Sunday 8th November 2009

We left Sydney this morning at 7am destination Port Stephens. The bus journey was about 2 and a half hours from Sydney to Newcastle and we then had to catch a bus from Newcastle to Port Stephens. We arrived in Newcastle at around 9.30am and it was pissing it down not you want when you're arriving at a beach town. We then had to wait for over an hour for our connecting bus to Port Stephens. We arrived in Port Stephens round 11.15am both bursting for the toilet so we were very classy and had to nip behind the bus shelter hoping not to get caught.

As it turned out the campsite/hostel was just around the corner so we could have waited. We got checked in and put our tent up luckily it had stopped raining by now. We had some light entertainment while putting the tent up, the lady at the hostel has adopted a kangaroo but they also have 2 dogs as well so we had a dog versus kangaroo fight going on, I have a video which will be going on facebook very amusing. After we'd got the tent sorted we decided to go on a bike ride to Anna bay to go to the supermarket 3km away. Unfortunately for us on the way back the heavens opened again so we got soaking wet it wasn't a pleasant experience.

Back at the hostel we had some lunch then sat for an hour or so reading trying to warm up as we had both got very cold since we'd sat down. We decided as the weather had got better again we would go for a walk along the beach. It was a really nice walk so we decided to carry on to the next beach along which involved a bit of rock climbing. We had been warned that this beach was a very popular nudist beach but it also had surfers at the other end and it was a really nice beach so it was worth a look. We thought that since the weather wasn't very nice there wouldn't be any nudist about today how wrong were we as soon as we came over the rocks there was a lady starker's walking up and down the beach collecting shells (Bit of a saggy bum we thought). So a little shocked we had to sit down on the rocks to have a cigarette before daring to carry on. I didn't see but Suzie had a good look and told me there was also a group of men some completely starker's and others starker's from the waist down but with fleeces on each to there own I suppose.

So once safely away from the nudists we carried along to the other end of the beach to watch the surfers in actions. After watching for about half an hour we decided to walk back to the hostel as we had to ring Mum and Dad today and we needed to find a phone box as we had no phone signal. After finding a phone box in the caravan park next door and speaking to everyone we headed back to cook tea. After tea we watched a film before going to bed in a very cold tent.

Monday 9th November 2009

We got up this morning around 09.30am had some breakfast before packing everything away ready to check out. Once we were sorted Mick from the hostel took us Shoal bay to do a walk he had recommended. We are so glad we did it, it had the most spectacular scenery we got some amazing pictures it was a glorious day as well very hot. After the walk we went to a bar for a much needed coke and water.

From here we walked along the beach back to Nelson's bay and had a paddle in the sea. Once we were back at Nelson's bay we then got the bus back to the hostel. We then had a quick tea before catching the last bus back to Newcastle ready to get our overnight bus to Bryon bay at 9.50pm.

We had nearly 2 and half hours to try and amuse ourselves in Newcastle a place that doesn't appear to have anything to do or anything opens on a Monday night. After wondering about for over an hour with our heavy bags trying to find something open an internet café or just a café but no the only thing we could find open was ………. You've guessed it a pub so we went for a drink instead.

We caught the bus at 9.50pm which wasn't going to get Byron bay until 08.35am so we had a very long night ahead of us on the greyhound.