Landed at Ballina airport just south of Byron Bay yesterday around 1pm. After a half an hour minibus ride I met up with Foley at the Aquarius Backpackers hostel. It’s a nice place with loads of friendly people only two minutes walk from the beach. They do good meals every night for $8.50 which is just over three pounds so that’s a bargain.
Met a couple of guys last night, Connor from Belfast and Nick from Holland, and we went out for a few drinks, nothing too heavy though. This morning we went on a bit of a mammoth trek along the beach and up a big ol’ hill to the Cape Byron lighthouse and the most easterly point of Australia. That was knackering, but fun.
We walked back down and chilled on the beach for a while, and Connor took me out for a surfing lesson which was a good laugh! I only managed to stand upright for about two seconds but with practice I’m sure I’ll master it!
It’s much more chilled out up here and there’s a good atmosphere, kind of a laid-back hippy type vibe. Haven’t had chance to do much here yet so not a lot to report but I’ve just booked to go diving tomorrow morning! I’m going to a place called Julian Rocks which is supposed to be teeming with life, including three species of turltes, rays, octopus and two or three species of (harmless) shark! The dive shop I’m going with have got a good interactive map of the dive site where you can find out more. I think I’ll purchase one of those throw-away underwater cameras and see what I can point and click at. Yeah, so, really looking forward to getting back down into the ocean. Foley, Connor and Nick are also coming along on the boat to do some snorkelling.