Week 19+20 East Coast Australia

DISCLAIMER
I'm finishing this blog on a display MacBook in Sydney airport. This is not conducive to optimum enjoyment of writing...

Noosa

Noosa is nicer than your average town! Epitomising all that the Australian East Coast hopes to be; beautiful, spacious, green and sunny. It's also filled with more smug new parents than could be found at your average school nativity play.

I spent my time here largely being a "grommet" (surfing beginner), visiting Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo and walking the enchanting National Park.

Just coasting through life.

She sells sea shells on the sea shore, the shells she sells go for minimum $50, because it's an affluent middle class crowd in the neighbourhood.

I took far too many pictures in the zoo, but here are a few of my favourites. And when I say "I", I mean my Canadian friend with the posh camera...

Crikey, what a beaut!

I asked nicely for him to smile, but Wesley just pulled a face. 

This wombat here bent over laughing when I read her my blog. 

Roo cursing his small arms as he tries to scratch his butt.

My new best friend, Barbecue.

Brisbane

Now I'll be honest, I hadn't heard a single piece of positive feedback regarding Brisbane before my visit. Luckily for me, I was able to stay with a good friend and thoroughly enjoyed the city. I found it almost cute how much the city tried to be an "international metropolis" and yet somehow still felt like a suburban area - more in keeping with Noosa than with say Sydney.

Beautiful Brisbane.

A narrative photo of the area.

This is winter! No wonder Australians are always so smug about their patch of turf.

Surfer's Paradise

You know when they named "Greenland" as such, in order to attract people to the otherwise barren wilderness? Well that's kind of how I felt about Surfer's Paradise. Don't get me wrong, some people absolutely lovely the artificial long golden stretch of sand, endless high rise buildings and clubbing scene. Me, well all I saw was an unfinished construction site, poor weather and nothing to do.

This is because I made the previous comment about winter I'm sure.

Byron Bay

Now we're talking! All the locals rave about Byron and it's easy to see why. The likes of Jack Johnson and, well actually that's the only celebrity I know but there are more, live here.

Waves here are huge! Trying to surf them is akin to trying to date Chris Brown.

Time to wave goodbye to Byron (what! I've not done a good pun in weeks).

I think they should rename it Tyrone Bay personally. (Yes that is the moon).

The most easterly point of Australia under the most beautiful moon I've ever seen.

This should be in an art gallery somewhere me thinks. The juxtaposition of natural and artificial light (or something like that).

Coff's Harbour

I have definitely slowed down the pace of my travels in Australia. In this most idyllic of towns, I allowed myself a few days of 'rest'; taking in the tranquility of this often over-looked place.

Viewpoint of the town.

A four wheel drive trip up to the national park.

Inside a creeper vine

Sydney

I allowed myself four days in this most iconic of cities. Sadly I couldn't use them all due to the appalling weather. I found Sydney to be very similar to London, except it has a stunning stretch of Coast, known as "Bondi Beach" which is as lovely as it is famous. 

Sydney Opera House - but you knew that!

Circular Quay.

And then it started raining (Darling Harbour). 

I like this. The real thing and the architectural recreation. 

The walk over Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Darling Harbour again. Darling please won't you stop for just a bit!

One of my favourite walks ever - Bondi to Bronte

The Sydney Skyline

The famous Bondi Beach

Despite the weather, I enjoyed Sydney. Its pretty ports, imposing skyline and luscious parks. It was the perfect end to an incredible 5 weeks down under. 

Australia is perhaps not as  adventurous as my previous locations and it's certainly a lot more expensive. However I feel these downfalls are more than made up for by its awe-inspiring natural displays, friendly people and hassle free lifestyle. 

Trip Stats

Places Visited : (15) Cairns, Tully, Atherton Tablelands, Magnetic Island, Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Island, Agnes Water, Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, Noosa, Brisbane, Surfer's Paradise, Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Sydney

Distance travelled: 2500km

Kangaroos cuddled: 6