On the morning of Saturday August 13th, we departed by bus for Mt. Warning, a 1,156 m high shield volcano. The mountain is known for receiving the first sun rays in the whole Australian continent and some people will camp out at the base to hike to the top and see the sun rise.
The hike was 8.8 km round trip, which is not including the extra 7 km we had to walk up and back because our bus was the wrong size and could not fit up the winding road to the base of the mountain. This was not your average 3.5 km walk to the base of the mountain, though. It was a vertical hike without any flat breaks… a perfect warm-up for a tiring hike! (not.) Anyway, the hike was pretty cool because it was through a jungle/rainforest with really cool trees and plants.
At the top of the mountain, the last 400 meters were so steep and rocky that there is a chain that you basically have to use to help yourself climb up. It was a challenge, and I found it interesting to see little kids doing it while our group was SO tired. I guess you have to remember that we had that vertical hike to start with, while they were all able to drive to the base.
We had lunch at the top and there were 360 degree views, which was awesome.
The group at the top!
Going down the mountain was easier, but still pretty painful and we were happy to FINALLY reach the bus. The bus took us to our Backpackers Inn in Byron Bay, which was a definite step down from the first luxurious hostel we stayed in. There were three bunk beds to a room and only one shower for a whole hall. Included in the price of this trip, we had a free BBQ at the hostel, free entry to Cheeky Monkeys (a club), and a free drink when we got there. The club was pretty crazy. There was a full moon party going on, which I guess happens every full moon and lots of people there were dressed in white and neon with their faces painted with paint that glows in the black light. The next day we explored the cute little town of Byron Bay, did some shopping, and then headed up to the lighthouse. The lighthouse marks the most easterly point of the Australian continent, and the views were gorgeous.
The Elon girls at the Lighthouse.
Meghan and me in the museum inside the lighthouse.
Most eastern point.
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