In part two of her series, Magazine writer Gisele Weishan continues with the trip to two beautiful sceneries: Byron Bay and Melbourne.
From Sydney, you can continue your Aussie adventures by venturing up or down the coast. Whether in search of beach waves and slow living to the North or trendy living at a faster pace to the South, the small coastal town of Byron Bay and the big city of Melbourne both have a lot to offer, respectively.
Byron Bay
Byron Shire Council recognises the Bundjalung of Byron Bay Arakwal people, the Minjungbal people and the Widjabul people as Traditional Owners and custodians for parts of the Byron Shire.
This little beach town, which pretty much makes up only one roundabout with four divergent roads, holds a very special place in my heart. When thinking of home, this is the first place that comes to mind and causes those faraway pangs of heart. Amongst the backpackers I lived with, there was an agreement that time, almost to an eerie extent, simply seems to work differently in Byron Bay. A pocket of space in which things are far slower and more stretched. It was a joke amongst us that those who arrived initially planning to stay only a week would soon find themselves inexplicably realising they had already been there three months.
In other words, to know someone for a week in Byron is to know them for a month anywhere else. Though I will admit, living in hostels and sharing bunk beds and bathrooms with those around you also expedites this process.
With all this time, there are many natural wonders to take in during your stay. Byron is home to some beautifully long stretches of white sandy beaches like Wategos and Tallows. Through a pathway of brambles and branches, you can find a quiet retreat at Tea Tree Lake, where the tree roots turn the water so dark you can’t see your legs as they kick out from under you and where the scent of bush holds strong in your lungs.
Indulge in vast arrays of vegan food which leave meat-loving diners in the minority, from Combi Cafe to No Bones. While here, take a trip to the nearby town of Mullumbimby, where it is said the true hippie spirit of the area resides. Or go for a hike to see the jaw-dropping Minyon Falls. And if your idea of a good night out is dancing barefoot in the sand, learning to twirl fire, drinking with friends by a bonfire under the stars of a secluded beach, or going to a notorious Aussie ‘bush-doof’, as opposed to pub crawls and clubbing (of which there aren’t really any in this small town) Byron is the place to be.
All in all, though she be little, Byron Bay is a rich patch of sanctuary from the thrum of city life. If heading this way, be sure to time your visit for July, to make the most of Byron’s famous Splendour in the Grass festival as well.