Byron.

Phase two.  It was the first time all trip that we felt like three among many tourists here.  Our short trip down the coast to Byron Bay was a lot of fun as we joined the masses towards the (arguably) most beautiful coastline in the world.  The Gold Coast is just south of Brisbane and our first day we stopped to enjoy the beach on Surfer's Paradise.  It didn't feel homey, mostly commercial, but the beach was gorgeous.

We stopped for lunch at a unique seafood spot where you pick your own fresh fish to fry or grill with fries.  We sat out in the beautiful sun to enjoy!

Then we found a patch of beach and enjoyed the sun for an hour, even though it was cool and slightly windy.  Jon braved the water... such beautiful ocean!

Jeni and I reading and playing Sudoku at Surfer's Paradise.

As we rolled into Byron Bay we realized that there was a lot to learn here.  

What is a good deal for a night's stay?  Four-share, six-share or eight-share rooms?  Tour or no tour?  Where are you from?  How do we get up to the lighthouse?  How do you stay warm at night?

We got the sense that Byron hosts a fair deal of backpackers, yoga practicers, hair weavers, artists and outdoor-enthusiasts (especially surfers).  We found a hostel that was more quiet than others and that allowed the three of us to be in a three-bed dorm room.  We enjoyed meeting new people as we cooked our meals in the communal kitchen, most from Canada (especially West Coast) or Europe.  Tuesday, our only full day in Byron, consisted of biking, hiking, beaching and finishing with a movie back at the hostel.  It was a highlight for all of us.

The other highlight from Byron was Wednesday morning, waking up early to jump on a whale-watching boat.  We followed a three-whale pod all the way up the coast from Brunswick Heads to the next point.  The humpbacks gave us quite a show and breached several times.  They were on the surface for almost a full hour and a half, dancing and splashing from time to time.  It was a great adventure for us and we learned a lot from the staff.  Did you know that humpbacks (males) sing to each other the exact same 20-minute song on a given coast but that this song changes slightly from year to year?  These graceful creatures are incredible.

Jon and I have changed our plans and are headed out to Cairns tomorrow morning via plane.  We will there pick up our campervan and start the trek south, down the whole of the East coast of Australia.  Stay tuned as we start phase three of this adventure!