Brisbane

Gabi and Michael live in Brisbane for one year, because Michael (Germany) works with a genetically modified cotton tree experiment. So I learned a lot about GM food and how good it is. I was a good listener, because I was a believer to begin with. Gabi (Swiss, pregnant in the 5 month) took us to the city during the day and showed us the best spots. On the Brisbane River you can get just about everywhere with the City Cats (ferries). We checked out the Botanical garden, City Hall and the old powerhouse. If Australia is California, Brisbane is Santa Barbara. In the evenings we ate tacos and the Gerber-fondue Carolin brought along from Switzerland. So we had a really nice and warm stay with the temporary ex pads. Thanks again!
They even gave us a lift to the airport. But when we arrived I had to learn that I was at the wrong airport 2 hours before my flight was about to take off. And airasia.com has a strict rule that you have to check in 1 hour in advance. So I ran down to the taxi drivers (without saying bye to Carolin - sorry) and talked with some Pakistani cabdrivers. They told me it is 310 AUD to get to Coolangatta Airport in 1.5 hours. Luckily an Australian guy came - he looked hungover - and said that he can do it in one hour. I had to suggest a price tag and he accepted 150 AUD but he had to check with his supervisor before, to get the job done of duty. And of we went. Rushing down the highway 15% above the speedlimit. 1 minute late I stood in front of the check in, but the girl helped me out when she heard the number 150 AUD. Relief, huge relief...

North Stradbroke Island

Fraser Island was an option at the beginning, but when we saw how far north of Brisbane it is and how much they charge, we decided to go to Straddy. An island of the coast of Brisbane. After 3 buses, a ferry and a train we arrived at Point Lookout. Another walk through town and along the cliffs was next. We saw some turtles and maybe a stingray.
The next day we dropped off our luggage at a local maritime cub and took a cap to the Blue Lake. A nice relaxing place with hippies smoking ganja next to us. The way back we walked - the sun was relentless and after about 8 km in the sun we were able to hitch the rest. Next on the list was visiting Carolin's friends in Brisbane.

Byron Bay

Heaps of tourists visit this place all year to enjoy carrying the surfboard around without a shirt and some also surf. The ocean also offers a nice swim for the normal people and the semi turquoise water offers beautiful vistas from just about everywhere. The lighthouse is the main thing in Byron Bay, that has not been built for tourists. The walk up takes you through dry rain forest (hope this exists) and you can see dolphins surfing the waves. The party hostel was packed with French and German people getting pissed all day long.
A word of the god (yes, that's me): "If you get drunk - do it with style"

Lennox Head

After a night bus we arrived in Lennox Head. It's a nice little town and is considered to be the small brother of touristy Byron Bay. It is not touristy at all and the walk up to the Lennox Head offered nice views of the ocean and the waves smashing in. A guy from Tasmania showed us around and ultimately took us to his Do-Nothing-Spot. Where we did nothing. But while doing nothing we saw some whales out in the ocean.
Carolin took a swim in a nearby lake, which looks like a huge teacup because the water flows through a forest that is the habitat of trees, which are also used to make tea.
Otherwise there is not much to do in Lennox Head - of course besides of doing nothing.

Port Stephens

In Anna Bay we found the best hostel of the Australia trip, which is situated in the middle of the subtropical rain forest. There are just a few bungalows and a pool. We cooked most of the time by our self (Carolin's turf). During the whole stay Julian (France) was with us. He is chilled out and knows how to enjoy a cheap wine. We took walks through the national park next to the nude beach. There was a bushfire a while ago, so it was nice to see the new green generation of plans fighting for the light of the future. We also gave sandboarding another try in the local sanddunes, which was pretty cool, but the focking sand got in to my eyes all the time.
The last day Carolin and Julian did some whale watching, while I chilled at the pool. During the whole stay we saw koalas, herds of kangaroos, iguanas, snakes, whales, dolphins, heaps of birds and probably something I forgot.

Hunter valley

After a nice train ride north we arrived in the Hunter Valley. One of the biggest wine regions of Australia. We rented some bikes and rode them to the first winery. Because we were still a bit early we had to wait 5 minutes in front of it, until it opened at exactly 10 AM. The people serving knew that these cheap tourists, who were making an important face while sipping glas after glas wouldn't buy anything, but they didn't really care. On the contrary, they are all very chilled out, like almost all Australians are. Only people from the west coast of the US are easier going. On the way we also tasted some cheese and ate at a gourmet supermarket. Just afterwords we also saw some kangaroos standing between the grapes. The alcohol and the hills took their toll and we arrived at the hostel sweating. Shower and then three buses too Port Stephens.

Sydney

The world famous city is a modern, vibrant city with a lot of different ethnicities which form the economic capitol of Australia. As planed months in advance I met Carolin from Swizterland near the space needle of Sydney. We then took a walk around the city and marveled at the famous harbour bridge and the opera house. But there is much more to see next to the postcard sights. The Royal Botanic Garden with the bats shitting down, Kings Cross, Aborigines who play didgeridoo with house music in the background,the harbor and the skyscrapers it self. We walked for hours and exhausted found sanity in the free beer coupons provided by the hostel, which by the way has room for 470 people (the largest so far). In the evening we checked out China Town. The next day we spent at Bondi Beach, but the muscle packed surfer stereotypes didn't impress Carolin. She was all the time talking about the boys from Melbourne.
Then we met Nick and Suzy whom I know from a boattrip in the Amazon after spending the afternoon at Manly Beach. They live at Curl Curl Beach, which is just slightly north of the city. Nick took as out the first night to his cricket club house, which was about beer and getting to know the locals and there still mysthic entusiasm for cricket. Afterward we went to Manly Beach to some clubs - which brought even more beer to our thirsty stomach's. The following day the early birds woke me up to get to the Blue Mountains southwest of Sydney. The weather was not to good, but we tried. On the highway we almost got pulled over by police for speeding, but we hided in a side street for a few minutes after rushing off the highway. In the Blue Mountains the rain was still pretty bad, it was foggy and a bit cold, but we still saw the major attractions even though the fog was hiding the whole overlook. I wisely pointed out, that it is like going to a strip club but you never see the jewelry, because she is teasing you (That doesn't mean I have been to a strip club). On the way back we took a look at the Sydney Olympics area which is huge. In the evening we had a barby (BBQ) at Nick and Suzys place with Kangaroo.
In the morning we wanted to rent a car, but they were sold out, broken down or too expensive. So we bought a hopp-on hopp-off busticket up to Brisbane.