Wednesday 1 April 2015

"We arrived back in Melbourne with clean clothes, backpacks and ready to rock our way on to Brisbane with Andy and Jacqui...the Gold Coast beckoned and there was definitely no rest for the wicked!


After an uneventful flight to Brisbane we picked up the hire car and headed up the coast to Hope Island for the night, our first stop point.  Humid and raining as night fell we enjoyed a stonking seafood meal at one of the restaurants in the marina before heading back to our hotel for a nightcap and sleep. On waking a cracking day greeted us so we went for a mooch around the marina and boat gazed, there was some seriously expensive and huge boats moored.  I think we obviously fitted in well with the boating crowd...


We had rented a self-catering apartment in Kingscliff as our base to explore the Gold Coast and other delights on offer, so we made our way slowly down the coast through Southport, Surfers Paradise, Coolangatta and Tweed Heads.  The coastline was acceptable :)


Even though it was overcast for much of the day it didn't detract from the views or the road trip and spirits were as usual high.


Once we'd located our apartment and settled in we were then free to explore at will so in no particular order:

Byron Bay lighthouse and a sighting of a large dolphin pod frolicking in the bay.


The Byron Bay Easter market was bustling and full of weird and wonderful goods.  There was also a live band (really good) which people were bopping away to, including the oldest, walnut coloured and gnarled woman I've ever seen who's moves were astounding!  A true accolade to you are never too young...or tanned apparently ;)


Byron Bay itself, not marred by the Blues Festival which we thought was going to hamper our visit.


The town, not quite as I'd imagined, a much more grown-up version than the surfer filled, laid back image in my head.


We also enjoyed what Kingscliff had to offer, terrace time at the apartment


Chats with the local lizards who occupied most of the apartment sun loungers.


Kingscliff beach with surf which drags you over and spits you out where it chooses.  Matt spent hours playing in the surf and I spent hours watching and making sure he re-appeared and wasn't head-rammed by a surfer dude.


Kayaking in Cudgen Creek, utterly hilarious as we only had two one-person kayaks and two inflatable rings tied to each kayak.  Not a hugely successful arrangement from a distance travelled perspective but the laugh-o-meter was off the scale.


We also couldn't resist a trip out to Nimbin, known for hippie living and copious amounts of marjuiana. This was both a funny and sad place, bars, restaurants and stalls lined the Main Street, colour and Bob Marley filled.  The unmistakeable smell of Marjuiana everywhere and little pockets of people just lounging at the side of the road on old sofas or just sat on the floor.  The sad part was seeing the state of some individuals who had so obviously left reality behind long ago and looked like something almost un-human.  Visiting one of the local art galleries gave insight into some of the local artists' heads and it wasn't a pretty sight I can tell you!

On our last day the flight back to Melbourne wasn't until late so we headed back towards Brisbane and stopped at Dreamworld for a bit of an adrenaline boost before the flight.  As usual we took it easy...not


The rides were extreme, as were the nausea levels and leg wobbles but what a way to go!

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