On the road again!

Next stop Byron Bay... After a small bus journey from Brisbane I reached this small hippy town by the beach, where everyone walks around with their shirts off carrying either a surf board or a spliff!! The town is filled with both young and old beach bums!

I stayed in a hostel on the main street, right in the heart of the PARTY! My first impression of the hostel wasnt a great one! I was taken on a tour of Byron Bay by one of the members of staff, this included all the important landmarks including "The Bottle Shop" "Cheeky Monkeys" and "Another Bottle Shop which was open until midnight!" Wasnt really what I was looking for and felt a long weekend was ahead! When I entered the hostel all I could see were beer bottles and boxes of wine in the middle of groups of kids fresh out if school!!!... Well if you cant beat 'em join 'em!!

My first night in Byron Bay was awesome, I managed to talk a group into heading up to the beach for a few beers and some live music (rather than the sweat pit of "Cheeky Monkeys") It was a great night ending in "Cheeky Monkeys"!

The following morning whilst everyone was still sleeping I took a walk up to the light house and stood on the most eastern point of mainland Australia. The walk took you u through the rainforest and along the cliffs. A great opportunity to watch the Dolphins playing in the surf.

Time to chill on the beach and catch up with the late risers, who were feeling slightly worse for wear!

Hanging out on the beach till the sun went down was awesome, all the surfers hit the beach when the tourist have vacated and ride the waves! Dude, totally whey!

As the sunsets a group of local "musicians" start playing and with a strong smell of the magic smoke play long into the night.

From Byron Bay I head south to Sydney, a small matter of an overnight bus trip to contend with (and the smelliest, fattest, ugliest bloke in the history of bus trips!) I arrived in Sydney in the early hours of Tuesday morning, very tired after very little sleep. Luckily I was staying with family so I knew I had a nice bed and shower to look forward to.

Sydney, a stunning city no matter what the weather is like and I was eager to get out there and explore! Sydney Opera House, the bridge and Harbor is a wonderful place to begin the tour. Although having had no sleep I was feeling strong and decided that Id drop my bags off at the house and then jump on a train to see the sights, beats staying at home veging!!

Its was quite a sight when I headed round the bend from North Sydney station and was confronted with a view across to the bridge. Amazing!! Spot the tourist as I gazed open mouthed down towards the Opera House, the weather wasnt the best, overcast with a few showers but that didnt take anything away from the experience.

I really enjoyed the day exploring which was boosted by the sun breaking through the clouds! I headed straight from the train to the Opera House, along with the thousand other tourists and holiday makers! It was easter holiday time in New South Wales which meant that it was pretty busy everyday.

I really enjoyed my stay in Sydney, Id heard mixed things about the place. Some very negative others very positive, but like everywhere else it is important for you to visit and make up your own mind! The beaches around Sydney are simply awesome! Jim, my grandads cousin acted as my tour guide and showed me around the Northern beaches, up to Palm Beach aka Summer Bay! With another Australian soap location marked off I headed to Manly and WOW! What a great place, bustling with activity and thrieving on the tourist trade!! Manly plays host to some of the finest cafes and restaurants in Sydney, a must see spot if ever in the area. From Manly I took the ferry back across into the city, what a way to commute! Peaceful, no stress and fantastic views of the Harbor!!

No trip to New South Wales would be complete without heading to the Blue Mountains host of the Three Sisters and some of the most spectacular views in the whole of Australia!!! It was a great day out and I can certainly see why people spend a few days exploring!! I took time to chat with a few other visitors from Yorkshire, it was very funny to hear that broad Yorkshire accent I havent heard in a while, even Steve accent had become softer during our travels (until he spoke to his parents and then for about half an hour afterwards I could bearly make out what he was saying!!)

I really enjoyed my stay in Sydney, it was fantastic to meet and saty with my relatives. being United fans was an added bonus!! I was able to watch United at 5.30am in the company of a fellow supporter!! That was great! Im normally shouting at the tv and dancing around alone!!

A week probably wasnt long enough in Sydney, I couldve happily stayed much longer, but the flight was booked and it was time to go, back to where the Australian journey began, Melbourne. Moving back in with The Lamb family for a week...