East Coast, Australia - Marie

So, Coffs Harbour - home of the Big Banana, and our penultimate backpacking stop.  To say that we walked a lot during our time here would be an understatement, I don't think there was single street we hadn't covered by the time we left!  We were given a map at the hostel and, with our German roommate Kate, proceeded to follow every suggestion marked on there.  Some of the walks took us ocean-ward, walking along the beach and then out to a jetty, or an island (connected to the mainland by a path running along the side of the marina).  We admired the multicoloured rocks that someone had artistically painted at the end of the jetty, and got a soaking from a giant wave in the process!  The island was basically a big hill, which we walked up then down, and the view from the other side was beautiful.  We spent a long time sitting looking out over the Pacific and Kirsty had a glimpse of some dolphins (I was too slow or, more likely, blind, so I'm still waiting for my dolphin spot!).  


Another of our walks took us towards town, along the creek and through the Botanic Gardens.  The gardens were huuuge and we could have spent hours in there.  I was happy to see some more of my favourite trees, the scribbly gums :)  


Of course no stay in Coffs Harbour is complete without a visit to the Big Banana, one of several "big things" in different places around Australia.  The area is known for its banana growing so it's not completely random!  We took the customary photos (including one with Santa!) and sampled some banana products - chocolate and banana muffin, chocolate covered banana and banana split, yum!  After having heard bad reports on Coffs we were pleasantly surprised and enjoyed our time there.

Our final destination before Sydney was Port Macquairie and even though we only had one full day there, we managed to fit loads in and see all the main attractions.  Port Macquairie has a lot of history, being established in 1821 as the first penal settlement - a place were convicts were sent if they reoffended.  We spent the morning looking round the town's museum, and St Thomas' Church (built by convicts) and found what we saw and read fascinating.  The museum was about life in Port Macquairie over the ages but with a large section on the initial settlement.  It had information about how the convicts lived - their diet, their work, their punishments etc.  In a list of names and information about the first people sent there I found a 'Pepper' and a couple of other family names, so it's strange to think I could potentially be rubbing shoulders with distant family here!  We now feel slightly more clued up on the history of Australia and I still find it incredible that even though it's such a big part of British history, we were taught nothing about it at school!  

After our history lesson we listened to a bit of music at a free lunchtime concert and enjoyed a drink at a church cafe called 'Hebrews', before going to see some koalas!  We took a stroll out to the 'Koala Hospital' and had part 2 of our koala education!  (Part 1 being at Singapore Zoo.)  Most of the koalas were sleepy and docile but we saw a couple being fed so they were slightly more lively.  Did you know that every koala has a favourite eucalyptus tree??  Well now you do!  And out of all the hundreds of varieties of eucalyptus, there are only about 50 which they'll actually eat - fussy little creatures!  In the evening we rallied the troops and went for a drink with some other people in the hostel - including a Swiss girl and two French guys so I was happy to be able to practise a little! 

After an early start and 6 and a half looooong hours on a coach, we finally made it to SYDNEY!  Our base for the next few months...