You can't believe everything you have seen, photos taken and adventures had, on your road trip since you left Queensland. You know you won't forget
Dangar Falls,
the Hunter Valley,
the Blue Mountains,
the Jenolan Caves,
Katoomba,
Myall Lakes National Park,
Port Macquarie and
Emerald Beach.
So here now is your last stop. Byron Bay, NSW, famous for beaches, the light house, surfing, old hippies, young bohemians and lots of tourists.
The iconic Cape Byron lighthouse!
You have been gone for a few weeks now and it is nice to come back to something familiar, yet different, as you have been through Byron, spent the afternoon but never stayed. It is time to change that so you dig into one of the
accommodations and get to know the town better.
Where the surfers surf!
Walking around the main area of the town you find there are all kinds of restaurants like the Balcony and Earth n' Sea Pizza, both yummy and different at the same time.
You wonder to yourself where the rest is. Where are all the creative people? There are a few shops in the town but mostly big name brand stores, surf shops and the like. Then someone hands you a copy of "
The Book "and it opens your eyes to the Arts and Industrial area about 3 kilometers west, past where Shirley Street becomes Ewingsdale Road.
It is thrilling to see all the creative people and manufacturers thriving out here.
Artistic flare abounds in the area!
The Eco Chopping Boards and Furniture store is well worth a look inside. The showroom is natural and aromatic when you cross the thresh hold. They specialize in camphor laurel wooden furniture, a non-native tree that does too well here in Australia. The farmers clear it, these lovely people buy it and manufacture furniture and cutting boards. This allows them to hire and train apprentices to manufacture their wares.
well worth a look inside!
Then there is Hammer and Hand, a consortium of 6 artists who share their shop. Each one takes turns manning the shop, allowing the others to continue on with their work. They use recycled soda cans and biscuit tins to bring color to their work. They create jewelry and art for you to peruse.
There is a garden shop, surf board manufacturer and repairer, fashion stores, furniture stores where the furniture is made from recycled materials, coffee shops where you can buy Byron Bay coffee and beans. So much can be seen out here you wonder how you have missed it all the other times you have passed through. Good thing you decided to stay for a couple of days.
the garden shop and more!
You are also excited that on a Monday night in Byron Bay the Beach Hotel has an open mike night where the house band assists all kinds of new comers to the stage. This is a good spot to enjoy up and coming entertainers.
nightlife with open mike night!
So there you have it. Your trip ends on a positive note as you head home relaxed, your internal adventurer appeased and you can continue with your lovely life in Queensland where next weekend you can, once again, check out Weekend Notes for what is going on.
