We hiked in the Cape Byron Headland Reserve about five years ago, just before I began blogging. Today I am consolidating my photos onto one back-up disk (to keep off-site) and I came across this beautiful spot that I had nearly forgotten about in New South Wales, Australia.
In 2010 we spent 6 weeks in Australia, mostly within driving distance of Brisbane. Our southernmost stop was Byron Bay where we followed the Cape Byron Walking track through the headland reserves and up to the lighthouse, enjoying spectacular views along the way.
Best shared in photos:
This is the legend of the Julian Rocks, copied from a sign at the site:
“This spectacular rock formation features prominently in the mythology of local Koori people. One story tells of a man call Wao and Nguthungulli “father of the whole world”, who lives in a cave in a big rock which stands in the sea “six miles out from Byron Bay”. Wao followed two emus who were the spirit of his deceased brother, Jarring. He followed them from Woodenbong to the coast at Byron Bay. At the coast, Wao was taken by Nguthungulli to a cave and given a song, which he took back to his people.
Another story tells of two lovers from different clans who ran into the sea to escape their parent’s wrath. The lovers were drowned and transformed into the rocks.”
Would you walk or drive to the see the lighthouse at Cape Byron Headland Reserve? Which legend of the Julian Rocks did you prefer? If you are writing, what do you do when you are stuck?
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Gunilla
Gorgeous views of the waves and the cliffs!
Julie Kemp Pick
Stunning photos! The picture with you and your hubby is quite cute too! I like that the sign told you how much greenhouse gas you saved by walking. Congrats to Sarah! I’m excited about your book, and hope you feel better soon, Rhonda!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Julie. And, I agree, I was quite pleased to find it as I hadn’t looked at these older photos in year. Of course I am no longer blonde, and he has less hair, but I still like it. I loved the sign too. I remembered it and that’s why I went looking for this set of photos.
Lydia C. Lee
It’s such a pretty spot – we’re up there at xmas again this year, but only for a few days 🙁
Rhonda Albom
A few days is probably longer than we had, plenty of time to enjoy the view 🙂
Yolanda Renee
I prefer the lovers story.
great photos, as always. You’re like me, hubby and I don’t have a lot of pictures together either. He hates the camera as much as I do, although I do wield it and he ignores it.
Always moving on when you’re stuck makes sense, it will come.
I woke up this morning with a Halloween story forming in my head. Had it completed in a couple of hours. Feeling accomplished!
Rhonda Albom
I generally have the camera, so I am on the other side of the photos. Hubby and I are both picky about which shots of us can stay around, so there are not enough. As for your story in a few hours, impressive.
Charlotte
It looks beautiful. Love the waves!
Rhonda Albom
It is a really lovely spot.
Kelleyn
So beautiful!
L. Diane Wolfe
So beautiful! It reminds me of the Oregon coast.
Rhonda Albom
That is one spot in the US I have yet to see. I lived in San Francisco, have been up to the top of California and flew to Seattle. Somehow I have missed Oregon. Now, whenever we go to the states we are expected to visit family all over, so limited time and money to go to extra spots.
Indah Nuria Savitri
Indeed I would…we went to the end of the Long Island to see the lighthouse as well. The name of the palce is Montauk and it’s indeed beautiful. Great photos you have here..
Lisa Buie-Collard
I would walk! And I prefer the first “story.” There is a magic to it instead of trauma… Sometimes I walk away, as you did, when I get stuck, and sometimes I just slug through. Depends on what I’m writing!
Rhonda Albom
True I do like the magic of the first story.
Christine Rains
Gorgeous pictures! And wonderful you found a way to get past that part. I do the same thing. I make a note and push forward lest I end up stuck in a rut for days!
Rhonda Albom
I had never done it that way before, but I will eventually go back to the beginning of the chapter. Who knows, maybe I will toss it out.
Robyn Engel
I’m really excited for Sarah. My sister went to South Africa through AFS too (of course, in this case A stands for American). She had an amazing experience. Congratulations to her and your family.
Love the hospitality and spirit of the “congrats for walking” sign.
Rhonda Albom
Actually in all cases. AFS is American Field Service, but they are world wide now. So she will go with AFS New Zealand. I am glad your sister had a good experience. AFS seems to have such a good reputation.
Jen
What a beautiful place! I think that perhaps I would have chosen to walk. I’m a fan of walking in general – the slower pace allows me to see more. As for the legends, I like the 2nd one better. 😉
I host a Photo Friday link-up each week – this would be a great post for it. I’d love it if you would consider joining me. The link-up goes live tomorrow night 😉
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Jen. I am also a fan of walking, much more so now than back then. Now I walk 10K steps everyday.
Chrys Fey
Those pictures are gorgeous, especially the one with the water going over the rocks.
Good luck with your edits! Skipping what gets you stuck is something I do all the time. In fact, I skipped three chapters in my current WIP. I’d be done with it by now if only I could write those three chapters. haha
Rhonda Albom
I still have a long way to go, and now that have your editing guide I may be starting over. Fantastic tips, clear and so much easier than just looking for adverbs to eliminate.
