Byron Bay

For Dad's first Australian beach we decided to try a beach we hadn't seen yet, Byron Bay.

Everyone we talked to told us to get there early because parking can be very scarce close to the beach.  So we were in the car by 4:30 am.  We got there in two hours, the thing we forgot to factor in, New South Whales (the state Byron Bay is in) does day light savings.  The state we live in, Queensland, chooses not to participate in such things.  Even though we got there around technically 7:30, we got a parking place, actually there was tons of spots at that time.  But it soon filled up near lunch time, and everybody was bustling about.

This beach is like most beaches in Australia, beautiful, and we loved it.  The little town is cute, and more a backpacker type town, not your typical touristy town at all.  

We had fun just exploring the ocean since the beach was pretty much ours that early in the morning.

As the day went on it was so much fun watching all the people arrive at the beach with their Santa hats on playing their Christmas music.  Now, I realize this is not normal day happenings, but this beach was so friendly.  We loved it.

My Dad had never seen the ocean before this day.  He just walked around and kept repeating, "I get it." "The beach is amazing." "Those colors." "How do you describe this to anyone?"

It was really neat to share this first with him.

After we played at the beach a while, we went up to the lighthouse. 

Little did we know, the lighthouse was on the most Easterly part of Australia.  Of course, we had to take a picture.

This was definitely a top ten beach of ours, so far.  It will always be special to Dad, since it was his first.  What is your favorite beach?  What is something you have done with your parents that they have never done before?  Have you ever happened upon something significant without even knowing it was there?

-EAT