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Category Archives: Byron Bay

Hartvest Newrybar, NSW

25/08/202025/08/2020

The paddock to plate, garden to plate philosophy of Harvest, saw it booked out for Oprah and her entourage in 2010 when she visited. 

Since then, this once bakery, cafe has become a destination. 

Now days the main highway bypasses the town and it’s probably best to put the address into your maps and understand you’ll be weaving a little bit through the country side before arriving. 

You won’t be disappointed. 

The township of Nearby is quiticential of most Australian towns in the northern rivers of New South Wales; a pub, a garage and a milk bar. Harvest has certainly put the town on the map and now the town boasts an art and homeware collective, an antique shop and a few other places to drift in and out of.

We didn’t make a booking (I strongly recommend you do) so we sat on the balcony. It was a rainy cold winter’s day but fortunately the heater on the deck and the food distracted from the cool.

We weren’t necessarily after a big long lunch, so settled on the carrots (grown on site) roasted in the oven with …

Totally delicious.

For main, I chose a burger which was OK. The produce was locally sourced but not abundant. I get it, it’s a fine dining restaruant. 

My partner had the eye fillet which was also wonderful but served as it. You really need to order sides.

I was a little bit disappointed with the menu on this day but apparently it changes regularly depending on the seasonal foods and produce available. 

To be fair we didn’t have a booking, the place was pumping with people streaming in regularly and was clearly very popular. 

The gardens are uplifting and worth strolling through, as much of the product served inside is from their own garden. A fully functioning bakery is out the back and you can see the guys in action as well as having their own bee hives.

The importance of bees and pollination of crops a very topical conversation piece in the Northern Rivers. On this ocassion food was 4/5, service 5/5. WE will be back to see if we can give them the 10/10.

Bookings a must. 

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Bluesfest Byron Bay

01/06/201801/06/2018

The Byron Bay Blues Festival

AKA Bluesfest

It’s my “many-ieth” time to the Blues Festival experiencing the eclectic line up of blues and rhythm artists from around the world.

In the past I have seen James Brown, Elle King, The National and many amazing artists.

This year is also special but I have time on my hands and it is a whole different ball game.

With a 5 day pass and VIP pass you can really relax and not race from tent to tent trying to squeeze in as many artists as possible.

I’ve decided to camp – which is great. You meet fellow festival goers and can make new friendships quickly. The thing I really like about camping is the ability to bubble out from the festival madness and have reprieve.

The thing I don’t like about camping at the festival is that the days can start early if a baby is crying and the nights can go long if people decide to start a mini party. Both of which happened on the same night on my stay.

The toilet facilities are basic at Blues and it really makes you value the luxuries of a home shower.

The staff are really friendly at the festival although beaurocracy seems to have gone a bit mad with multiple people involved with the process to “manage” people to find a camp site. None of which is needed at other festivals.

Beer, wine and water ran out by early afternoon on Sunday which left a lot of people disgruntle this festival. I couldn’t understand why water had run out and how that could occur in 2018!

Skye Edwards fronting Morcheeba

Alas fortunately for Blues Fest this year, the artists got the festival over the line. Seal, Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crowe, Rag Man, and Bones, Morcheeba, Prince’s back up band, John Butler Trio and more… made for another sensational year.

One day is fine, 2 days better and VIP a must.

You can grab tickets here.

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Asia Joes Byron Bay

21/10/2017

There are so many awesome food choices in Byron Bay, don’t settle for any old slops!

IF you can find the alley way behind the Byron Hotel you will find a mecca of quick eats… and many serving alcohol so you can sit longer and take your time.

Look for the restaurant along for the LOVE frame to find Asia Joes.

Today we try Asia Joes.

It was a pretty simple menu with some good old traditional Asian dishes and enough for us to find something we liked.

The prices were really good and they don’t use MSG!

The service was great, food good and prepared with nice fresh ingredients! Rating 8/10.

 

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Five must-try restaurants globally

31/03/201602/04/2016

Restaurant eating can be an experience in itself.

Often I reflect fondly on town and place because of the restaurant experience.

