Schoolies Advice from Byron Bay

Okay, i just got back from Schoolies a couple of days ago, thought i'd leave behind some of my massive wisdom for you guys to use. First, make sure you know you can stand the people you are going with. Chances are you'll be living together for a week or more. In ym group of 3, we managed, though a couple of times things got a little strained. In one of my mates groups, there were a couple of people who didn't get along too well, ended up with one getting punched in the nose and a glass table being broken. Alcohol only makes things worse in that kind of conflicting environment.

As far as places to go in Byron is concerned, my tips are thus.

Best pub: The Rails (i think thats the exact name). A little way down the road from the beach, near the railway station, this pub had live music from some talented acoustic guitarists every night. Some original stuff and some covered stuff, but it was great to chill and have a beer with some good music in the background. Beer isn't overpriced, Happy Hour saw pints cheaper than pots, but when it isnt happy hour it's not cheap. The outside area is mostly undercover, the inside area wasn't up to much, but as the outside part could seat well over 50, thats where you stay. Also they serve food and have a good selection of beer not on tap as well as the tapped stuff.

Best Restraunt: The Hog's Breath (i think thats right? the Hog's something) opposite the Beach Hotel serves awesome food at reasonable prices. You pay no more there than you would expect to at a restraunt in Melbourne, and for those who like steak, burgers, and so on, all the staples of Australian cuisine, this place was awesome. I am a big fan of calamari, and all i can say is that this place has the ebst calamari i have ever eaten. But the Macho Nachos with Chicken are completely amazing. Friendly staff and a nice atmosphere make this the best restraunt i visited.

Best Club: Cheeky Monkeys. Called a party bar, and thats what it is. The night starts off with doors open at 7, serving very cheap but pretty good meals. Then, there are pub games and stuff, usually the prize being a jug of beer. Music at this time is good, ACDC and Men At Work and Cold Chisel and so on. Then, at around 9 o'clock, they start up the music, the front 3 tables are cleared as well as the stage at the front of the place, and everyone gets up on tables to dance. While we were there they had a wet T shirt competition, and they have other events, but the nights to go are Friday and Saturday when the place is packed with backpackers and schoolies. Expensive drinks and entry fee, but the atmosphere is great, the music strategy is even better, playing a couple of rnb hip hop crap (my opinion) then just as you though about going home because the music sucked, you get Living on a Prayer or Land Down Under iun the middle of a nightclub rnb set... Cheeky Monkeys is more than a normal nightclub, it is a damn good night out if you go on the friday or saturday, when it gets pretty crowded. Only thing is, you need tomake sure you are over 18 and pretty sober or you will get turned away. Arrive early (like 9-10) or you will have a long wait to get inside. Once inside, stay there until you want to leave.

Best Beach: Byron main beach. The waves are not huge, but for swimming or elaxing, this place is watched by lifeguards, has lots of other people there, we found some people running a beach volleyball and soccer tournament. Nicely sheltered, when its sunny this beach has plenty fo sand for everyone, and is right next to the Beach Hotel and Fishheads, for food and refreshments after a hard day on the beach.

Also, the lighthouse walk, the most eastern point in Australia, has some awesome views, on a sunny day it would be amazing, even while cloudy it was well worth the trip there. The theme parks are just a 1 1/2 hour drive up the coast, if you have a car, and at night, the bit of grass between the Beach Hotel and the actual Beach gets filled with underage scholies loking to so******e. If you are uinderage, most places in Byron are pretty strict on ID, but people tend to hang out on that grassy area, its not bad for walking around meeting other schoolies, but still doesn't compare to ebing oevrage and going out on the town.

That's my tips on Schoolies at Byron Bay from 2005, things may have changed by 2006, but overall BYron was nice and relaxed, laid back, and thats what appealed to me. The parties in Surfers looked wilder, but for kicking back and enjoying yourself for schoolies, Byron was awesome.

[JohnTee]

Great tips and review.

[Sammy Wammy]

Originally Posted by Mister Christopher

First, make sure you know you can stand the people you are going with. Chances are you'll be living together for a week or more.

Totally agree.. There were a few bitchy arguements between the 3 of us, mainly started by me, because I had no bloody idea that they DONT like to go out, and they like to sleep at around 10:30pm.. or sometimes midnight... first few nights i just wanted to go home! 1/2way thru i conviced them to go out tho.. first night there I went for a walk by myself at around 10:30 just up the main street (our appartment was on the main street as well) and about 12 different toolies asked for my number, and so i went straight back home lol..

oh, and make sure you always lock your door when your inside your appartment, because otherwise the guys you hate from the rest of the appartments will come in your house naked and sit on your bed naked and not leave lol!

[Baker]

Originally Posted by Sammy Wammy

oh, and make sure you always lock your door when your inside your appartment, because otherwise the guys you hate from the rest of the appartments will come in your house naked and sit on your bed naked and not leave lol!

are u saying that some random guy walked in and was naked on your bed?

[Sammy Wammy]

yes... all the rest of the appartments were full of guys, and arghhh we hated them so much... they were such idiots! and they kept coming in naked and wern't leaving.. argh they were so annoying... lucky we only forget to lock our door a few times tho.. another time they said they had our cd so i opened it but then like, all of a sudden there were 15 annoying naked guys in our place...
it was horrible only because their personalities were so bad lol.

[lumpy_goat]

15 naked guys in the one place? kinda queer imo! lol
good review

[Baker]

Originally Posted by Sammy Wammy

yes... all the rest of the appartments were full of guys, and arghhh we hated them so much... they were such idiots! and they kept coming in naked and wern't leaving.. argh they were so annoying... lucky we only forget to lock our door a few times tho.. another time they said they had our cd so i opened it but then like, all of a sudden there were 15 annoying naked guys in our place...
it was horrible only because their personalities were so bad lol.

LOL

and yes, a bit sus indeed, but still ROFL.

[Sammy Wammy]

It was horrible... it was like they bloody didnt understand english... and then they started touching one of my friends and me and then i went skitz, and i was seriously screaming the place down yelling at them to get out and then like, the leader type was like 'fine then' and then i slammed the door and im like YEAH BITCH WE WON TAKE THAT lol and then we started doing our victory dance.