After our adventure in Melbourne and experiencing home comforts for a few days, it was back to Sydney and the backpacker ways again. We dropped off our stuff in our new dorm and headed out in search of some food. We were pretty much in Chinatown so we decided that would be the best way forward and got some noodles. We got back to the hostel via the bottle-o for cheap wine, and planned on a night out.

Back at the dorm we invented a card game 'snap alex parks' (probably better not to ask) and chatted with the girls we were sharing with. Soon tiredness from travelling kicked in and we decided to go to bed and read books rather than go out. After a later night out in the backpacker bar this was probably a wise decision…

After a good sleep we got up and headed into the shopping district (westfield showed itself yet again) and had a wander round, flabbergasted at how much everything costs here. It's really expensive! Our stroll took us back to Hyde Park and we headed to the Australia Museum. Again it was really expensive so we amused ourselves in the gift shop for a while, so much great dinosaur stuff!

From there we walked through the botanical gardens, which was very pretty (and free! Hurrah!) And round the harbour (saw the opera house, again) and decided we wanted to walk over the harbour bridge. So that we did. It was a beautiful day and we got good views, including you guessed it, of the opera house. We decided we had definitely earned ourselves a beer after that so went into the rocks and somehow managed to find an Oktoberfest bar. Despite it being September, and us being in Australia. But hey, who are we to complain?! After a few happy hour jugs we were well and truly on our way, with the help of the German band playing God Save the Queen for us. We had another beer and decided to call it a night.

The following morning we got up and headed back to the harbour to meet Susie, my friend from uni who I hadn't seen for about 10 years and who had moved to Sydney. The weather was amazing and we sat under the opera house (because I hadn't seen that yet) and had a drink and a catch up. She had her two little ones with her Keela and Cian who were just adorable. We moved on to an Irish pub and had some lunch before Susie had to get the kids home but it was so nice to see her, felt like no time had passed at all.

Back at the hostel we needed to sort out some travel arrangements so purchased a days internet (free wifi is hard to come by here) and then had a lazy one watching films and things in the dorm and chatting to some new arrivals. We did have a girl who got annoyed at us for making noise at half 9, she clearly must have been a firstimer in dorms as that is never going to happen! It's also what ipods and earplugs are invented for..

We set our alarms to make the most of our day as we had planned to get the ferry to Manly, so headed back down to the harbour. The weather turned and as soon as we got on the boat it started pouring down. This was less than ideal seeing as we were dressed in our beach gear. On arrival it was so cold that Jo had to buy a t-shirt, and despite us bringing a packed lunch to save pennies we went for some food just to be somewhere warm. Low and behold when we came out the sun was shining, so we walked round Manly beach to Shelly beach which was recommended to us by Elliot's Dad.

When we arrived we had the whole beach to ourselves! Amazing!! The towels and the kindles came out and we had a lie down appreciating some sunshine for a change. It was clear that the kids all come here when they're finished in school so it got busy in the afternoon, but everyone was really polite, definitely not the same as in the UK that's for sure! Once done on the beach we stopped at a bar Elliot's dad also recommended to us, and had a beer overlooking the sea. Perfect!

Back on the ferry and everyone was fighting for a good spot to view the opera house. I think it's safe to say Jo and I were well and truly over the opera house by now! We got back and headed out again with two girls Sabrina and Claire from our dorm and went in search of the football, only to find it was the rugby on that night. Whoops. Either way we ended up in a bar with reasonable drinks (again hard to find, pints are usually around £7ish here) and watched a band that turned out to be awesome so we stayed put.

Meanwhile back at the hostel bar there was a toga night in full swing. Claire decided we needed to make an appearance, so we were handed sheets and tried to fashion some togas. Not very well I might add. Jo and I didn't last long in there; I think it's safe to say we felt our age!

We checked out the next morning, stored our luggage and headed out for a hangover breakfast. We were still really tired and the sun was out so went back to Hyde Park and had a nap. We laughed at how we looked like homeless people, and that in fact, we were actually homeless.

After a nap we went and met my ma and had a yummo Chinese meal for lunch. We went and explored the Queen Victoria building which was truly beautiful, there were two wedding parties having their photos taken in there and I'm not surprised. We decided the time had come for some liquid refreshment (we were with ma after all…) and had a few glasses of bubbles at the top of the building. We did lots of exploring before heading out into the main shopping district and ending up in a wine bar. As you do.

We collected our luggage and headed to Central station, where we put ma on a train and I said my farewell as I won't see her again until xmas. Jo and I then got our greyhound bus and left Sydney on a 12 hour journey to Byron Bay.

We arrived in Byron Bay at 10am after a night of trying to sleep on a coach, which wasn't helped by the Geordie sat in front who snored like a freight train. I guess you have to get used to these things.. again, ipods and earplugs.

We dumped our stuff at the hostel and went to the beach which was something else. We were there for a little bit but it just got too hot to lie in the sun for too long. We decided to walk to the lighthouse which is the most easterly point of Australia. We started by walking the whole length of the beach with our feet in the sea and even had to navigate ourselves over rocks and things. The walk soon appeared to be a hike for several miles mostly uphill, but we felt a sense of achievement when we eventually reached the lighthouse. Al l be it as hot sweaty messes. We decided we had definitely earned a few beers after that so sat in the courtyard at our hostel which was pretty amazing; it even had two hot tubs! We thought it would be nice to treat ourselves to a dinner out, and left our roommates having a 'nap before going out'. We returned fed and a bottle of wine down to find our roommates still fast asleep so ended up in the tv room watching movies which was a nice way to end our evening.

So it's now the following day and after ridiculing the roomies that they slept for 16 hours, Jo and I had a look around the shops. Byron really reminds me of Cornwall, it's very surfy and hippyish (there is a lot of tie dye about) but we do love the relaxed feel there after being in Sydney.

We are now back on a coach heading for Surfers Paradise to see what the gold coast has to offer us..

xx