G’day all,
We left are campsite at the “shed” around 9:30am heading for Byron Bay from Alstonville. We followed some scenic roads through the beautiful hinterlands with gorgeous coastal views…mmm…a place someone could live for sure. We arrived in central Byron Bay and fought for some parking space close to the centre of town and began a walk to the lighthouse. We reached the Captain Cook lookout and took the high ridgeline walk through the rainforest towards the light house. Along this track there are some glimpses of coastal beaches south of Byron Bay until you reach the lighthouse – which being the highest point of the peninsula has sweeping views of the surrounding bay, hinterland and mountain ranges. We took some photos of us at the lighthouse and had a quick look in the small museum at the base. Interestingly I found out that Byron Bay once had two jetties and was surprised by the number of ship wrecks off the nearby coastline. Onward, down, down, down to the peninsula below. This was the main objective of our trip today, to reach the most Eastern part of the Australian mainland. We have travelled West to Steep Point, North to Cape York and now we stand at the most Eastern Point of the Australian Mainland – Cape Byron…what a truly awesome achievement and experience. Our next stop, the Mornington Peninsula on the Victorian coastline and the most Southern point on the Australian Mainland. Crazy to some, but I enjoy the significance of geographical landmarks in Australia. In some ways, Cape Byron seemed like the least important of all three thus far. Probably because it was the easiest to achieve and travel to. Steep Point and Cape York are so remote and take a great deal of planning to get to, they are not so easily conquered. We were lucky to get a couple of family snaps that I will post soon and took in the beauty of this place. Cape Byron, for all the hype surrounding the nearby town of Byron Bay is spectactular and beautiful, but also a place you will always share with other people, due to its accessability.
From Cape Byron, back to Byron Bay along the coastline walk that takes you past many of the sheltered beaches. The beaches today were packed tight with all of the holiday goers, but they still looked very inviting. The loop walk back to the Captain Cook lookout is 3.5 klms, steep in some sections with spectacular views along the way. Do it in anti clockwise direction as you get to walk down instead of up some of the steeper sections. Allow two hours.
We arrived back in central Byron Bay with a further 3 klms or so under our belt, being the walk from town to Captain Cook lookout and back. We had our packed lunch and headed out to Mullumbimby and the Crystal Castle. We had been their last about ten years ago and Lovely Lynda was keen to get back to a place she loved so much. Once again a nice drive as you ascend into the hinterland past Mullumbimby and up to the crystal castle. Arriving at the crystal castle we were in for a surprise. Wow, the place had changed so much and so had the warm welcoming energy of the place. The Crystal Castle was now a commercial landscape requiring $44 just to enter…that is right $44 just to visit the shop and spend sometime on the property. This left a bad taste in our mouths and unfortunately our hearts and a once pleasant experience was lost. The sad part is, we missed out on an experience but they missed out on sales in the shop due to what I think is short sighted…hey, that’s my opinion but there are many more pleasureable experiences you can enjoy which are free such as our next stop at Minyon Falls.
Follow signs from Mullumbimby to the Crystal Castle and you will pick up signs to Minyon Falls. The falls are located in the Nightcap Range National Park and are beautiful single drop falls of at least 50m. They are situated only a small walk from the carpark with a longer 9klm walk to the base of the falls if you are feeling energetic. We arrived at the falls around 4pm wich pretty much cancelled out the bigger walk. Spend sometime here, the falls are certainly worth a visit and remind me a little of the long drop waterfall up at Springbook National Park. About 3 klms further up Minyon Falls Drive you can camp at the pretty Rummery Park which will cost you $5 per adult, per night. It is a beautiful grassy area but to really suitable for big offroad caravan such as ours.
From there, we followed the Minyon Falls Drive out of the NP and then followed the scenic route through many country towns back to Alstonville.
A fantastic day out and great to be back out exploring again.
Bushman Bud…Enjoying Australia