Woodstock on the beach...Australia style

I think I left off as we were leaving Sydney in our lux rental car. It is very weird driving around in a brand new Toyota Camry after our "Wicked" campervan in NZ. It's almost like a whole new image and a little weird to show up at a hostel in a car that we could have easily borrowed from our parents but who's going to turn down a free upgrade?

We made it from Sydney to Port MacQuarie on our 1st day of driving and stayed at Ozzie Pozzie Backpackers. It was a cute beach town and a cute little hostel that I wouldn't have minded staying longer at if there was more to do in Port. We did make it to the Koala Hospital and saw some recovering koalas up close and personal and even some joeys getting ready for release.

From there we headed to Byron Bay and found the Arts Factory Lodge where everyone had told us to stay. We're here for 4 nights total. It is quite an interesting place...very hippie haven-ish. There are dorms, teepees, campground areas, a pool and hot tub, courtyards filled with wild turkeys and lizards and a cheap Buddha bar with fabulous happy hour specials directly across the carpark (parking lot). And there is also yoga every a.m as well as drumming and didjeridoo lessons. The hair and clothing styles here are really something and I've seen some incredible drum circles.

We can walk into town and to the beach or there is a bus that runs 24 hours from the hostel. Yesterday morning Evan and I did a great run through town and almost to the lighthouse (the hills combined with drinking the night before made the super steep climb to the lighthouse not so attractive...trying again tomorrow) and then took a small road trip through the "hinterland" to Nimbin for some more hippie-watching before settling on the beach and not moving for many hours. Today it's yoga for me and then some more beach time (I hope I miss less spots with my sunscreen today). Evan says he may take a surf lesson.