Bagora to Tweed Heads
Unfortunately time to leave Bagora, which is a shame as it is one of these places that are just really chilled out, not too touristy, and has a great beach. Heading back down we covered a lot of ground and hit the end of the gold coast at Tweed Heads. The Gold Coast is probably a bit like Malaga, high-rise buildings all along the front of the beach. On the way here we went on the Glass House mountain drive stopping briefly and called in at another of Australia�s �big� things, which are designed to make you stop at the service stations, the Big Pineapple which I had actually seen last time I was here (see it works). Not much to Tweed Heads � nice beach to walk along.
Tuesday 21st Jan
Tweed Heads to Byron Bay
Making a rapid exit from our campsite and leaving the two pink as lobster Tasmanians next to us behind (not only the Brits who burn badly) we headed down for Byron Bay, a return visit for me. Byron is one of those places rather like Bagora � very chilled and laid back atmosphere, and a small town with 3 great beaches. Cape Byron (and the Byron Bay lighthouse) is also the most easterly point of Australia. We stayed in possibly the most extortionate campsite so far with the old bat at the reception telling us we needed two sites for our tents (there are only 2) and it was $30 a site. When we got to the sites she had given us you could have got about 8 two man tents on each site - what a rip off. A pleasant wander down the beach (with a disturbing amount of Bluebottle jellyfish washed up) and then Eminem�s �8 Mile� film to round the evening off.
Wednesday 22nd Jan
Byron Bay to Chris and Becks (nr Ballina)
Beach in the morning and then onto Darren and Finch�s friends Chris and Becks to stay with them. Baked ourselves stupid in the sun which was really hot today and then cooled off at Lennox Head in Lake Ainsworth which is heavily tainted by Teatree oil from the Teatree trees that surround the lake and the river that runs into it. The water has the colour of coke and because of the heavy pigmentation is quite cold beneath the first foot of water. However dodgy it looked it is supposed to be good for the skin and was beautifully cold.
Having got lost trying to find Chris and Becks it turned out to be a lovely bungalow in the hills near Ballina with mango, lemon, lime, avocado, and orange trees out the back. Traditional Aussie food as we had a massive BBQ followed by pictionary with Play Doh � very strange.
Thursday 23rd Jan
Fairly chilled out day basing ourselves from Chris and Becks. Decided to visit Nimbin to see what all the fuss is about, this was a town that got taken over by hippies back in the seventies and has been a focal point for the �alternative� lifestyle. To give you an idea every year they celebrate a �Mardi Grass� dedicated to the holy weed. Nimbin lived up to its reputation, walking up and down the high street (and its not a very long high street) we were offered space cookies 3 times and weed about 8, once by what looked to be the post lady! A brief coffee here and then onwards towards Mount Warning stopping briefly in the strange little village Mooball where the telegraph poles are camouflaged Friesian style as is the petrol station (just look at the photos you�ll see what I mean).
There was talk of climbing Mount Warning but the lack of proper attire as well as the idea of a four hour round walk the last bit of which is completed by hauling yourself up a chain on the rock face didn�t appeal. We met up with Chris and Becks in Bangalow for the second good Indian of the trip.
Friday 24th Jan
From Chris and Becks to Nambucca Heads
Having left the Chris and Becks lovely home we headed south once more towards Nambucca Heads south of Coffs Harbour. On the way passing yet more �big � things, the Big Prawn (Ballina), the Big Banana (Coffs), and somehow missed the Big Avocado along the way. Nambucca Heads is a nice little town, the beach was just over the dunes from the campsite and virtually empty although this also seemed to have a lot of Bluebottles washed up the shore as well as bigger transparent jellyfish about the side of a football. The campsite also offered a free shuttle ride by bus to the local RSL (Returned Servicemen�s League), which always has cheap drinks, and food so on we hopped.
We don�t have anything like the RSL at home � its almost like a working mans club only as Australia is a relatively classless society everyone goes there and its more family orientated. Still they are the �cheap� pubs and consequently I have seen quite a few of them! The one in Nambucca has to have a better view than most pubs (see photos) and the food as promised was good value. We were also entertained by a two man band live who where truly awful but all the more entertaining for it.