Our next stop was Manly, Sydney. Our original plan was to see the Great Ocean Road however this was shelved due to the knock on effect of the missing wallet. A short twelve hour bus journey from Melbourne through the night and a ferry from Sydney Circular Quay we all grinned at the surreal first sight of the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Suddenly the neck pain seemed to be lifted, until we saw the state of our new hostel..
Because of the late booking, the only place to accomodate a group of four was the Boardriders Hostel aka the surfers crack den. Four of us split, two each in a six person dorm. The plan from then on was spend little time as possible in our lovely new home.
The next few days were spent on the glorious Manly beach soaking up the rays and surfing. This was until a huge swell hit the beach and it was closed. This coupled with the huge amount of Bluebottle Jellyfish being washed up and the frequent shark alarm made for dangerous swimming.
Our discovery of Coopers Pale Ale ( a Southern Australian favourite ) made short work of the nights. By the fourth night and final crate, finished off by our new found drinking game, the hostel was beginning to grow on us. It was a good atmosphere with lots going on but it still belonged on how clean is your house.
