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 »

The 2007 Byron Underwater Festival will be held from Thursday the 10th to Sunday the 13th of May in Byron Bay, the most easterly point of the Australian mainland.

Julian Rocks is part of the new Cape Byron Marine Park and only a few minutes boat ride from Main Beach. Tropical and temperate currents meet here, resulting in an unique mixture and incredible abundance of marine life including 3 species of turtles various rays and friendly sharks and over 500 other species of fish. Macro life is also 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 24šC) and it is a quieter time of the year in Byron Bay, a great time to visit!

Who can participate ?
The Byron Underwater Festival is aimed to engage everyone with an interest in the marine environment, whether they want to dive it, snorkel it, kayak it or just observe it from the safety of their armchairs.

What will be happening ?
Byron Underwater Photographic Shootout

- 4 days - 8 dives - as much digital media or rolls of film as you can expose
- Open to novices and professionals alike
- Dive with underwater pioneer Neville Coleman
- Thousands of dollars worth of prizes including Beuchat dive equipment and snorkel gear - dive trips and more

Snorkel tours

- Snorkel with turtles at Julian Rocks
- Discover the wreck of the Tassie II

Critter identity workshops - What did I see ?

- with Neville Coleman - each afternoon at PLANULA Divers Retreat

Marine wildlife presentations

- Introduction to Nudibranchs - Neville Coleman
- Underwater Naturalist - Neville Coleman
- Many other presentations to be announced

Documentary screening

Byron Underwater - where tropical and temperate waters merge

Other activities and events will include

Discover Scuba tours - always wanted to try it - now is the time
Kayaking with dolphins - Including information sessions on dolphin biology and more
Kids events including interpretative beach walk - families are welcome at UF07
Clean up dive - help to preserve our pristine underwater world
Night Dive at the wreck of the Tassie II - see what critters come out in the dark

Various Festival Packages available - divers and non-divers welcome
For more info on the Byron Underwater Festival, please keep visiting the festival website at www.underwaterfestival.com.au

Festival sponsors and supporters include:
Planula Divers Retreat, Byron Bay Dive Centre, Sundive Byron Bay, Coastcare and many others

Main dive equipment sponsor:
Beuchat - ZSports Pty Ltd

Media Sponsors include:
underwater.com.au, DiveLog, Sportdiving, X-Ray Magazine, byronbay.com and others

rick :: Feb.27.2007 :: Activity, Australia, Byron Bay News, Environment :: No Comments »

My brother & I climbed Mt Warning (1,157m), it is a fairly strenuous ‘walk’. It took us 4 hours round trip (up and down). The last 50-100m is a steep rock climb with a chain for support.

Here’s a clip;

We enjoyed it. Mt Warning is a World Heritage listed National Park located about a one hour drive from Byron Bay (12km from Murwillumbah).

For further information visit;

www.tropicalnsw.com.au/nationalparks/warning.html
or
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Warning

rick :: Jan.03.2007 :: Byron Bay News, Culture, Environment, Video :: No Comments »

One of Byron Bay’s best kept secrets is the Cumbebin Wetlands, a tranquil oasis of original native vegetation and the home to various threatened species, right in the heart of Byron Bay. The wetlands are just behind the Byron Markets site off Somerset Street. There’s a boardwalk through the trees and you will find the entrance behind the big totem pole in the grassed area at the front of the wetlands. Volunteers from the Byron Environment Centre, who look after the wetlands, have recently installed seats at the end of the boardwalk where you can sit to relax and meditate among the trees, a peaceful place where it’s hard to realise the bustle of the busy Byron town centre is only a few hundred metres away.

The wetlands are home to the Eastern long-eared bat, the rare Wollum froglet, and the critically endangered Michell’s rainforest snail, which is found only in swamp rainforest in the coastal plain between Ballina and Tweed Heads.

You can learn more about the inhabitants of these priceless wetlands on our website, www.byronenvironmentcentre.asn.au. There is also information there about how we manage the bush regeneration program for the wetlands without using chemicals for weed control. It’s a good news story about a responsible environmental management program that is preserving for the future, a pristine area of Byron’s original environment.

Cheers for now

Adrian

Adrian :: Dec.13.2006 :: Environment :: No Comments »

Each year Byron becomes an even more popular destination for Schoolies.

Here’s a short video of Schoolies enjoying Byron Bay’s Main beach on the first day of summer (Dec 1st, 2006).

