Nice Noosa and Bohemian Byron

After leaving Fraser Island, we collected a hire car and made our way to Noosa.  For me, this was going to be just a place to stop overnight on the way to Byron Bay. I'd never really heard of the place nor knew anything about it.  

What a surprise it was.  Noosa is right on the east coast with great weather, lovely beaches, fantastic restaurants, chic bars, top hotels and stunning houses.  We arrived mid afternoon, too late to sunbathe really, so grabbed a coffee and embarked on a little wander around, booking a fab restaurant for the evening in the process.  Cazzie was in her element as there are so many quirky little shops here, all selling clothing and trinkets you really can't find in the main cities.  We stumbled into a wonderful art gallery by Peter Lik.....and instantly realised that I've been in one of these places before...in Vegas!  Google him....his photography is amazing....with a price tag to match.  

Everything here is very cool, even the police...

The next morning, we decided to work on our tan before jumping back in the car and head to Byron. We wished we had one more night here as we both loved the place.

Byron is about 3 hours south of Noosa, and we were due to meet an Ozzie friend we met in Whistler 4 years ago.  We'd set a time of 6.30pm.  A couple of other friends, Ollie and Anna, lived a few kms and a 10 minute detour from our route according to Google map, we arranged to pop into see them to break up the journey.

2 things.  1) There is a 1 hour time difference between Noosa (in Queensland) and Byron (in New South Wales).  2) 10 mins detour on Google maps equalls a 1 hour detour in rush hour and roadworks.  This meant that we were 2 1/2 hours late meeting Tommy in Byron and only spent 20 mins with Ollie and Anna.  We did drive through Southport though...

We arrived in Byron, threw our bags into the apartments and met Tommy for a much needed beer and pizza.

We planned 3 nights here right in the middle of our honeymoon to relax, sunbathe and drink and Byron ticked all 3 boxes.  There are loads of really cool restaurants, but not the chic expensive ones like Noosa, but tiny, almost run down ones, that serve the most amazing food.   We ate in a mexican and thai place that you wouldn't look twice at as they looked so scruffy, but people were queueing out the door to get a table, with most just back from the beach in wet shorts or their surfboard propped up outside.   

And, as you would expect, there are several bars, all with a live band or solo artist playing funky hippy tunes hoping to be the next Jack Johnson.  And, not forgetting the street musicians, which were on every street corner or alley way.  

Saturday in Byron was a lot of fun.  The 3 of us headed to the beach in the morning, where I was informed that the surf was wicked.  After a few hours of sunning and getting battered by the waves, it was beer o'clock, so we found a bar that overlooked the beach for a few scooners.

After a quick shower and that mexican I mentioned, where we drank margaritas as if they were going out of fashion, it was time to hit the pub.  Top night had by all.  And no one, including Tommy, was sick.

Sunday was hangover day, and after trying to get rid of it in the sea, Tommy left us and we headed upto the lighthouse and the most easterly point on Australia's mainland.

Again Byron is a must visit place.  It's so easy to see the attraction and why so many backpackers spend time here.  It's easy to get bar / waiting on work, hostels are cheap, the weather is incredible and there is so much to do.  

Love

Stuoobs

xxx