Wild Koalas and Beautiful Byron Bay

Our Day 2 plan was to drive from Coff's Harbour to Byron Bay. Not a very far drive - but we wanted to make a stop at the Big Banana (for the essential photo) and then on to the Tucki Tucki Nature Reserve near Lismore to have another crack at finding a koala in the wild...

Chy found her very own radio station! What luck!

The boys and the Big Banana

Immediately after the Big Banana, I spotted an "Opal Shop" and knew that we needed to add a stop and let Liam (our budding geologist) investigate.

Bryce and Liam signed the guestbook 

We were feeling lucky and began to explore Tucki Tucki for koalas up in the trees. 

Not long after we started our walk - I spotted a little grey bum up in the trees...Success!

Can you see it?

How about now?

Now, you should be able to catch a glimpse!

Ok. Next on our list in the wild...the platypus!

Liam reads up on clues to spotting koalas

We continued on to Byron Bay and headed for the beach and the Cape Byron Walking Track (also one of the best places on the east coast for whale-spotting as it is the most easterly point of Australia)

The boys limbered up before the hike!

These birds were everywhere!

The boys have been practicing their smiles!

Lots of surfers out there

Byron Bay has a completely different feel to it...even the roundabout near our hotel was cool!

View of the Cape and Lighthouse from the beach at sunset

Lots of great restaurants and cafes around Byron Bay

Liam and Bryce found a light show to dance along to (while we waited for our dinner)

Until next time, BB!

Next stop: Dreamworld

Our Road Trip Begins - Koala Hospital and Coffs Harbour

We headed out on the road by 5:30 am Saturday morning to begin our 2 week long trip up the east coast of Australia. Our first stop was Port Macquarie for lunch at the Gum Tree Cafe. We picked this spot as it was beside the world's only Koala Hospital.

After almost 7 hours in the car...we were looking forward to stretching our legs and having a bite to eat!

We could walk around the grounds - but we weren't able to stick around for the daily tour 

(everyday at 3:00 pm)

We have become all too familiar with how hard it is to spot a koala up a tree - believe it or not - there's actually one up in the trees in this photo!

After the Koala Hospital, we continued on to Coff's Harbour for our first night's sleep.

The boys were excited to finally get to the hotel!

We headed out to explore Coff's - we wanted to walk up to the lookout on Muttonbird Island Reserve (and try to spot some whales!)

The first (of many on this trip) beautiful coastal sunset

Muttonbird Island is home to thousands of wedge-tailed shearwaters (also known as muttonbirds)

Gorgeous!

We did spot a few whale spouts!

We learned about the marine environments here

Finney Family Selfie

Next stop - Byron Bay!