The bus pulled in to Byron Bay at about 3 in the afternoon, first impressions: really nice town. We stayed in the Holiday Village backpackers hostel and it had a good atmosphere. The beach was also amazing. It was so nice to be out of the city and sitting on a gorgeous beach watching the sun go down! We stayed in the hostel on sunday night with the Canadians who were sharing our apartement. They were so funny and had a good night.

Monday 13th October. We got up early and headed down to the beach because it was a really nice day. i couldnt sit there and sunbathe so Alice and I went for a long walk along the beach to a lookout spot, amazing views of the beach and the mountains behind. We went out to Cheeky Monkeys for our free meal and some drinks. It was Mexican night so we got given somberos and cheap tequilla sunrises. It was a good night and ended with lots and lots of dancing.

Tuesday 14th October: We got Jim's Alternative Tour Bus to Nimbin, a little hippie town about 2 hours drive from byron. We had some luncha there and then the bus took us back via a freind of Jim's, Paul who lives on his own on a lot of land and has been high for the past 40 odd years. Very funny listening to him and his stories. We drove through Nightcap National park and visited a waterfall which was beautiful, but we didnt see and wild koalas. It was avery sureal day on the bus but good fun.

Wednesday 15th: Lynne (a good familly friend) picked me up from the hostel and took me back to her house in Ballina about 30mins drive. We stopped at some really nice look out spots along the coast but didnt manage to spot any whales. At her house i met Joe her husband for the first time in years (so many years that i was too young to remember). Their house was beautiful and i really liked Ballina. Lynne took me for lunch at a nice little cafe and then dropped me back to the hostel in time for me to catch the bus.

Our next stop was Surfers paradise and the drive took and hour and a half.