From Brisbane to Mt Isa

I've found a seat in a 4wd to take me to Alice Springs, Uluru and Adelaide, but I have to get to Mt Isa in the Queensland Outback to catch it. The only way to make it in time was by bus: 26 hours from Brisbane via Toowoomba and Longreach. 

Brisbane. 

Driving through the outback. 

The trusty Greyhound bus. By the time we reached Mt Isa, I was ine of only two remaining passengers. 

Surface flooding caused by recent rain.

Red earth, dry grass, scrubby bushes & anthills. 

Around Byron Bay

lI stayed a few nights with an old school friend who lives in Mullumbimby. Mullum is a more relaxed place than Byron, and almost fully self sufficient. There are several points of interest close by including Mt Warning - the first place in mainland Australia to see the sun every day. 

Mt Warning from afar. 

The scramble to the top. 

The view out to the east coast. 

The track climbs up through rainforest. 

A decent sized lizard near Brunswick Heads. 

Me at the most easterly point of mainland Australia. 

By the backroads to Byron Bay

After 10 days in and around Sydney, I was ready to leave and see a bit more of Australia. I wanted to travel via the backroads from Sydney north-eastwards to Byron Bay on the NSW-Queensland border. Luckily I found a rideshare on Gumtree with Scott from New Jersey. Over 4 days we drove the following route: Sydney-Blue Mountains-Putty Rd-Barrington Tops-Thunderbolts Way-Cathedral Rocks-Dorrigo-Waterfall Way-Sawtell Beach-Byron Bay. Here are a few impressions from the drive.

The 3 Sisters in the Blue Mountains. 

Waterfall near Wentworth Falls. 

Me by the 3 Sisters. 

Camping in Barrington Tops National Park. 

An adult copperhead snake crossing our path in Barrington Tops. 

Nice views of Barrington Tops. 

A wallaby in Cathedral Rocks National Park. 

The Cathedral Rocks.

Cathedral Rocks National Park