After Brisbane I moved on the Byron Bay, which I now wished I had left more time for.It had a really good vibe and the beach looked lovely.Unfortunately the only proper day was ruined by very heavy showers and therefore you couldn't do anything.Did attempt to go the local market but as they were held in a field my flip flops did not really live up to the job…wellies would have been far more appropriate but they rarely fit in a backpack!I can though see why backpackers like Byron Bay, it has a certain surfing / hippy vibe with lots of nice shops, cafes and restaurants.Would definitely like to go back there one day…maybe when the sun is out.The next stop was Coffs Harbour where I had even less time but as the weather was good I go a chance to walk around quite a lot and see most of the area.Coffs Harbour is not particularly big and there is not all that much to do but the beach once again is lovely and the waters very clear.After Coffs Harbour I headed to Sydney where I am now.

Loving Sydney already after having only been here 4 days.There is so much going on here…even on Christmas day.Spent the first day recovering from an overnight bus trip on a very cramped greyhound bus.The next day I got up early and headed to the Rocks area near the Harbour Bridge.Nothing quite prepares you for seeing this Harbour in real life…it really is quite spectacular.I then headed to THE opera house and walked all the way around it before joining the official tour.The tour was really interesting and in fact has quite a sad tale behind the architect who designed it.He was from Denmark and only died in 2008 but he left the job of building the Opera house in the 1960's after falling out with the Australian Government and never returned to see his design completed.The design was also firstly dismissed and it was only due to the overall design judge running late to the meeting and insisting in seeing all the dismissed designs that it was in fact finally chosen.

I have also been to Darling Harbour, which is also very spectacular but on a much smaller scale.On Christmas Eve I headed out on a cruise around Sydney Harbor and enjoyed a wonderful seafood buffet.Seeing the harbour at night was really amazing and finally made me feel a little Christmassy.There was a disco on the boat and so danced the night away, which was very different from my usual Christmas eve of midnight mass.Christmas day was a bit of a non event to be honest especially as the hostel did not do anything for it.There is nothing quite like a family Christmas and I'll be sure not to miss that again next year!

That's all for now but will write again soon as there is so much to do here in Sydney I will have lots to tell you.Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and Happy New Year.I will be by the Opera House come NYE so look out for me on the news as I will get to see 2011 eleven hours before the UK!

xxx