Campervan Trip 1 'Byron Bay' (Gold Coast)

6.30am start to pick up the motor home but just as well as we didn't get on the road until a few hours later and somehow managed to find ourselves back in the city during rush hour - Sue willing to take blame as navigator! Although our road trip to Cairns takes us north along the Sunshine coast we had decided to first travel south along the gold coast as we were keen to visit Byron Bay.

Made a stop at Surfers Paradise - just a little busy (Benidorm, Praia de Rocha spring to mind) but that said we found it to have a lovely long beach with plenty of surf action to entertain. From here we followed the local coast road although this proved to be really busy in parts due to an international surf competition that was happening along that stretch of the coast.

Stopped in Coolangata and a lovely tourist advisor pointed us in the direction of the Tweed Heads coastal road where we found a gorgeous spot at Cabarita Beach and had our breakfast which at 3pm, was most welcomed! Had a quick walk on the beach and found that the sand is so incredibly fine that it actually squeaks when you walk on it!

Arrived in Bryon Bay late afternoon and realised that we had travelled through a time zone and had lost an hour. The site is very popular as on the beach side and was fully booked - so glad we had made a prior booking. Delighted to find that our allocated plot was right beside the beach entrance and only 30yards to getting our toes in the sand - great plot. Took a stroll into town just 10 mins away, had a couple of drinks and tapas, pretty shattered so turned in early.

Following morning we had a swim in the ocean to wake up then took bacon butties back to the beach for breakfast- how wonderful is that J . Tom had failed to mention the signage around the beach steps warning of a recent snake sighting in the vicinity - Sue clearly delighted to have the opportunity to perhaps see some of the local wildlife…not!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Sorry to even have to mention the 'S' word Teresa)

Tom in his usual organised manner had popped into town to book a Sea Kayaking trip and grabbed some body boards, so today we were up for a total beach day. Agreed to go off as a pair on the kayak, obviously with Tom in control at the rear!.....think there may be a touch of poetic licence here!

We were guaranteed that we would get to see dolphins (oh yeah!!) and having paddled for some time with a couple of false starts we were not so sure that we would get a sighting but then there they were - a magnificent pod of dolphins J We kept still until, perceiving no threat, curiosity got the better of them and they came to swim alongside our group of kayaks - So wonderful to see such gorgeous creatures in their natural habitat that it rendered Sue speechless for a little while!

All in all we had a brilliant time but 3 hours kayaking took its toll so decided to have a drink and slow stroll along the beach to the lookout point for some great views although by now any dolphins were long gone. Once refreshed we returned to the beach for some body boarding; great fun to be pounded by the waves and on some occasions to ride along with them. Just to say especially for Jacqui's benefit that this beach is very safe and very well patrolled x.

Ended the afternoon with drinks on the beach and chill time before walking into town for the evening - walked via the beach and caught a stunning sunset (you know how we love our sunsets). Tom had booked a table overlooking the beach, great food and lovely atmosphere. Went into the main drag after dinner, really buzzy young crowd, but not really our scene so wandered around and came across a really good street band and yes you guessed, we ended up dancing in the street - its ok no one knows us!