Somewhat of a squeal to my Sydney thread, here are my photos from Brisbane and Byron Bay. I left Sydney on an overnight Greyhound and arrived in the notorious backpacking town of Byron Bay. It reminded me a lot of American east coast beach towns. Small wood buildings, ice cream, surf and sandwich shops. There was an even mix of families and backpackers, businesses catering to both. The beach was great but in the end, still a beach. I dabbled at surfing and got stung by a jellyfish. Nothing serious but certainly not enjoyable.
Brisbane was a short bus ride north. Somewhat of an odd city to visit on a world tour. I had a friend living there that let me crash on his couch. Always nice to save a bit of cash and have an insider show you around. The city reminded me a lot of my home, Denver, maybe a bit more urban. Unlike the US, Australia is still chugging away at their real estate boom. Several towers were under construction or getting under way. Christmas was quickly approaching and the city had all the decorations out. A bit odd to see tinsel and wreaths next to palm trees in the summer. The seasonal rains were actually quite unseasonable, wreaking havoc on the area. You can see from some shots the Brisbane river was at the brim. Shortly after I left it crested and flooded parts of the city. I took a day trip into the surrounding mountains, getting a chance to see some of the local flora and fauna. Ok, enough talk.
That crest of land in the distance is the most easterly point in Australia.