Byron Bay Blog

International media correspondents from prestigious dive magazine Scuba Diver Australasia are flying out a team from Singapore to cover the 2009 Byron Underwater Festival to be held in Byron Bay from Monday 27th April to Sunday 3rd May.

With nearly $25,000 in prizes up for grabs, the Byron Underwater Photo and Video Shoot-Out is now the richest event of it’s type in Australia and offers one of the richest prize pools internationally.

This year’s Underwater Shoot-out promises to be the best yet as organisers extend the festival by adding an extra 2 days. Tim Hochgrebe, event organiser, says “Extending the festival in 2009, has allowed us to provide underwater photographers and videographers greater flexibility and time to capture that elusive award winning shot and video footage.” Tim also added “To help contestants in the 2009 shoot-out, once again we are bringing back to Australia renowned international underwater photographer Mr. Matthieu Meur to conduct beginners and advanced photo clinics early during the festival. This will allow photographers the opportunity to utilise their newly acquired skills during the competition.” Mr. Meur is a co-author of 2 books - An Essential Guide to Digital Underwater Photography and An Advanced Guide to Digital Underwater Photography and has his own underwater photography bible on the verge of being published in early 2009. Pre-release copies will be available at the festival.

Inductee to the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, Neville Coleman of Queensland, has also confirmed a third appearance at the 2009 Underwater Festival. Organisers of the festival are proud to have Neville Coleman back next year. Neville is the author of over 50 books - his latest the massive Nudibranchs Encyclopedia - and well known for his passion for the underwater world and the small and unusual critters it contains. As an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography, Neville has once again been invited as a guest judge in the 2009 Underwater Photo and Video Shoot-out and he will also be conducting a full Underwater Naturalist course over the first two days of the festival.

We all know, Byron Bay is one of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations and everyone knows about its beautiful beaches, the great surf and famous festivals. However, not many realise what beauty lies beneath the water’s surface or that Julian Rocks, located only 3 kms off the beach, and is one of Australia’s top 10 dive sites. This is where tropical and temperate currents meet, resulting in a unique mixture and incredible abundance of marine life including 3 species of turtles various rays, friendly sharks and over 500 other species of fish. Macro life is abundant with nudibranchs, crabs and snails, various coral and sponge species as well as sea stars, feather stars and urchins. In May water temperatures are still up (21 to 24C) and it is a quieter time of the year in Byron Bay, a great time to visit!

The Byron Underwater Festival is aimed at everyone wanting to experience, for themselves, the wonderful marine environment of Cape Byron Marine Park - whether it be to learn more about it, dive it, snorkel it, kayak it, photograph it … or even paint it.

Other activities and events include marine wildlife presentations by a number of reputable speakers, snorkeling, introductory dives, kayaking with dolphins and an Underwater Art competition. The Marine Visions art competition & exhibition, held in association with Retrospect Galleries, is a celebrated forum open to photographers, painters and sculptures of all ages. This is a fantastic opportunity to display and sell their work over the course of the festival and be in the running to win over $5000 of great prizes including cash, a full PADI Open Water Course, framing and printing and much more.

There will be something for everyone and fun for the whole family with many FREE events and activities.

For more info and bookings go to http://www.underwaterfestival.com.au

Planula :: Jan.18.2009 :: Activity, Byron Bay, Culture, Entertainment, Environment :: No Comments »

Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural reggae festival Raggamuffin, fans will be delighted to hear it’s happening all over again with Raggamuffin 2009.

Ziggy Marley, Eddy Grant, Ali Campbell, Shaggy, Arrested Development, Inner Circle and Bonjah will perform at six events nationally and one in New Zealand, kicking off on January 24 in Perth.

Raggamuffin played to more than 70,000 ecstatic fans through February this year, emphatically proving that reggae is alive and well! This year’s event again offers a six hour musical feast of the world’s best reggae artists, with a healthy dose of funk, dub, hip hop and soul. It will be the first ever visit to Australia by Eddy Grant.

