Byron Bay. NSW

Landed in the pouring rain in the beautiful,hippy town of Byron Bay, decided to check into a youth hostel as the rain showed no signs of stopping. The next day decided to go hangliding
but was quickly cancelled as more bad weather arrived including thunder and lightening. Went out of the saturdy night with guys and gals from the hostel to a place called cheeky monkeys a real cheesy place but a great night was head especially with free champagne for the ladies. At one point after dancing for hours on the tables lost my footing and fell backwards onto the floor but not to embarrass myself further i got straight back up and carried on dancing the night away. Arrived back at the hostel at around 4am and woke with a slight hangover the next day and thank goodness their wasn't enough wind to do the hangliding. so spent the day chilling out on the beach doing body boarding and relaxing, then it was off to see England Vs Ecuador in the world cup a boring match but a David Beckham ball saved England from being knocked out.
Moved to a campsite for our last two days in Byron missing the comforts of the hostel already so sneaked back in to the hostel for our entertainment for the night in the tv room and to watch the Australia Vs Italy match which unfortunately saw Australia being knocked out after a penalty was given to Itlay that so was not! The bloody cheats!!
Finally the weather was perfect for hangliding and off we went. An absolute amazing experience definitely would jump off another cliff to do it again.
All in all a fab time was had in Byron bay an absolute beautiful, relaxing place expecially as we got to see whales breaching and splashing about in the wild and also lots of dolphins. Defintely coming back!

Port Macquarie and Grafton. NSW.

After a 4 hour drive north up the Pacific Coast we arrived at Port Macquarie where for the 3 days we were there, it just absolutely pissed it down, monsoon style so we had to book into dorms which luckily we got to ourselves. The only thing we got to do here due to the weather was visiting the Koala Hospital and getting to see some of the amazing stuff they do to save, treat and look after the Koalas, most giving their time for free including home care. It was sad to read some ofthe stories relating to their injuries, most being either run over by cars all badly burnt in the forest fires, but the guys and gals here do a fantastic job looking after them.
Next it was off to Grafton which was just an overnight stop off on our way to Byron Bay, again it did nothing but rain, so we decided to sleep in the car. It turned out to be the most uncomfortables nights sleep ever, i felt like my back had been smashed in with a sledge hammer.

Lee

Sydney, Northern Beaches. NSW

As we arrived in Sydney's Northern Beaches, the sun finally shone and the shorts finally came back out of the rucksack. Unfortunately the wind was a little cool but that wasn't going to put me off. We decided on going straight to the beach for a dip in the sea until we saw how savage the waves were, a good few metres highs and just smashing everything in its way, so we decided against it.
Just a few KM's north of Narrabeen (where we were camping) was a place called Palm Beach, the setting of Home and Away's Summer Bay and the Surf Club, as we arrived the place was instantly recognisable just from the fence itself having seen on tv over 18 odd years many a walk taken along this point. Sonya was in her element running up and down the beach walk. Only problem was it destoyed the make belief as theres no diner next door as you are led to believe and when ever you see a car pick someone up outside the surf club and head towards the so called Yabbi Creek, they are in fact driving straight into a car park. The beach itself was stunning and the area a very posh place. We then headed down to Manly which was so different to the last time we were there 6 months ago, a more deserted place both in the town centre and on the beach for obvious reasons like its winter.
The following day we attempted to head to the olympic park (Telstra Stadium) home of the 2000 Olympics and more importantly the venue of England World Cup win in 2003, unfortunately we got lost on the way and ended up in Sydneys city centre, not a pleasent place to be when driving, to make matters worse the car started playing up, lacking power and kept trying to cut out and i was just driving round in circles getting very pissed off. We somehow managed to get back to the campsite and spent the rest ofthe day in a foul mood and hoping the car wasn't going to cost a fortune to repair.
Next day we dropped the car at the garage and headed into Sydney city centre by bus and for the 1st time going over the harbour bridge. Sydney was still the same, just a little quieter, again because it is off-peak season. We just had a walk around, collected our mail and chilled out. Got our car back the same evening and thankfully it was only the HT leads that needed replacing so didn't cost too much.
As we left Sydney and headed north we stopped off for a walk around the Olympic park ,having made it tis time, An awesome venue and so big you really needed a bike to get around the place, we will be back in August so will have a proper look and tour then.

Lee

The Magnificent Blue Mountains NSW

Wow, wow,wow. Arrived at the blue mountains completely shattered from the drive from canberra so checked in the gorgeous YHA for four days for a well deserved break and to take in the beauty of the mountains. Our first day we took the great walk on the Prince Henry Cliff Walk through the mountains spectacular views that we thought couldn't get any better but they did. We carried on to echo point where we took in the grand majestic sights of the three sisters. Aboriginal history has it that there was these three sisters who were in love with three men belonging to a different tribe which was forbidden, so the father/witch doctor turned the sisters into stone whilst the boys went into battle with the father and were unfortunately killed in battle. Unfortunately the witch doctor died in battle and he was the only one who knew how to turn the sisters back into people so the sisters have stayed as stone!
After taking about 100 photos at every possible angle we took the steep walk down the giant staircase approx 900 steps to the bottom and walked along the federal pass to the scenic railway. The steepest train in the world that took us back up to the top as there was no way any of us would have walked the steep climb back up those stairs! Then it was back to the hostel via another steep hill for a well deserved rest.
On the other days in the blue mountains we went to see other gorgeous view points, evans lookout and governers leap whereas you can imagine another 100 photos were taken. Took the scenic double decker bus around the mountains as well it was free so couldn't say no!
Our last day took us to the edge cinema with the screen three times the size of a normal cinema screen a short film taking us deep in the blue mountains and giving us an insight into the history. Then it was time to go back and watch England V Trinidad and Tobago in the world cup they played awful but thankfully somehow they won scored two goals in the last 7 minutes ,which will take us through to the next round facing either Germany or Equador!!
Our adventure in the blue montains was amazing and can't wait to go back with the folks when they arrive!!

