Well, I arrived off my bus from Sydney after 9 hours at 5.30am! Luckily, my friendly driver dropped me right at the door of my accommodation for the night - The Plantation Hotel. Had to phone to get the night cleaner to let me in the locked front door, and as the reception wouldn't open till 9am, he showed me up to the backpacker tv lounge and kitchen where I promptly conked out on the couch. At 9am I awoke to find fellow backpackers noisily making breakfast. I headed downstairs to check in properly and get the key to my room. Luckily there was nobody else in the 4 bed dorm so I could get sorted in peace and have a nice long shower - which incidentally, was very good! After I had my plan for the day, I headed off outside to explore the town. Walked around the main shopping street and went to the bank to deposit my $560 bond which I'd got back from the apartment in Sydney. Decided to walk down to the beach and harbour, which was much further than I thought and took me a good 30 minutes. Once down there, I wandered about the marina and out to Muttonbird Island to see where the muttonbirds nesting ground is. Had hoped to see some migrating humpback whales, but no such luck. Got some great photos from the top of the island though as the views right over Coffs Harbour were stunning. Walked back and about half way there, a guy pulled his car over and got out and started speaking to me about the lousy weather! I politely chatted back and then he asked me what I was doing. When I said I was walking back to my hostel, he "couldn't believe I would walk all that way" and offered me a lift as he "was going that way anyway". Not being in the habit of jumping into cars with strange men, I politely declined his offer, saying I enjoyed the walk and it was no bother. Once back at the hostel, I headed downstairs to the pub to try one of the famous $6 meals (which had been highly commended in the Rough Guide). Had amazing beef lasagne and chips and gorgeous salad - spectacular value! Then just sat quietly minding my own and reading my book, when who should approach me, but the same guy from earlier. We got chatting again and it turns out he's a horse dentist, serving the whole of the Coffs Coast! He even invited me to join him on his rounds the following day, saying he'd drive by the Plantation Hotel at 7am and if I wanted to go, I'd just have to wait outside. After, seriously considering taking him up on his offer, I decided that I couldn't really be bothered getting up at that god-awful hour and still hadn't determined whether he was, in fact, an axe murderer! So instead, the following morning, I hired a bike from the hostel for 5 bucks and stuck with my original plan of cycling up to the Big Banana, which is slightly out of town. There ended up being a huge hill just before it, so I had to get off and push - up the bloody Pacific Highway no less, with no sidewalk and huge trucks hurtling past at speed!! Nevertheless, I made it in one piece and was considerably disappointed as it turned out to be not much more than a cafe and gift shop. Took the essential photograph though and then enjoyed the thrilling free-wheel back down the hill to town, where I diverted off and headed back down to the shore and along the coastal cycle path. All in all, I'd basically just wanted to get a brief idea of what Coffs has to offer, as I will probably be back in December for 4 or 5 days with Mum and Dad when they're over. I dare say the weather will be somewhat better then as well. Nice place though and I look forward to returning!