So there you have it… seven great bands providing a veritable musical reggae feast, welcome to Raggamuffin 2009! Check out the website www.raggamuffin.com.au for all the details.

rick :: Oct.28.2008 :: Activity, Byron Bay, Culture, Entertainment :: No Comments »

The Grates are visiting Byron Bay as part of their record launch tour. I’ve enjoyed them each time I’ve seen them at Splendour, my kids are fans - so their CD is on high rotation in our car.

If you’ve seen them before - I’m sure you’ll try and catch their show at the Northern on October 5.

Here’s what their press release had to say;

The Grates’ live shows have now become stuff of legend. Patience’s dancing style has its own patent, Alana’s smile is always infectious and John is the captain of their musician-ship. You never know quite what to expect, as Winter Wonderlands, party balloons and colourful capers fill the stage. Their recent Surprise Parties where the unusual locations weren’t revealed until 48 hours before the show are testimony to the fact that The Grates never stick to the norm!

With their upcoming new album “Teeth Lost, Hearts Won” already getting young hearts a flutter ahead of its early August release, The Grates get ready to give fans a coronary with the announce of a major national tour throughout October.

rick :: Sep.24.2008 :: Activity, Byron Bay, Byron Bay News, Entertainment :: No Comments »

Every few months Ross & Eva Heath of Heath’s Old Wares & Collectibles in Bangalow send me an updated list of the regions ‘old wares’ shops which they call Local Trail.

I’ve finally got around to posting it as a PDF;

‘Local Trail’ Antiques & Collectibles Shops in the Byron Bay Region

This is an excellent resource listing the addresses and phone numbers of about 40 shops… plus, if you’re interested you can subscribe to their mailing list and receive the updates.

rick :: Sep.24.2008 :: Activity, Byron Bay, Byron Bay News :: No Comments »

Presented by;

SCHOOL OF PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT AND SPIRITUAL ONENESS

August 31st till September 5th

This training is to discover and develop your psychic skills. You will receive your own ‘psychic life reading’ prior to the start of the training and will find out how you can fully use your psychic abilities. Learn about the 7 chakras, the inner man/inner woman, the inner child and about the higher self. Come to understand how you create your own reality.

Learn how to give your own psychic reading! Become a scientist of the inner world.

Rago Dahlsen has worked internationally as a psychic reader for over 20 years. She has been part of Mystery schools in India and the USA. Now she is very happy to pass on her gifts to you.

Visit their website for more information;

www.byron-bay-health-retreat.com.au

rick :: Jul.15.2008 :: Activity, Australia, Byron Bay :: No Comments »

The fourth East Coast ‘Movers & Shakers’ Backgammon Tournament will be held at the Bangalow Bowling Club on 18 and 19 October 2008.

The Backgammon Tournament is the idea of local backgammon players; Hamish Whetstone, Jake Rozenthal and Neil Young, and like last year, they hope to attract interest from interstate backgammon players but they also hope to bring together all the backgammon players living locally in the shire. “There are many backgammon tournaments played over the internet, but we felt like a real competition between real players sitting opposite each other would be a lot more fun” said Hamish from his Mullumbimby home, where he plays backgammon every week with a group of friends “We hope it will bring together the local backgammon community like it has for the last two years”.

The tournament costs $70 to enter with all entry fees returned as prize money once costs are covered – this is a not for profit event. There will be two days of backgammon competition. Day one is a ‘Swiss Qualifier’ where everyone plays six opponents and then the 16 players with the most wins qualify for a Knockout Final on day two (this is a double-elimination final, which means you are not knocked out until you have lost twice). There will be a state representative competition and on day two there will be a consolation competition for those that didn’t quality and plenty of blitz rounds (small round robin competitions) for those that are knocked out or can only attend for one day.

Contact bbblot@hotmail.com for more information or phone Hamish on 0413 564 838

As Tim from PLANULA Bed & Breakfast Retreat in Byron Bay is a keen Backgammon player and part of the tournament, PLANULA offers 10% off accommodation for tournament participants for any stay including the tournament dates - and if you beat Tim during the tournament (in Backgammon that is) you will get another 10% off - now that’s confidence. But better be quick …

Planula :: Jul.14.2008 :: Activity, Byron Bay, Community, Entertainment :: No Comments »

May through August each year sees Byron Bay host a wide variety of events & festivals - something for everybody.