Atmosphere, food, service and views are all aspects that go into making the restaurants below  some of my favs world wide.

These are a few of the restaurants that ignite my taste buds and sensations :

Larvotto Beach
La Rose Des Vents on Larvotto Beach, Monaco

  1. La Rose Des Vents, Monaco

The great appeal of this restaurant for me is the fact it is on a beach in Monaco. It is accommodating (I have turned up straight from the beach) and or as glitzy as you want.

Seafood at La Rose Des Vents Monaco
Seafood at La Rose Des Vents Monaco

The food is delicious and I only have seafood when I go there. Terrains, kebabs, fresh seafood. It is all devine and delish! Check it out here. 

2. Frogmore’s Creek, Tasmania, Australia

Frogmores
Chess piece ice cream from Frogmore’s Creek Restaurant

Set outside of Hobart in Tasmania on a vineyard is a wonderful restaurant called Frogmore’s. I have had the pleasure of eating there twice and each time has been mind blowing. This is a more extensive blog about it and their website here. Fly down to Hobart just for lunch!

3. Rae’s on Wategos, Byron Bay, Australia

Wategos Beach Break
Julian Rocks off Wategos

Overlooking arguably one of the best beaches in the world is Rae’s on Wategos.

It’s a perfect for a long lunch with a great conversationalist or friend. You will be served scrumptious delights, not overly large which is good, and fantastic wines.

4. The African Queen, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France

The African Queen
Desserts from The African Queen

The day we turned up here was a story in itself.  Winding down the steep curved road cut into the French coast line, overlooking the vast ocean and cote’d azure we stumbled across The African Queen.

Chilled Champagne, delicate cerviche and the most amazing desserts,  The African Queen could win alone on food. But it also has a magestic out look and relaxed atmosphere.

This definitely goes on one of my favorite restaurant’s list.

 

5. Chez Gado Gado, Bali, Indonesia

A simple, comfortable restaurant by the ocean in Seminyak. The food is great, abundant and refreshing breeze is worth traveling for.  I have had a few meals at Chez Gado Gado and all have been worthy. If you go on a Friday or Saturday night you should book in advance.

Let me know your favourite restaurants in the comments and I will try to visit them 🙂

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Elle King & The National at Byron Bay Bluesfest

26/03/201629/03/2016

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016 is a BIG WOW!

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016
Elle King at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

What I love about the Byron Bay Bluesfest is random meetings, the incredible acts and the good vibes….

I’ve been an annual pilgrimmer for fifteen plus years.

Yesterday was fantastic.

For the first time I decided to camp.

 

While I do love camping and there are some great advantages to camping beside a festival, I think the key to making it work is to turn up with a few hours to spare.

Determined not to let stress get in the way of a good time, I slumberly pitched my tent and sipped some of the wine I had smuggled in (no glass aloud in the camp city)!

Off into fun Blues town.

The conversations in the queues are different and fun… a smorgasboard of random topics, different folk and no need to impress… my favorite thing.

The conversations are mostly around music, fashion and which band you are most looking forward to seeing.

A first time for me was watching the Torres Strait Islander Dance Tropee. The women were majestic and fluid, dancing and swaying in their sea grass skirts. The beautiful hum and smiles… it felt great!

Blues fest byron bay
Torres Strait Islander Dance Group at Byron Bay Blues Fest

The men were stronger, louder and impactful.

The stomping on the ground, the masculine energy and the reverberation inside my chest was good!

A dose of dancing man.

I wish I could experience more.

Bluesfest Elle King
Elle King rocks Byron Bay Bluesfest

 

I was keen to see Elle King.

She was amazing. She spoke more sense than any candidate currently running for the US presidency and spoke from the heart. Unimpeded – powerful and sincere.

Her gold tracksuit was an absolute winner.

After Elle was Grace Potter – a bit of a modern day Suzi Quatro. She rocked, the boys loved it and festival fever had hit.

Byron Bay bluesfest
The National rocking at Byron Bay Bluesfest

Byron Bay Bluesfest
The National Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Later in the night, the big band name, The National, took down the tent (or lifted it off).