If you’re a future ‘Schoolie’, be sure to visit our list of Schoolie Accommodation;
www.byron-bay.com/schoolies

rick :: Dec.06.2006 :: Byron Bay News, Culture, Environment, Video :: No Comments »

I’ve finally posted a video of Byron on YouTube.com.

It’s quick panorama of Byron Bay’s popular Main Beach. I took the video on 17 October 2006.

rick :: Oct.19.2006 :: Byron Bay News, Environment, Video :: No Comments »

From daring to delicate, simple to surprising, sculpture comes in many
guises at the Thursday Plantation East Coast Sculpture Show.

The premier outdoor-art event of the Northern Rivers opens for its 11th
season on Sunday, 24 September, supported once again by WHK Rutherfords
Financial Advisers.

With 63 new sculptural works from established and emerging artists, this
year’s show is stronger than ever, promises curator Priya Woolston. “We have
attracted a number of first-time exhibitors and this is a great indication
of the depth of artistic talent in this region.”

In traditional Thursday Plantation style, the gala opening day is about more
than viewing art. It is an occasion to relax with family and friends, enjoy
a picnic, and be entertained by inspiring musicians and speakers.

This year’s show gets underway at 1pm with music by Yantra de Vilder, Greg
Sheehan and Leigh Carriage. Their performance will be an original soundscape
composed by Yantra, and feature her playing grand piano. At 1.15pm and
3.15pm there will be exhibition tours with comedian and artist Mandy Nolan,
who is also MC for the day, and TP Health chairman Christopher Dean.

The Award Ceremony begins at 2.30pm, opened by Rhoda Roberts, director of
The Dreaming annual Indigenous arts festival held in Woodford, Queensland.
The winning artists will share in $20,000 worth of prizes.

Entry to the show is from 12 noon. The cost of $5 per person, (children
free), includes a catalogue and the chance to win season tickets to the
Woodford Folk Festival in December. The Verandah Café will be serving
delicious food and refreshments throughout the day.

The show is located in the botanical gardens and rainforest groves of
Thursday Plantation, off the Pacific Highway, 20 minutes south of Byron Bay
and 1km north of the Ballina/Byron airport turnoff. It will continue every
day from 9am - 5pm until 31 January 2007. Thursday Plantation also hosts a
permanent sculpture collection and sculpture gallery that can be viewed all
year round.

Visit: www.sculptureshow.net

rick :: Sep.15.2006 :: Byron Bay News, Culture, Entertainment, Environment :: No Comments »

Sunday 10th of September 2006 at Rocky Creek Dam Picture of Rocky Creek Dam

Entry is Free - Parking $5 per car

Free Bus service provided Click here for Bus Timetable.

Event Program Click here for a full event description and your Big Scrub Program

What’s Big Scrub Rainforest Day about?

Big Scrub Rainforest Day, now in its eighth year and will be held at Rocky Creek Dam inland from Byron Bay on Sunday the 10th of September. The celebration starts at 7am with bird watching walks and continues until 4 pm with presentations, workshops, guided walks and performances.

This year following the official opening will be the welcome to county by the Widjabal Elders. You can then learn the latest techniques in weed control, seed collection, plant propagation and rainforest regeneration techniques. You can also learn about gardening with local native plants, growing cabinet timbers and interesting pursuits like eco-motoring with bio diesel.

Big Scrub Rainforest Day has inspired and educated thousands of landholders and volunteers to tackle weeds, plant trees and get passionate about rainforests since 1999. Through its innovative, fun program, the event engages the whole community - not just those converted to rainforest restoration and landcare.

Started by Rainforest Rescue and the Big Scrub Rainforest Landcare Group, Big Scrub Rainforest Day has grown to become the largest annual landcare education event in Australia. People travel from all over southeast Queensland, northern New South Wales and beyond to join the festivities and discover practical ways they can help the environment.

The educational focus of the day is complemented by fun activities for all the family. Play eco games with the children, try puppet making and enjoy the theatre performance. And there?s also yoga in the rainforest, mountain bike rainforest tours and market and food stalls contribute to a festival atmosphere.

A Free Bus service will run to and from the event and seats can be booked by calling Jim?s Alternative Tours on 02 6685 7720 if coming from Byron Bay or call EnviTE on 02 6621 9588 if coming from Lismore.

Visit : www.rainforestrescue.org.au

rick :: Aug.28.2006 :: Activity, Australia, Byron Bay, Byron Bay News, Environment :: No Comments »