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.

Having spent a couple of nights just north of Melbourne we headed off towards Canberra, the Australian Capital, but not before we made a final drive to Ramsy Street (Neighbours) so Sonya could say her final farewell and Lionel could have his picture taken on the street. After a 4 hour drive we had only made it half way so decided to stop the night in Albury. As we were only staying the 1 night, we couldn't be arsed with setting the tent up so we chucked everything on the front seats, laid down the back seats pump the airbed up and had a very cosy and some what cramped nights sleep, the funniest part was trying to get out the sleeping bag, numerous layers of quilts, blankets and the hot water bottles then trying to get out the side door. As you may have gatherd i ended up in a heap on the floor having fallen out head first pretty much naked. The following morning we drove the remainding 4 hours to Canberra on some very long and boring roads. Having finally arrived and spending a few hours looking for accomadation that had SBS (tv channel with the world cup football on, you have to get your priorities right) we settled on a Hostel, mainly for warmth as it was freezing and raining.
The next day after i had gotten out of bed at about midday (stayed up to watch the Germany game, went to bed at 4.30am because of the time difference) We drove to the Parliament Building and went for a tour round inside and reading the history of the Australian Government. It was quite spectacular inside. We also took the lift to the top of the building for some great views out over the city. That night we watched the England game in the quiteness of the hostel, missing all the hype from back home, no one here is much interested even though the Aussies are in the world cup. Next day we checked out and went on a tour of the War Memorial, which was very interesting, learning about the part Australia played in a lot of the Wars. it was also quite sad seeing the huge Wall of Honour.
Canberra was an average place but worth seeing, if nothing more than just seeing both the Parliament house and the War Memorial.

Lee

The Great Ocean Road

Well we left the great city of Melbourne in Lionel (the commodore) for the great ocean road (GOR). Started our journey in a place called Port Campbell next to the 12 apostles. Arrived as usual at dusk in the freezing cold, and it was fun putting up an eightman tent that came free with lionel as you can imagine the odd arguement came with it but once it was up wow what a palace it has three rooms but we decided that just the two was enough. Spent the night just chilling and realising we had no mattress in the tent to sleep on we decided to borrow the cushions off the settee out of the tv room for comfort and yes we did return them in the morning as we invested in a blow up mattress the next day as well as other luxury items. Spent the next day travelling to port fairy and warnabool taking in several amzing sites and gorgeous coastline. Stopped at Tower Hill national park and got to see loads of koalas including one walking across the street infront of lionel and then saw him climbing the tree, got to see some BIG daddy kangeroos definitely not going to mess with them and as we left got to see some emus flirting with lionel! When we got back to the campsite and freezing our asses' off a kind guy called nigel built us a fire and gave me a lesson as well into how to build a fire properly and it was fab just what we needed shame we couldn't take it into the tent with us.
The next day we did more of the GOR including the bay of islands, the arch and london bridge. Cannot begin to describe how amazing and dramatic the coastline is it was wonderful but bloody chippy choppy!! next it was off to see the twelve apostles huge rocks in the sea but there is no longer twelve of them there is now only eight or nine with the recent falling only last year. The sunset was amazing. Getting back to the campsite it was my night to build the fire and i did myslef proud with no help from anyone i built a towering inferno that lasted long into the night with nigels lesson and my girl guide instincts i knew i could do it and it even drew a crowd of people who were impressed with my skills! and helped themselves to the warmth.
Left for lorne the next day half way back to melbourne on the great ocean road stayed here for two nights taking in some magnificent waterfalls and again great scenary, and lee let my buy two more blankets from the salvation army as the weather does not seem to be getting any warmer but i suppose it is winter!
Then that was it the end of our GOR experience definitely would do it again and would reccommnend anyone else to do it.

Melbourne (Part 2)

We flew back into Melbourne, and it felt a damn sight warmer than Tassie was, we booked back into the same hostel again and spent the next week looking for a car to buy to take us on our travels along the Great Ocean Road and then up the east coast to Cairns via Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane to name a few. After endless days of walking around hostels and internet shops looking at adverts we finally found one that took our interest. We had a look took it for a test drive, had it inspected and despite a few problems which you expect from a car that has done 300'000+ km we bought it for $1300, the guy initially wanted $2900 but as he was leaving in a few days and needed a quick sale, Sonya used her bargaining skills and pretty much took the piss, but he eventually accepted. So we now are the proud owners of a Holden Commadore station wagon (Vauxhall Carlton Estate) called Lionel (Lionel Ritchie and the the Commadores, make sense). It also came complete with all camping gear including an 8 birth tent, so a bit of a mansion in the tent stakes and plenty of room for us to chill out in. Fingers crossed he gets us the 4000+km up to Cairns.
I was also finally allowed to buy myself a cheap guitar so i can do some busking up the east coast (watch this space)

Lee