The Mysterious Manly Monster

We stayed in Sydney a couple days (had a boring night out in Darling Harbour on the Friday - Saturday is definitely the best nmight to go out in Sydney). Our flight to New Zealand had been postponed to 18th May, so that we could go back to Byron and onto Surfers Paradise as we missed it on the way up the East Coast last time.

However before we did that we developed a deep-rooted love for Manly. We stayed at ‘Boardriders Backpackers’, which is just off the Corso (Manly’s High Street). This is possibly the best Hostel we stayed in, not necessarily hygiene wise (there were a few cockroaches) but for atmosphere and the people you meet it’s quality. It’s got a fab locatio (right by all the bars and pubs and about a minute from the beach) We made so many friends here, and ended up staying about 2 weeks in total. A lot of the guys here are staying long-term, so it’s really easy to get stuck into the hostel, and never leave. We kept postponing our leaving date as we had been captured by the Mysterious Manly Monster. We actually couldn’t leave. We got stuck into bad routines. Buy a goon (5 litre box of wine; $9 from the bottle shop), take it up to the roof terrace and play millions of drinking games with everyone. Then all head out (often to the infamous Shark Bar) get a kebab, and end up watching football or a film until 7 or 8 in the morning). They were good times! Thursday-Saturday nights were quality as everyone from the hostel would go out. Sundays its a visit to Springfield and a few movies. Monday nights you can get 25% off drinks in the Old Boat Club for its comedy night if you show your room key. Again, loads of people go, so you’re never lonely! There’s a real community, it’s fab.

Manly’s a great location for other beaches as well, Day trips to Dee Why are always a good idea. And if you want cheap food, get down to the dock and visit the Chinese Chicken place at closing time (5ish, sometimes 5.30/6). We managed to get loads of food for $1 each as the guy who owns it “doesn’t want money, but happy” - finish off his chicken, chips and roast taters and you’ll know happy!

We travelled upto Byron, which was pretty dead, such a difference from when we were last here. So we went sraight on upto Surfers. Here we bumped into a couple of friends from (yep you guessed it, Manly) so after a goon and a very amusing game of King’s Cup (or Ring of Fire/Circle of Death - whatever it’s actually called) we all went off with our faces painted on a 70s night. It was brilliant. The tunes were fab, and the place was packed. It was a wicked night. Although the ‘bright’ idea of heading to the Golden Arches, possibly wasn’t the best idea in the world!

We loved Surfers, although you run out of sun at about 3 on the beach because of all the high rise bulidings. This is another place I want to go back to and do it properly.

Byron Bay saw us again for a night, as did ‘Cheeky Monkeys’. yep, we returned for a spot of table dancing, dodgy bouncers and the Grease Megamix (guaranteed tune in Cheeky Monkeys along with Dirty Dancing and the Abba megamix). We survived again, and had the hottest pizza in the world (it’s hotter than the sun lyn, for all you alan partridge fans!) in the pizza shop which magically appeared as I’m sure it hadn’t been there earlier! It was good to be back in Byron, we took a trip out to the lighthouse which was wicked as it was a gorgeous day. Possibly not the best idea to have a race back up all the steps when it’s 28 degrees and you’ve got no water. Had an awesome 400g T-bone steak at the Northern Hotel, it was a beauty.

Guess where we went next? Manly. Just for our last couple days we returned to the Twilight Zone of Manly. Had excellent Fish and Chips opposite the beach - recommend it as it’s BYO as well, and not too pricey. It’s next to Oporto (another genius fast food place).

Next stop…New Zealand. We had such an amazing time in Australia, met loads of amazing people, got fantastic tans, and did some wicked stuff. The highlights were definitely my first week in Byron Bay, the Whitsundays (do this if you do nothing else) and Manly. I reckon all I have to do now is find me an Australian surfer to marry and I’m sorted. Definitely have to come back as I missed the visit to ramsay street, the ocean road and, of course those two words. Fraser and Island.