Newcaslte. Nice place. The weather's lovely. Sun, not too hot and a gentle calming breeze. Spent most of the day wandering around, taking random turns down random streets just to see what was around.

It made a change from knowing an area. It's always fun to explore somewhere new and Newcastle is actually a pretty decent place. It's all very new since masses of rebuilding has been going on to compensate for the damage sustained in an earthquake and the closure of the steel works. New industries, new people, new jobs.

The old Newcastle still exists. Once the afternoon came along I took a trip on the Famous Old Tram. That then took me around a few of the other places I'd not seen, with added commentary from the driver about the city. Hard to believe that Newcastle is Australia's 6th largest city, the surf industry generates AUS$36m a year and the obelisk that stands on top of one of the hills has been repaired 7 times, 6 from lightening strikes and once from the earthquake.

I also managed to get here, intending to stay 2 nights and then head off to Byron. What I should have done was bought a ticket out of here before I got here. I was suddenly wondering how best to get out. A quick phone call to Greyhound sorted that. I'll be on a 9 hour bus ride tomorrow!

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