Well we have now arrived in Byron Bay. It was only 4h on the coach from Coffs Harbour. We have spent today (Friday) lying on the beach - on the white sand near the clear green/blue water!! It has a real nice chilled out vibe here, it is not really full because it is heading into Autumn but the weather is still really nice! We are staying in Nomads Backpackers and have got a deal as we booked for the whole week, $22 a night - which is quite expensive but still a good price for Byron. We are off out tonight for our first Byron night out! We went to the "Beach Hotel" where there was a live band playing a kinda psycadelic rock mix. We then headed onto "Cheeky Monkeys", a very packed club/ bar that everyone in Byron seems to head to - as after midnight nowhere else is open. It played the cheesy classics and more recent hip-hop and alternative tunes - all in all a good first night out in Byron! On Saturday we booked our trip to Frazer Island and the Whitsundays with "Wicked Travel", getting a very good deal. We then went to "Woolworths" and did our shop - money is becoming more of an issue now!! Then we ate lunch on the hill overlooking the beach, before heading into the sun for a couple of hours. At the end of the day a wedding started just yards infront of us on the beach - what a place to get married! Out again to Cheeky Monkeys, where I had a few games of pool with my partner Glen (the guy that we met in Sydney - Daves mate) and we actually won quite a few - 3 in a row!! On Sunday we just headed out to the beach, I went a bit earlier with our dorm-mate Norris (English) and managed to catch the Byron Swimming Challenge. About 1200 people had lined up on the beach, they then ran into the water and swam right out to the point near the lighthouse and back again - it took the winner about 30 minutes!! They were all wearing their red swimming caps - just as you have seen on TV when they show these kind of races in OZ! It was a massive event with all the top swimmers in the country taking part. It got a bit cooler in the afternoon so we headed into town to have a coffee at one of the many trendy cafes that exist in Byron - there are no cheap backpacker places which is wierd really?! On Monday we all went to the travel agents and I booked my 4 day trip to Ayres Rock and Alice Springs!!! It cost a bit (350 quid) but I am really looking forward to it, I get to sleep under the stars right near Urulu! Next we headed out to the beach for a few hours before it started to get a little bit chilly. The weather starts off sunny but by the afternoon becomes a bit overcast and windy - damn it!! In the evening Anne-Marie and I went to the cinema with Norris to see "A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" - and I really enjoyed it. It was off the wall and surreal like the book and really funny, it was nice to see so many British actors putting it top performances! On Tuesday we again headed to the beach for a few hours. Byron really is all about the beach, the surf, weed (which I have not and will not be taking part in) and drinking in the evening. We are off out tonight for Norris' last night in Byron! We all drank our goone of wine in the backyard on the picnic tables, meeting two Germans from Bochum at the table - nice guys. After that we headed off to Cheeky Monkeys, where we saw Glen again and Annie saw her friend Claire from Coffs Harbour. I met some guys (Jim and Andy) from the UK and before dancing took part in an on the spot football quiz. I did very well and earned myself some free drinks. Left Cheekys at 3am and reached home at 5am - it was a long walk home involving people, pie shops, and tea!! Lost Annie+man and Neeley as they decided to walk to the lighthouse - it rained on them halfway through their quest to reach the lighthouse and so they returned having not seen the lighthouse but soaking wet at around 6am! It rained all day today (Wednesday) and so we slept off the night before and started to sort our stuff out as we leave Byron tomorrow heading to Surfers Paradise - and hopefully sunshine!! We did not head out tonight as I have managed to pick up a particularly nasty sickness bug. It rained all morning today (Thursday). Anne-Marie and Neeley organised to go on "Jim's Alternative Tour" to 'Nimbin' - the weed capital of NSW. It involves a bus, a mad man called Jim, weed smoking and his mad friend who owns some rainforest farm built by hand! Interesting! I am still not well and trying to recover before getting on the bus at 8.40pm to 'Surfers Paradise'