Friday, January 31, 2025

Our time on Burleigh Beach has come to an end. It was the perfect jumping off point for our trip, allowing us to adjust to the new time zone, relax, and bask in the sunshine. We really enjoyed it.

This morning, Andi and I were awake at 5:00am to work, blog, and exercise. The fitness center at Mariner Shores Resort wasn’t fancy, but it was convenient to have access to this week.

One upside to traveling with minimal belongings is that it doesn’t take long to pack our clothes, toiletries, and food. The four of us were ready to leave by the 10:00am check-out time.

As we left, Tory and Aden agreed that they enjoyed staying in one place for a longer duration. “It was nice to unpack our bags and stay a while,” Aden said. “I liked it here.”

From Mariner Shores, the four of us hopped in our rental car bound for Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia. This morning would be our first true test of driving on the left side of the road. “You got this,” I told Andi. “Remember, stay to the left.”

We had a few hours before check-in time at our new apartment in Byron Bay. I suggested we go to Tally Beach since we didn’t make it there the other day, but Andi said he found a similar place called Cudgen Creek about half-way between Burleigh Heads and Byron Bay.

Cudgen Creek is an estuary in the city of Kingscliff with a calm, protected swim area that eventually leads to the ocean. There were several groups of people there when we arrived around Noon, but it wasn’t overly crowded. The park also had BBQ grills and a playground.

The sides of the creek were rocky, not sandy. No bother since we didn’t have swim towels or a shade tent to lay underneath anyway. “I think our best bet is to be in the water,” Andi said as he assessed the situation. That warranted a look with one raised eyebrow from me. I really didn’t want to be wet without a towel, but Tory assured me we’d dry quickly in the hot sun.

Cudgen Creek was beautiful. The water was so clear it felt like we were in a saltwater pool. And surprisingly, it was a refreshingly cool temperature.

After an hour or so in the water, we changed back into our clothes and drove into Kingscliff for lunch. Andi picked a restaurant called The Salty Beardman known for its fresh seafood. He and I shared the herb-crusted barramundi salad and hoki fish & chips. Tory had a cheeseburger and Aden ordered a chicken sandwich.

It was hot outside — oh my gosh, so hot! Almost too hot to eat warm food. Sweat rolled off our bodies simply sitting in the open-air restaurant. Until this trip, I don’t think I realized how “up north” we’ve become. The heat doesn’t seem to bother the locals, but I’m guessing they’d think the cold was pretty extreme if they visited us in Wisconsin.

After lunch, we drove about an hour south to our new home for a few days in Byron Bay. Traffic was busy on a Friday afternoon, and there were so many roundabouts! It took concentration from both Andi and I to make it to our place at Outriggers Bay.

Andi surprised the kids by reserving a three-bedroom apartment. That meant Tory and Aden each got their own room. Yet, there was still squabbling about room selections which didn’t make Andi very happy. Tory and Aden lost technology privileges for the remainder of the day as a result.

I thought the apartment was great! There’s a kitchen and living room, two bathrooms, three bedrooms, plus a washer & dryer. Australia is spoiling us with all these amenities.

Andi and I decided to leave the kids in the apartment while we went to buy groceries. There’s a nice Woolworths grocery store in Byron Bay, but it was packed with people. I nearly had a panic attack in the dairy aisle — there had to be at least 30 people vying for yogurt and hummus. Most people weren’t pushing a cart full of groceries like I was either. Andi and I got a few strange looks about the amount of food we were purchasing.

I had serious people fatigue by the end of our shopping trip. Andi was busy price-shopping laundry detergent when I sighed and said, “You can’t beat Tide, Andi. Just get the good stuff.” It made him laugh.

Travel days are hard no matter the distance. We were both pretty keyed up after the grocery store, so we decided to leave our grumpy kids at the apartment and go for a walk together.

Byron Bay has long been a coastal paradise for hippies and surfers, though these days it’s also become a tourist destination. We can’t see the beach from our apartment, but a short walking trail connects our place to the ocean. The view as we emerged from the path was breathtaking & exactly what Andi and I needed to recalibrate. We walked for about two miles before returning for the kids.

With Tory and Aden in tow, the four of us walked along the beach once more. The sun had set on the day, and the sky was a beautiful swirl of pink, orange and blue. The sand along Australia’s eastern coastline is so fine that it squeaked beneath our feet as we walked.

Andi and Aden grilled chicken and peppers for dinner on the outdoor grill & I cut up a cantaloupe (called rockmelon, in Australia). It’s a stretch coming up with meal ideas that require few ingredients. Pre-marinated meats, fresh (raw) fruits & veggies, and the use of an outdoor grill are our go-to’s.

Aden and I shared a Schweppes Lemon, Lime, and Bitters at dinner which has quickly become my new favorite non-alcoholic drink. Lemon, Lime, and Bitters is known as the unofficial drink of Australia. Not too sweet and not too sour, it’s perfectly refreshing.

It wasn’t until bedtime that Andi realized we changed time zones. Apparently, the state of New South Wales follows Daylight Savings Time and the state of Queensland does not, so it’s an hour later here. All the more reason to head to bed. We were all tired from a day of travel and sunshine.

Excited to see more of Byron Bay tomorrow.