How long can it take to see Australia?: 2011

When it comes to Australia's love of BIG things, one of the most iconic would have to be the big Banana in Coffs Harbour. Not only did I get to see it for myself, but also walked through it! Straight in to a gift shop with anything 'banana' you could want. Except the real thing.

The BIG Banana, Coffs Harbour, NSW

I had a chance to catch up with some friends and lunch at the Yacht Club, which has the most fantastic view of the town and harbour. Later in the afternoon heading down to the beach, I encountered a goanna about 1 1/2 metres in length. Bigger than any I'd seen in WA or the NT.

Coffs Harbour, NSW

On the many roads I've travelled, I've encountered so many occasions where a police patrol has had me pull over to the side for the 'over size' loads coming in my direction. From houses, to sheds, mining trucks and tanks. This one looks like it could be making a bridge somewhere.

Large and long load

And the size of some peoples rides can be pretty spectacular.

And they were towing!

The BIG Lawn Bowl, Lake Cathie, NSW

Kookaburra just hanging around near Nelson Bay. There were a lot of them living in the scrub nearby.

The BIG Boomerang, NSW

After staying in Port Macquarie and Nelson Bay along the coast, I had planned and hoped to go inland to Tamworth. Unfortunately there'd been some flooding in the area and a number of roads were blocked. It will have to be added to my list of 'next time'.

So off to the Hunter Valley to catch up with a school friend I haven't seen for years! It's a great little set up she has, with her 2 horses, 2 cats, not sure how many chooks, and 4 'puppies'.

The dogs.

We spent a day looking around the Hunter Valley wine region, having a long lunch, and playing a bit of aqua golf. I'd never hit a golf ball before (I know, what have I been doing with my life?), so this was perfect. You whack the ball in to the water and if it lands in one of the nets you win a prize. I was just lucky a few of mine made it as far as the lake.

The BIG Wine bottle, Hunter Valley, NSW

Aqua Golf, Hunter Valley. Jodi did a LOT better than me!

The BIG Kookaburra, Kurri Kurri, NSW

So after a great day being a tourist and having the added bonus of finding a BIG Kookaburra, it was off for the regular Friday night at the Lochinvar pub getting to meet a lot of the locals. When the night begins with free spring rolls and frankfurts, then the word gets out the pub is putting on a band, you know you're in for a big one! I admit I piked earlier than Jodi & John, but at least I knew when the night was really over, as on their return home they woke me up to wish me sweet dreams.....or something like that.

Hearty bar snacks

For my next destination I couldn't decide between a couple of places, so I flipped a coin. And the winner was Sydney!!!!

I put my friends address in to my GPS and hoped for the best. The last time I drove in Sydney I went the wrong way down a one way street, so I was optimistic this time would be better. When I arrived at her place unscathed (having driven under the Harbour Bridge), she asked if I'd seen the Opera House and the Harbour. All I had seen were the 2 white lines I had to stay within and not much else. But I made it!!

It was a fantastic few days spent catching up on old times and meeting her gorgeous 20 month old daughter. I am now also very well acquainted with Dorothy the Dinosaur.

We visited a few Sunday Markets, including one that sells old props from theatre and film productions.

The BIG Mr Hanky the Christmas poo, Sydney, NSW

Great homemade rain hat there. It rained a lot while I was in Sydney. And I loved every minute of it!

Next it was on to the capital of Australia Canberra, to visit my brother and his partner Maria. With just days to spare as after living there for 7 years, they were moving to north to Cairns. I got there via Goulburn with it's BIG Merino. I think the most impressive BIG thing I've seen so far.

The BIG Merino, Goulburn, NSW

Out front of the Portrait Gallery, Canberra.

The High Court of Australia. "It's the vibe of the thing, your Honour."

On the road to Gundagai, a stop in Snake Gully was essential to see the Dog on the Tuckerbox.

Holbrook, NSW has a BIG Submarine in the middle of town. This town is not on the coast. It doesn't make sense. You see, this is the kind of random thing I've had to get off the road to make way for!

One of the most photographed pubs in the world.

The Ettamogah Pub, built after being made famous in a cartoon. Currently closed. It's cute though isn't it?

