May 1, 2023
Day One of Queensland’s East Coast Roadtrip
Gold Coast to Byron Bay
How much trouble will our rental car cause us
Background
I’ve moved to the Gold Coast from New Zealand and am living in a hostel temporarily while searching for long-term housing. I’ve met incredible friends at the hostel who feel like family. Despite only knowing them for a few weeks, we spend every day together.
Two gorgeous Irish girls, in particular, are about to leave on a one-way roadie to Cairns and just asked me to join them!! I’m hesitant, but over the moon!
When arriving in Australia, my intentions were to work and save money; traveling was never part of my ‘plan’. But I’ve had so much fun living with these girls, and I’m not ready to say goodbye. So I’m tied between what I think I should do and what I want to do.
This year I’ve decided to be more spontaneous, which has landed me in situations where I feel most alive.
At that moment, I said f*** it.
Little did I know, I was about to have the time of my life.
Main Characters
My two Irish friends and I are ready to take on the East Coast.
Aisling
ireland
Altan
ireland
Me
new zealand
The night before...
It’s the night before we depart for our East Coast road trip, and I’m feeling a mixture of emotions.
Over the past couple of days I’ve said goodbye to so many beautiful people as they continue their travels across Australia, leave for their next country, or even return home. I’ve had so much fun building strong friendships with people of different nationalities. It breaks my heart to have to part ways.
I’m sitting on the end of my bed with my friend Lucas, who’s rubbing my back as I tear up. Lucas is nine years older than me and an experienced solo traveler with thick skin. I’ll continue to remember what he told me that night…
“Don’t think that you’re alone now; you still have yourself. Cherish the good times you had with these people; they are unique and irreplaceable. But don’t let the void set you off path. You can’t rely on others to make you happy because they won’t always be around. You come into this world on your own, and you’ll leave the same way. So pick yourself up and find that fulfilment within yourself.”
Gold Coast by morning
After a life-changing intro to living in Australia, it’s time to say goodbye to the Gold Coast.
Altan and I enjoyed our last morning by taking a sunrise dip in the beach at Surfers Paradise, across the road from our hostel.
Altan is the most positive and high-spirited human being who I adore, and I put it down to the fact that she never misses a sunrise or sunset.
Time to hit the road
We’ve rented a Hyundai i20 from a one-way rental company in Brisbane. Our biggest challenge was fitting all our belongings inside. I had to leave two bags of clothes behind.
Overnight, we received a $100 parking fine for not putting enough money in the meter.
Arriving in Byron Bay
Tourism in Byron Bay is pumping. It’s 28 degrees out, and the dress code is bare feet, shorts, and/or swimwear, with every second person carrying a surfboard. Everyone has a positive buzz.
Our friends from the hostel back in the Gold Coast surprised us by renting a car to join us in Byron for the day. There are many familiar faces about. Somehow we’ve created a small community of travellers, and the best part is that we all started our travels alone.
We spent the day on the beach with beers, music, and writing in our journals. At sunset, we drove to the lighthouse while Altan surfed at The Pass. The rest of Byron had the same idea; it was so busy yet special spending this time with people from all over the world.
A nasty surprise
The road leading to the lighthouse is windy and dangerous. We were on our way back down to pick Altan up from her surf at the Pass. We pulled out of a parking lot onto the road, not seeing a moped coming around the blind corner. The poor guy ended up smacking into the back of our rental and falling off. He was okay!
Staying in Byrons Notorious Hostel
The three of us, on a backpacker budget, sneakily booked a private two-bed room at Arts Factory Hostel.
I didn’t know what we were in for. I was tired with a flat social battery, ready to jump into bed.
First of all, we couldn’t find a park with all the Freedom campers and undrivable-looking cars occupying all the spaces. Seriously, I could’ve mistaken the place for a scrap yard.
I’m stoned by the time I make it to the reception desk from the second-hand marijuana I inhaled on my 20-meter walk from the car. One guy walked past me with incense in his hair, and another with a pet ferret on his shoulder.
There seemed to be a rave on; everyone was dressed in interesting clothes, and there was ‘music’ playing; I was later told this was a daily activity. I felt overdressed just wearing a t-shirt and skirt.
May 2, 2023
Day 2 of the East Coast Roadtrip
Arts Factory, Byron Bay
.Saying goodbye to the most interesting hostel I’ve stayed in.
This mornings nightmare
After a night top and tailing with Altan on the bottom bunk, I woke up to her entering the room, “Guys, you won’t believe we just got a $300 fine for parking in a loading zone.” 🙁 I put the pillow on my face and rolled over back to sleep.
I guess that was Karma for sneaking a third person into the hostel! Or maybe just what we deserved for being stupid.
Byron's Notorious Hostel in Daylight
Arts Factory was full of long-termers who’d well and truly made themselves comfortable. There were tents pitched and vans parked up for the free facilities and hangout spots. The hostel attracted a unique crowd who didn’t wear shoes, played all sorts of musical instruments, appreciated 4:20, and lived an alternative life. This place is the furthest you could get from luxurious.
I guess that was Karma for sneaking a third person into the hostel! Or maybe it’s just what we deserved for being stupid.
This morning the hostel hosted some interesting group activities, such as Daisy Chain making and cockatoo performances by a guest. I witnessed more pet rats and birds being fed at breakfast time (how people travel like this is beyond me, lol).
As much as I would love to stay, it’s time to move on.