30 April - 4 May : Byron Underwater Festival, visit www.underwaterfestival.com.au.

4 May : Winter Whales Ocean Classic, 2.2km Ocean Swim, visit www.byronswimclassic.com.

10 May : Byron Bay Triathlon, Olympic Distance Triathlon, visit www.byronbaytri.com.

May 24 - June 1 : FEHVA, The festival for art lovers and artists, visit www.fehva.com.

25-27 July : Byron Bay Writers Festival, visit www.byronbaywritersfestival.com.au.

2 & 3 August : Splendour in the Grass, tickets on sale in May, visit www.splendourinthegrass.com.

So if you’re interested in the ocean, fitness, art &/or music - and looking for an excusse to visit Byron this winter, I suggest you start planning now.

rick :: Apr.09.2008 :: Activity, Australia, Byron Bay, Byron Bay News, Community, Culture, Entertainment :: Comments Off

The dates and venue for the 2008 Splendour Festival have just been announced: 2 & 3 August at Belongil Fields, Byron Bay.

Here’s the press release;

OK music lovers. It’s time to dust off your dancing shoes and put these key dates in your calendar for the much-anticipated SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS event for 2008.

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS will return this winter, Saturday August 2nd and Sunday August 3rd, to be staged in the beautiful sub tropics of Northern NSW’s Byron Bay.

And despite efforts to stage the forthcoming event at the proposed new site of North Byron Shire Parklands, organisers can confirm that SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS will for this year be held at Belongil Fields in Byron Bay, where it has been staged successfully for the past 7 years.

Now in its 8th year, SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS will continue to deliver performances by some of the finest music acts in Australia and around the world.

Tickets for the 2008 SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS will be on sale in May with first artists on the line-up to be announced late April. Watch this space for all this and more.

To keep up to date with festival information visit www.splendourinthegrass.com

For a wide choice of available accommodation visit our Splendour Accommodation Guide

I can’t wait!

rick :: Mar.19.2008 :: Activity, Australia, Byron Bay, Byron Bay News, Entertainment :: No Comments »

This year is the 20th year for the Winter Whales Ocean Classic and the event will include the 2.2km Wategoes to Main Beach swim as well as ‘the dash for cash’ (500 m sprint) and the new ‘Mini Classic’ (800 m).

Date: First Sunday in May - 4 May 2008

Time: 10:00 am start

Location: Byron Bay Surf Club, Main Beach race starts from Wategoes

Contact: Chris Lowry aquadoctor@gmail.com

I am expecting more details soon, and will publish them here.

rick :: Feb.27.2008 :: Activity, Australia, Byron Bay, Byron Bay News :: No Comments »

“Rosella Jam” is a community a’cappella choir dedicated to creating an
opportunity for all people to experience the power of singing together.

It has only recently become common knowledge that the health benefits of
singing are outstanding, both physically and psychologically.

Rosella Jam hosts “SING OUT” Weekend Getaways which are open to the public
and are held at varying popular holiday locations throughout Northern N.S.W.
and S.E. Queensland.

“SING OUT” weekends provide a unique and valuable outlet for artistic
expression. They encompass singing, good food, excellent accommodation and
the opportunity to get away from it all for a couple of days.

The weekends are for people who wish to treat themselves, connect, have fun
and sing their hearts out while at the same time giving their immune system
a healthy boost.

ALL are welcome!

The next singing weekend will be held at the luxurious 4-star Peppers
Casuarina Lodge in the Byron Hinterland. The fun commences Friday night on
30th May at 7.00pm and finishes at 3pm on Sunday afternoon the 1st June.
This is an unbeatable value for money weekend.

Contact: Marsha Gusti 07 55982880 Email: mgusti@bigpond.net.au FOR MORE
INFO www.rosellajam.com

rick :: Feb.14.2008 :: Activity, Australia, Byron Bay, Byron Bay News, Culture :: No Comments »