My final destination for this stretch was just outside Albury on the NSW/Victoria border to stay with some more friends. I'm loving this part of the trip as I'm getting so many chances to catch up!

Although JC might have been able to do the trek, it was great to hitch a ride with them for a day trip to Mt Buffalo.

A bit cloudy to begin with.

Mt Buffalo. Beautiful views.

Even better with snow!

Simple Stats

Days since departure: 229
Distance travelled: 22,447km (+8701km for work)

Lizards run over: 12

Cane toads run over: 3

Cassowary spotted: 2

Snakes run over: 4

Portaloos towed: 2

Weeks worked as Runner on film: 10

Whale Sharks swum with: 2

Emergency mechanic stops: 4

Kangaroos hit: 0

"You after some weed love?" asked a man with long dreadlocked hair, long beard, and long flowing black clothing. Preceding this I was sat in my van idling behind another car, waiting to take its place curb side. 'Tap tap tap on my window. "Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude" said a heavily pierced dreadlocked woman in her 60's (or maybe 40's with some hard living behind her), "but we're worried about carbon monoxide poisoning, so would you mind turning your car off?". And with that, it was Welcome to Nimbin!

The town has long been a haven for those wishing to live an 'alternative' lifestyle, and if you stumbled upon it unaware, you'd wonder what you'd come across. Set in the hills of the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, I'd heard all about it, yet was still a little 'deer in headlights' when I got to visit for myself. If you can, do. Cheap weed ;-)

A BIG bong. Nimbin, NSW

Tee pee, Nimbin, NSW

Nimbin Rocks, NSW

My journey to Nimbin and beyond, took me firstly to Brisbane where I enjoyed the hospitality of my friends Sam, Alli & Fraser. With fantastic home cooked meals, late night chats and a roof over my head. Thank you guys!

Lagoon pool, Southbank, Brisbane

Brisbane, Qld

Last years flood saw the water rise to almost touch the bottom of these pods. You'd hardly know anything had happened now after an incredible clean up job.

Water dragon on the Southbank. Big city with suburban wildlife!

Brisbane. A much bigger city than I'd always imaged.

After a few days having a look around, I headed south staying in a cute little coastal town called Pottsville. Then to a place I'd last visited a few years ago when I was working on an outside broadcast for the UK TV show 'I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!' Coolangatta was a little quieter than when we were here for the wrap party. The show is actually currently filming a series, and I was hoping an old friend of mine (Pat Sharp) would have been voted out by this stage so I could say hello. He hadn't. I moved on. He has now.

Coolangata, looking back over a cloudy Surfers Paradise.

So after driving through Tweed Heads I was now south of the border and in New South Wales. I was really looking forward to getting to Byron Bay, a place I've always wanted to visit. Home to music festivals, fantastic beaches, and a reputation as a haven for living a laid-back lifestyle. It was all that and more. More being that just like the Gold Coast, Byron was enjoying the influx from *schoolies. I didn't stay there, but moved just up the coast to Suffolk Park. Thankfully at half the price of staying in Byron, and less schoolies to suffer. They were still there though and the group of about 10 camped next to me squealed and laughed and drank and sang well in to the night. Not too bad really.

*An Aussie tradition of high school leavers having weeks long holidays to celebrate the end of an era.

'To the beach' Suffolk Park, NSW

Byron Bay Lighthouse. Cape Byron is the most eastern point of mainland Australia.

Moo Moo, NSW

The drive from Brisbane down to Byron has to be one of the beautiful I've seen. The beaches of course, but it was the mountain ranges that constantly had me gazing left to right. From tea & banana plantations, to lakes and rivers, it was stunning. There's many markets in this region, and I was lucky to catch the one in Bangalow. Probably one of the best I've ever been to, unfortunately! I'm not meant to be spending extra $$$!!

You can buy anything at Bangalow Markets!

Bangalow Markets, NSW

Back then to the coast, where I stopped for lunch at Lennox Head, and found a spot with a great view. I couldn't believe it when I saw a big pod of dolphins come in to play with the surfers. At one point the surfers all just lay on their boards and watched as the dolphins played around them. Then they all had a surf together. A fantastically unexpected sight to see.