The First Leg - Sydney to Brisbane
This is the first instalment of ‘Long Way Down Under’ – a brief chronicle of the 20,000 km journey as me, zoomz and Ash-kun circumnavigate Australia.
After returning to Sydney from a stint in Tokyo, the ant farm, we decided to get out and explore the vast continent, often confused as an island continent, of Australia. With no time constraint, and the only plan to go in an anti-clockwise direction, we departed Sydney heading north.
The first day on the road we intended to make it to Byron Bay, about 775 km’s from Sydney however we only made it 420 km’s to Port Macquarie where we spent the night.
After an early rise we hit the road again taking the obligatory tacky photos at the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour and the Big Prawn in Ballina. Our trips mantra soon became to take as many ‘big’ tourist trap photos along the way.
Big Banana, Coffs Harbour
Big Prawn, Ballina
We arrived in Byron Bay, camping beachside and spent a few days lazing on the beach.
The beach at Byron Bay
The beach at Byron Bay
The beach at Byron Bay
zoomz was keen to check out the alternative, hippy lifestyle that Nimbin is famous for so we dropped by for a visit. The town has a high tolerance for cultivation, selling and possession of cannabis.
At Nimbin
On the way to the Gold Coast we swung by Mount Warning – a poor excuse for a mountain standing at 1,156 metres above sea level – made famous as this is the first place on mainland Australia to receive the sun’s rays each day.
Mount Warning at sunset
Before concluding this leg in Brisbane we treated Ash to a stopover at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast.
Dreamworld on the Gold Coast
Dreamworld on the Gold Coast
Our day ended with a family dinner with the Hawkes in Brisbane.
Subsequent instalments of our adventure can be found here:
- Long Way Down Under – Part 2
- Long Way Down Under – Part 3
- Long Way Down Under – Part 4
- Long Way Down Under – Part 5
Long Way Down Under – Part 2
Aussie Rules Football Enlists First Ever Japanese-Born Player
Australia at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics
Long Way Down Under – Part 3
Broome Japanese Cemetery
Scott J
emuu
locohama
Nunnster
Brad F.
Jamaipanese
Thomas Gantz
The Envoy
freedomwv
Jamie
Ahh… looks nice ^^. Great to see you’re enjoying yourself with your family!
thanks mike. we’re having a fun time.
Did you go ice skating at the Big Banana? LOL
hahaha… damn! i should have. now i regret not going ice skating.
A friend and I went to Coffs for a weeks holiday a few years back and we were pooping the silliness of iceskating at a tropical tourist place – then we were hit by a heatwave and BOY did we eat our words – and go skating lol. Was the best place in coffs for two days!
LOL that should read: poopooing!!!
You bastard! The trip sounds fantastic. Those are some great photos- couldnt quite tell if the orange vehicle in the Nimbin photo was a Kombi.
Dude, you kept talking about how much of a rush you were in…one day here, only one day there. Yet you why the 2 week lay-over in Nimbin (aka Hippyville, aka pill-ville)???
Cool pics!
Hey Lee, Looks like your having a fantastic time with your family, pics are all good!, such a good stagged trip
Whoo, you planned to get in 800km with a child in tow? Ambitious!
It’s great that you could get the time to make a memorable trip.
Good idea mate, very easy to forget holidaying in our great country when you have an eye on the rest of the world. Keep the stories coming