorry I’m a grumpy old man!). At the first briefing we were told we would be in groups of 8 for the whole trip and we had to sort out who was going where and we ended up in the most mixed group with one Canadian, two young Germans, two Austrian Brothers and a young Israeli, we also ended up with two tag-along Scots who didn’t like their group so became part of our group when we were out of the car.   However with a 3 day camping trip ahead we needed to guide these young souls to the way of being responsible and boring. Without much effort it wasn’t long on the island before we were being treated like the parents of the group being asked permission to do stuff (that’s just the effect Cat has on people). However that didn’t stop our group being the naughty group who kept getting told off by the tour guide but that is what happens when there is 6 guys and only 2 girls in a group! Anyway enough of the social psychology side of things. I jumped straight into the driver’s seat of the 4x4’s we would be using on the rainforest built on sand and that is exactly what it is. Miles and miles of beaches with no one swimming because of the dangerous rips and dangerous sea life which when viewed from above, which we did at Indian head, you can clearly see swimming at what is only a couple of meters deep. That wasn’t the only danger on the island. We also had wild dogs (and not just the 2 legged kind) to deal with, and you can imagine how Cat felt about these. Barely a second goes by where you’re not reminded to be Dingo safe! These almost mystical like creatures normally wait until you want to pee in the middle of the night (and yes we all had to pee in the sea if you couldn’t wait until the morning) and then sneak up on you with glaring eyes. In truth they are very lean looking dogs and the ones we saw in the light were babies. They scavenge for food and are only really a danger as a pact when against a small child or someone as short as Cat!

We camped with more flies then I care to ever see again and there were also March flies while they didn’t draw blood, they were massive and they bite like a bitch. Prep of any food was carefully watched over by us more hygienically aware old farts who knew exactly what flies do when they land on food!

Despite my moaning this trip has been the highlight of our travels so far. The natural lakes were stunning and the water was beautiful and clear, having been filtered through the sand for hundreds of years it was the best drinking water we had drunk for a while. Even the sand was cleansing, you could use it to wash your hair and clean your teeth and most of us did by day 3! This island known to the locals as paradise is exactly that and you can only hope it will get looked after. I really realised how special this island was when on the first night when we ventured onto the beach to a perfectly clear sky and the greatest show of stars I have ever seen. The lack of light pollution opens up the sky to millions of stars visible with the light of the galaxy’s streaming across the sky. Memorizing.

Anyway with all that said I have never been so sandy in my life and I didn’t really need reminding why I gave up sleeping in a tent at 13. So now sand free and not been mobbed by flies we are once again on the move, which means a 12 hour coach ride to Bryon Bay for some surfing lessons. I do like Aus but I wish they made their country smaller.