Life Images by Jill
We are yet to get to this part of Australia, but hopefully in the next few years. In the meantime, thank you for the travellog. Happy travels and thank you for stopping by my blog this week.
Rhonda Albom
Maybe someday. It’s really pretty.
Deb Nance
Yes, beautiful photos. Thank you!
Glenda Cates
I Loved the Lighthouse and I would have walked. Story 2 of the Lovers is the one I liked the most. But the pictures was awesome and seeing your family was nice.
Rhonda Albom
That sign at the top makes you feel really good about walking too. Glad you enjoyed my images and my family – although the girls are nearly adults now.
Claire
Beautiful pictures, I would love to visit 🙂
Rhonda Albom
I hope you get there some day.
Alissa Apel
All we have is rivers around here. That lighthouse is super cool!
Rhonda Albom
I think this might have been the only lighthouse we saw in Australia. (I am sure there were others we were near, but we didn’t hike to any others.
Dominique Goh
That’s a really lovely place that you visited.. nice to be at the coast.
Rhonda Albom
I am an ocean girl, I love the coast.
Lexa Cain
These are great pics even if it was a rather gray day – the ocean looks positively forbidding. In the very last pic, is the long ribbon of gray a path going down to the end of the rocks? (If it is I wonder if it’s for the brave or the foolhardy – or perhaps for emus who are really Wao’s brother…) Congrats on skipping the chapter and plowing ahead! That’s the way you have to do it sometimes. I hope your headaches become more manageable soon.
Yay for Sarah’s new Zazzle shop! I think Argentina sounds very exciting.
Wishing your family a great week! 🙂
Rhonda Albom
It was really pretty despite the grey day, sometimes I can get better shots on these days. If I remember correctly, it is a path, but not with a view of the Julian Rocks – although I love your theory.
I am really proud of Sarah, although I will miss her for a year.
Travelera
Lovely photo memories and Great shots Rhonda!!
xxx
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Nulai!
Comedy Plus
Walking is a good way to go. If the body allows walking a good distance.
I love the picture of you and hubby. A really nice shot.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom
I am pretty pleased with that photo of hubby and I as well, although my hair is no longer blonde. I walk every day now, so I think it would be even easier for me today than it was back then.
Teresa from NanaHood
Love seeing your photos! Come to our conference so I can meet you! Pretty please!
Rhonda Albom
LOL – Las Vegas is pretty far away.
Anabel
Walk! Definitely walk. This looks lovely.
Rhonda Albom
Me too, but you already know that.
Uwe
…if you miss the sun in Australia, it was for more or less the whole summer here in Germany!!! 😉
Greeting from the other side of this great planet!
Uwe.
Rhonda Albom
It’s just springtime now down under, so we are ready to take back the sun 🙂
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Some very beautiful photos especially of you and your husband. Have a beautiful Tuesday Rhonda. See ya my friend.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
Thanks. It really does seem rare that we have a nice shot of the two of us. Especially back then when the girls were younger.
[email protected]
The Byron headland is such a lovely spot. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there.
Rhonda Albom
I think I would go often if I lived nearby.
Hilary
Hi Rhonda – lovely photos and happy memories must have been brought back – love the photos. My brother and SIL have great friends who live there and have visited … Australia and NZ are still on my list – one day …
Well done on skipping on with the editing and you’ll find that stuck bit will be unstuck fairly soon … cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
One day you will get down under. It’s so far away from the UK, literally half way around the world, so come for a long time when you do.
Karren Haller
Your photos are great, you look like you had a wonderful time! I have visited a few light houses, they are so amazing and have so much history. Karren
Rhonda Albom
Generally, my favorite thing about lighthouses is the views they over look. I just love the sea.
Parent Club
What a beautiful place
Betty
All stunning pictures; I think I would walk if I could to visit the lighthouse!
betty
Rhonda Albom
Great, then you would be congratulated at the top, like we were.
Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk)
Love how you captured the waves! I can feel its strength and this is such a lovely place to visit =)
Rhonda Albom
It was really memorable. I have so many old photos that I have no idea where they were shot.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Like the crashing of the waves on the rocks!
Skipping ahead is a good idea. You can always go back later. And no worries a day early.
Rhonda Albom
I can waste away the hours watching waves crash and splash over rocks. Glad you are not upset with me, I didn’t think about doing it the way you did this month. 🙂
Life In Pieces
Wow, gorgeous place! My Guy has been to Australia for work several times, but he’s been in Darwin all those times. We’ve talked about visiting, but he hates the flight.
I don’t write a lot of fiction, but I write a lot of technical papers for work. If I get stuck on a certain section, I’ll move on to a different section and hope that by putting those thoughts in order, it will help with the section I’m stuck on.
Rhonda Albom
For us, it’s one of the shortest flights around at only 3 hours. However, Darwin is quite far from New South Wales, and completely different.
Lady Fi
What a gorgeous place!
stevebethere
It looks beautiful there Rhonda lovely views nice pics of all of you too the years pass by quick don’t they heheh!
Have a reservetastic week 🙂
Rhonda Albom
I know what you mean, I can’t believe how quickly my girls have become young adults.