Byron Bay: A Real Beach Town

The Byron Bay Lighthouse, eastern most point of mainland Australia
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Byron Bay is a popular tourist destination in Australia - particularly for young backpackers.  It's all chilled out and stuff with plenty of cafe's, surf shops, and pubs.  The beaches are plentiful and it's still far enough south that it's safe to swim in the waters (one of the last few on your way north).  We ourselves just kind of chilled out while we were there.  We took advantage of the beach - we had not seen hot weather in a while - and took the opportunity to plan out the rest of our Australian adventure.  We booked our Fraser Island and Whitsunday trips with this smooth talking salesman who was "amazed that we were married" of all things.  Kind of a funny young bloke if you ask me, but I digress.  Anyway, Byron Bay was way too touristy for us - if you don't have dreads you don't really fit in - but my sister would have loved it!

The light tower of the lighthouse. Very regal looking.
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One great thing we did do though however was a hike to the eastern most point of Australia - Cape Byron Lighthouse.  Michael, being from the Maritimes is quite fond of light houses.  He also loves geography, so the fact that we were on the eastern most point really excited him - the same as for the most south westerly point which we also saw (Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse).  It was really great.

It's all chilled out and stuff with plenty of cafe's, surf shops, and pubs.

Heather in some of the local rainforest around Byron Bay
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Heather and Michael