The Sun Comes Out for a Mountain Bike Trek

Sunday, May 3, 2015

According to locals today's weather is more typical of Byron Bay- sunny skies & warm air.  We donned our hiking shoes and hopped on bikes to explore!

Biking along Broken Head (5% grade uphill)...

and hiking...

... to this vista- Wow!

We made it!

The rocks were slippery... 

so the boys could not resist posing for these staged "near miss" photos- HA!

Reward for efforts & energy for our trek to the waterfall-yum!

Three Sisters Rocks

Our guide Aaron ate these as a boy & challenged our boys to try them...
both did!

We had to cross roads flooded from the earlier rain to get to the trail head

Killen Falls were "massive" because of the recent rain fall

Fantastic last day at Byron Bay- thanks Aaron!

Surf's Up...Too High

Saturday, May 2

The rain has stopped but the sea is wild.  The surf was up to 3.5 meters and determined to be unsafe for the boys and us novices to try out the waves on surfboards or take out the sea kayaks... We still made it to the beach!

Tallow Beach
*The lighthouse is at the end of the point in the center of this photo (obscured by the morning fog)*

A sea sponge washed up from the storm

"Come on out to the water Dad...."

"IT"S GREAT!"

This little guy was washed up from the storm too-

Dinner at The Lazy Italian after the 1 hour long walk into town from our resort!

Fire twirler 

The lighthouse at night

A Rainy Day's Fun

Friday, May 1

The storm has closed the national parks and rescheduled our mountain bike ride but has not shut down our family fun at The Byron. A day at the resort turned into an adventure and friendly family competition!

Rainforest walk on the resort property...

An impromptu game of charades under canopy when the rain pours...

That is not green grass...it is water!!

Practicing their snorkeling in the pool- even in the rain
"Can't get any wetter."

Top Secret Australian adventure mystery

Hard at work- even through lunch

Family scrabble team winners!!!

Mexican dinner at Miss Margarita's 

Byron Bay- Vision Walk

Thursday, April 30

The rain has set in the bay & plans are changed but we are not thwarted!  Today we meet with our guide Wendy for a look at the lighthouse up close and to see our first Australian animals.

Hearty brekky to begin the day...

Byron Bay Lighthouse

Wallaby

Watego Beach Point

Kookaburra

Pademelon

Fig trees grow anywhere!

Hello Koala!

Hyde Park in Sydney to Byron Bay

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

For our last morning in Sydney we decided to take in Hyde Park and visit the Anzac War Memorial.
In the afternoon, we headed north on our first domestic flight to a little surfing town on the Gold Coast of New South Wales- Byron Bay. It is also called the city of rainbows...

Anzac War Memorial

Spent shells for those who gave their lives-
Standing ones for those who made it home.

Statue of sacrifice

First view of Byron Bay-
The lighthouse is obscured by the clouds...maybe the rainbows come after the rain!

Dinner at The Byron at Byron-our latest stop