I'm back from my little trip up the east coast of Australia. My journey started on the 3rd, when I checked into a hostel in Sydney. I stayed in the "Wake Up!" hostel, which was awesome place. It's quite a weird experience walking into a 10-man dorm full of strangers! The next day, after overcoming a mild hangover, I found myself on an early morning bus to surf camp. This was the beginning of a four-day surf trip that I had booked myself onto. This little camp would take me all the way up the coast to Byron Bay. Byron Bay is about a 12-14 hour bus journey from Sydney, so the surf camp enabled me to make the journey over a space of four days, as well as giving me the chance to learn to surf. A basic day consisted of about 3 hours traveling, a good morning and afternoon surf lesson, and a few beers!!! Two nights where spent in lodge accommodation, and another camping a stones throw away from the surf in the remote Yuraygir National Park. It was on this trip I got within inches of Kangaroos, Bandicoots, and Possums etc. One of the best aspects of this trip was that I was able to surf on some of the best surf spots up the coast, and usually we had the beaches to ourselves. Despite my four-day battle, I will admit now that I'm not a natural surfer, but I hope to work at it! Upon arrival in Byron Bay, I was checked into an awesome hostel there. It was called "Backpacker Holiday Village", and that's pretty much what it was. A little community full of like minded backpackers. I was again impressed when I was checked into a four-man room full of women!!! Everyone that has been to Byron will tell you about the infamous Cheeky Monkeys!! A great place, that no one fails to pass through on his or her visit to Byron. Byron Bay is actually the most Easterly point of the Australian mainland, and there is a fantastic, highly recommended walk you can take up around the lighthouse etc to the very point. After a few days beach bumming in Byron, I booked a bus up to Brisbane. This was a two-hour bus journey. The reasoning behind this move was that I couldn't face a 12-14 coach journey back to Sydney. Instead of paying $90 for a bus, I booked a flight back to Sydney from Brisbane for $109. This only took an hour and a half, which was well worth an extra $19!! Whilst in Brisbane (quite a culture shock after being in Byron!) I took more of a touristy route, and took time out to check out the museums and the cultural side of the city. Thus I got bored quite quickly, and was glad my time in Brisbane was only two days! It was a very nice city though, and especially the "Down Under Bar and Grill" and their pool comp (where I was knocked out in the first round). Although it was a short trip, I got to see a little more of the east coast of this giant country, and fills me full of ideas for my next excursion!!! I have a bunch of photos of the trip which will be posted soon, but I'm still having difficulties uploading the pictures, so check soon to see them.