So the last time I blogged we were at Trial Bay where we spent three great nights and it's a place that we're likely to return to at some point in the future. We left Trial Bay early on the Sunday morning having decided that Byron would be our next stop but wanting to drive through the Dorrigo rainforest and Coffs Harbour on route.

The drive to Dorrigo was longer than expected and I was left hoping that the rainforest and associated skywalk lived up to the the expectations created by the pictures in the tourist pamphlet that I had subsequently used to convince Iain that the rainforest was worth the two hour detour. I think the jury's still out for Iain but I thought it was pretty good and a nice change from the coast.

We made our way to Coffs Harbour choosing a backroad (which basically meant a gravel road with sheer drops to one side) and prayed our little xtrail would successfully navigate the challenge. Arriving at Coffs, two things were apparent, first it's pretty spread out and second it is another of those places where the name creates a better impression than the place.

We drove another three or so hours arriving at Byron Bay for the fourth time in three years just after six. Pleased to report that we managed to get a deal in an apartment and decided to stay 5 nights, so we dropped our bags off and headed out for something to eat before the heavens opened.

Whilst I'm still clinging to my twenties, a night out with our new friends in the local backpackers bar reminded me that I'm fast approaching 30... after being rather pleased to be asked for ID on entry, as I started to reach into my purse, the kindly bouncer advised that I was alright and he didnt need to see it after all:)

We also tried some bodyboarding whilst in Byron. Iain who since his last visit with his parents a couple of years ago has been telling me what a proficient body boarder he is appeared to have lost this natural ability that I had been hearing about evidenced by the fact that when the wave passed him by both he and his board still appeared to be in the same place:) However as an ex synchro swimmer I took to it like a duck to water and an enjoyable day had by all - I must caveat this as it's subjective opinion and quite possible that Iain will have an entirely different account of his performance and mine!

Sadly on the Friday, the time had come to leave Byron and head up to the Gold Coast, our base for exploring potential area and rentals, this meant that we were back to camping although with the knowledge this would be for the last time, (this was particularly lucky considering the tent was seeping water).

I type this now from our new home, having moved in yesterday exactly a week after we arrived in Brisbane.

During this last week we ventured to a number of suburbs and narrowed it down to a couple and then set about joining the hundreds of other couples who turn up for inspections, applications in hand. Luckily with my somewhat competitive nature and what some of Iain's former football teammates have referred to as a "combative nature", the others were no match for the Tweedly's (either that or there is a serious flaw with the house which we've yet to stumble across!).

With the rental secured, next came the task of organizing the delivery of our furniture. If I say that when the removalists turn up on Tuesday, I expect them to be wearing black and white stripey tops, this may indicate the not insignificant costs involved!

Between looking for suburbs and enjoying some sunshine on the Gold Coast we did go into Brisbane on Wednesday and were amazed at the recovery so far. Riverside bars which just a few months ago were inundated with flood water and uninvited bull sharks have now resumed trading and with the exception of the city beach and gardens at southbank it was hard to imagine the flood damage that we witnessed in the press and when watching the news footage at the time.

This brings me to the end of this series of our blog updates, it's taken us 5 weeks, we've travelled 5000 km and we've travelled through 5 different states to get to where we are now and still it feels like the journey has only just begun (again).

Look forward to seeing you in qld soon
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