People had come just to the festival to see The National. A first for me, even though I had started listening to them a few weeks ago. Very good, very popular and a great live act.

Back to the earthen tent to collapse and drift away to the sweet smells of the grass beneath me.

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Minyon Falls, Mullum and dragon lizards

12/02/201612/02/2016

Well some days nature just calls and today was one of those days.

Minyon Falls NSW
Minyon Falls NSW

A few clients shuffled around their appointments this morning and (like a silent but LOUD alarm)  I knew I need a dose of mother nature.

I didn’t really bargain on the BIG dose of mother nature at Poinciana Cafe – a funky outdoors healthy eats place in Mullumbimby!

David Bowie’s soft melodic tunes hum away in the back ground and the weather blows, stops, rains and shines! Very Melbourne but quite nice being rained upon and awesome listening to some random tunes!.

Yellow Sword Fish from Poinciana Cafe Mullumbimby
Yellow Sword Fish from Poinciana Cafe Mullumbimby

The Poinciana has a good vibe… and lots of lizards. I think the chardonnay helps with the phobia but seriously I need more convincing.

Today I order the Yellow Fin Sword Fish and it is delicious… and the lizards become less of an issue until one pounces on my toes (I dropped a crumb) which sends me into a tail spin and I bolt off to the bush. (I don’t “do” lizards well).

IMG_0050

Minyon Falls is a little off the beaten track but the drive there is so sublime. Yellow-green fields, fresh country air and exitement! I love the northern rivers of NSW. It’s wholesome and complete and close to civilisation yet so far away.

Minyon falls are incredible. Some of the tallest falls I have experienced in a long time and I get a little giddy.

The lovely creek that feeds into Minyon Falls
The lovely creek that feeds into Minyon Falls

After a few kilometres into my bush walk, I also get giddy from thinking about snakes, so this time decide to abort and come back on a cooler day! Some days snakes don’t bother me, but after my frazzled ending to Nepal and the heat of the day, I know I will encounter a snake and I doubt I will be cool-calm-and-collected, so opt to bail before greeting my demons.

A light swim at Clarkes in Byron Bay on the way home rounds the day off nicely and a stressless drive home.

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Fishheads Byron Bay

06/05/201528/12/2015

Why Wategos, Byron and Fishheads are my happy place

A favourite of mine is Byron Bay, especially Wategos Beach around under the light house. It’s one of my “happy places” where time stands still, where dolphins break the water and the sun always beams (even on rainy days).

Tai Chi
Tai Chi Burleigh Heads

Today was a perfect start with a stretch (like a blue sea dragon searching for pearls) and a push towards the sky (like a crane stretching it’s neck) doing Tai Chi on Burleigh Hills.

It just is an incredible way to start the day and to feel like alive.  It’s so cool pretending to be a monkey or a crane… my imagination loves the play!

Tai Chi is better for me personally compared to yoga especially as it is outdoors.

My car seems to know it’s why to Byron which is handy and today I thought I would try Fishhead’s in town. I haven’t eaten there for ages but apparently everyone knows they don’t serve before noon because it goes from ghost town to busy town in minutes. At five minutes past noon the place is pumping.

I take my boyfriend’s mum there (she’s over from Wales) for the Seafood Platter.  No batter, no gluten ridden bread crumbs just pure unadulterated seafood – they way I like it and the way good seafood should be served – virgin.

Seafood platter at Byron Bay
Seafood platter

The oysters are meaty and salty. So fresh and yummy! But of course not everyone’s desire. The BBQ prawns even more flavour some and the calamari melts like butter. My sides were starting to bulge but I find some space for an alfogatto with Khaluha. Perfect meal.

Fish Heads byron
Alfagotto

The ONLY way to cap off a day like this is a swim or surf at Wategos. I love the views, the waves, the vibe – it is my happy place. So off we went to lie with the myriad of other nationalities bathing in the winter’s sun, staring out to sea, talking of wild adventures and dreaming of fantasies.

Mt Warning
Mt Warning from Wategos

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