Whilst in Queensland on my trip home from Byron Bay last week, I chanced upon this picture in one of their daily papers. It shows a saltie (saltwater crocodile) in the surf on a beach up by Cape York, the north eastern tip of Australia. The croc, though not very fast when out of the water, is just fast enough to catch some tucker, in the shape of this turtle.

Monday decided to try something different. On the recommendation of a few other backpackers went to Bellingen, just inland of Coffs Harbour, about 4 hours south of Byron. What a chilled out place. Can’t even get mobile reception for those of us on vodafone. Was great. Spent the days lounging around or riding down the Bellinger river on a rubber inner tube, all provided by the YHA there. At dusk the sky fills with thousands of noisy fruit bats as they leave the protection of the trees to hunt for food. Definately a place to go back to when I’ve got more time.

Now back in Byron. Got to leave here tomorrow on the bus to get to Brisbane, as my flight to Melbourne goes at 9am on Saturday…

Got a cheap flight with Qantas and decided to leave Melbourne for a week in the sunny north. Flew to Brisbane on Tuesday, then took the morning Greyhound heading south on Wednesday morning and arrived in Byron Bay at midday. Checked in at Melbourne airport behind a familar face and voice - then finally realised it was Alicia Molik, who’d been commentating on the tennis for channel 7 the last few weeks. Met a good bunch of guys in the hostal, and spent most of the day at the main beach with them all. The ocean here is just so warm! And mustn’t forget the sunscreen;

Today the yachts leave for Wellington NZ, so yesterday I went to see them in the docklands area of Melbourne. They’re all pretty impressive, but I was surprised there were only about 7 yachts. There were lots of people milling around and you could see them preparing for many weeks at sea. They’ve been in Melbourne for nearly a month, but will only stay a few days in Wellington before crossing the Southern Ocean, and around Cape Horn then heading north towards the next real stopover in Rio, Brazil.

Meet ABN AMRO 2;

Just got back from a long weekend in Sydney. Stayed at Milson’s Point, just across the harbour from Circular Quay. Took the ferry each day to visit the rest of Sydney, a great way to see the city. The photos below was taken while waiting for the ferry;

The harbour is simply fantastic. I booked a 5 day travelpass with cityrail, which includes all ferries pretty much. My 5th time in Sydney, but finally I got to see a side of it I’d missed previously. Managed to take loads of photos, and even did a tour of the Opera House. 

Spent the Monday at a beach called Camp Cove (where the 1st fleet set up camp the day before they settled at what i now the Sydney Rocks). The water was crystal clear. Below is Watson’s Bay which is where you get off the ferry for Camp Cove;

Headed back Monday evening to Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport for the short flight back to Melbourne. Took the photos below as we passed Double Bay in the evening sunshine;