Kingscliff to Byron Bay

28th April

I know what some may be thinking and you'd be right, its only a stone throw away, under an hours ride to Byron, but I'd intended to meet up with John, my boss at Thunderbike, as he was going to be staying there for a few days and we'd agreed to catch up. Consulting the bike atlas gave a great ride through the Gold Coast Hinterland, that would loop me right back to Kingscliff and on down to Byron, what a ride!

Heading about 20k's west to Murwillumbah, then swiching onto highway 97 taking me back over the state border into Queensland, a fairly steep climb too to reach the border, stopping for coffee and cake on the way at the Chillingham store. Apparently its called the Hinze Raceway after the minister of main roads had it built and drove it frequently, I can see why, through really beautiful rugged scenery the road starts to open out from the initial tight and narrow NSW side, some of these corners were just built for sportsbikes and I have to admit that I wish I was on one through here. Great riding surface, well sign posted corners (which again dictate that its a motorcyclist accident spot) and some of the 180 degree (which there must have been 20 or more!) loops were amazing and just begging for some kneedown action!Like I said, it would eventually bring me back out in the heart of the Goldcoast, following my tracks again through Southport & "Surfers" I stopped again for a few more photos.

Traffic was slow and out on the Pacific highway it was hot too, miles and miles of traffic pouring slowly through the seive of traffic lights, endless bloody traffic lights! until it all starts to thin out further down the coast, off the main highway, back into NSW and to my starting point this morning, Kingscliff, except this time I keep going. Its only a short hop to Byron, but this place is so much more natural and inviting than Surfers was, much more my scene. I'd describe this place as a wee bit like a smaller version of Queenstown in NZ, with surfboards! Lots of travelers here, lots of accents, sand, sea, surf and all that goes with it, I expected this place to erupt at night, but it was surprisingly calm, even the Aquarius backpackers where I stayed was relativley quiet to what I'd expected, I guess its getting a little late in the year and its definately getting cooler further south! My dorm was shared with a couple of lads from Manchester, two from Sweden, both of whom spoke amazingly good English and Lorenzo from Italy, a good bunch of guys too.
Out in the evening for a great Thai meal and a bottle of red with John, that with the beers I'd sunk at the backpackers made my steps slightly sideways on the walk back :)I hung around Byron for another day, didn't really do much, watched the surfing on the beach for a while, but I could have gone out to Nimbin, the hippy place only about an hour away, I never thought about it until later, when it was too late! as I was off to Coffs Harbour the next day and really wouldn't have time to detour to see it, I'm a bit gutted, cos apparently its a must see on your travels, I guess I cant see it all! But all that said, Byron Bay is definately the nicest place I've visited so far. Looking at the map shows I've really not gone very far yet, about 3000K's altogether so far, be time to change the oil soon!