Byron Bay and Spot X Surf Camp

Byron Bay

3-8 March 2010
Byron Bay consists principally of a long strip stretching back from the sandy bay, where tempting restaurants, trendy bars and expensive boutiques compete for space with hostels, backpacker travel agents and ethnic clothing and jewellery shops. However, despite the fact that it is swarming with backpackers for most of the year, it still manages to stay in some ways true to its hippy roots, retaining the relaxed and quirky feel which attracted travellers in the first place. Aside from that, it's just about sun, sand and surfing! We spent a few days here, steadfastly attempting the beach every day and consistently being forced to beat a hasty retreat an hour or so later when the dark clouds rolled in and the rains came.

Byron Bay is also popular for its nightlife and most evenings were spent dancing the night away in Cheeky Monkeys - a small bar notorious amongst backpackers - complete with wooden booths, cheap drinks, old school music and trestle tables instead of dance floors.

One evening, for a change of pace, we walked up to watch the sunset from the lighthouse on Cape Byron, a rocky promontory marking the most easterly point of mainland Australia. It was a beautiful early evening stroll, the winding road weaving its way upwards, thick woodland on one side, modern and stylish beach houses on the other. Those who reach the top are rewarded by the refreshing sea breeze; the lighthouse standing proudly at the edge of the cliff, brilliant white against the clear blue skies; the waves crashing on the rocks below and the beach stretching off into the distance to meet the lowering sun.

Surf Camp

8-9 March 2010
Spot X - a beachside resort south of Byron Bay and the location of my first ever surf lesson. What an incredible afternoon, loved every second of it! We both managed to stand up after just five minutes (impressive i know!) and the adrenaline rush is so intense it just gets more and more addictive. Admittedly the boards were about nine feet long and more like small boats than surf boards, and admittedly we still "wiped out" so many times we swallowed about a year's worth of recommended salt intake, but standing is standing (even if you do look like Bambi)!!