Lunching at the Lighthouse

February 11, 2016February 11, 2016 ~ margaretsealey ~ 5 Comments

iconic byron lighthouse — Byron Lighthouse from the new deck of the Cafe

My Tuesday was not behaving itself! I had intended to have of a lovely morning catching up with my fellow golf enthusiasts for a coaching session with Nicky Rickon, a leisurely coffee and perhaps, a few holes of golf at Mullumbimby Golf Club. But sadly, it was not to be. I found myself crawling along Broken Head Road. This was not good. I was going to be very, very late. But my golf clubs were nestled between the odd towel and beach chair in the boot and my feet were wearing socks and sneakers for the first time in months, ready to traverse beckoning fairways, so I detoured. A few holes at Byron would surely satisfy my golfing itch.

Although it was a very warm morning, there was a breeze so it was with some enthusiasm that I paid my money and made my way to the back nine as directed. I hadn’t played for a couple of months and as expected it took me one or two more shots than usual to complete the my first hole. But to compensate for a less than celebratory fairway performance, I did sink a long putt! I hit off the second and missed the water. All good. Then disaster. The Ladies Comp caught up to me. They suggested, nicely, that I hightail it over to the 14th, hit down to the clubhouse and play a few holes on the front nine so that I didn’t get in their way. There was only one problem. I got a trifle lost and ended up on the 13th. Where was the 14th? Obviously, my map reading skills need a little fine tuning. Feeling decidedly hot and bothered, I decided to tee off. Then I heard the sound. The sound of an approaching golf cart. I looked up. The lady golfers had me in their sights. There was nothing for it but to pick up my ball and drag my buggy and myself back to the clubhouse.

I felt that I had already walked nine holes but wasn’t ready to give up just yet. “The front nine might be more challenging but is more scenic,” I’d been reliably informed. As I dragged myself down and up, across and back, I got hotter and hotter. For once, my ball didn’t seek the trees like a ballistic missile. I was stuck in the middle of the fairway. Repeatedly. Melting. In the tropical oasis that is Byron, I felt as if I was trekking across the Sahara … without a camel! Three holes later, I called it a day. I didn’t want the R.I.P sign at the side of the Golf Club driveway to commemorate me.

Lying on the couch under a fan with an ice pack on my neck, Kenn took pity on me. “How about I take you and Annie out for coffee and maybe lunch?” My day suddenly brightened. Taking advantage of our new National Parks parking sticker, we decided that lunch on the newly completed deck at the Lighthouse Cafe would be perfect.

deck overlooks the bay — Can you ever get tired of such a view?

The cafe offers simple pleasures. Coffee, milkshakes, rolls, quiches, gourmet pies and sausage rolls to mention a few and the best ice cream in Byron Bay.

menu at lighthouse cafe — We tried the vegetarian quiche, the gourmet pie and the chicken and pesto roll. Needless to say, not a crumb was left on our plates. And the coffee hit the spot!

gelati at lighthouse cafe — **In the Pink** ice cream and gelati. So hard to resist.

Lunch finished, we lingered a little. Rested a little.

For newcomers to the bay, information about Lighthouse Tours and the National Park can be found in the Lighthouse Keepers House directly behind the cafe.

lighthouse keeper's cottage — Imagine being a lighthouse keeper here! There is limited paid parking available at the Lighthouse if you do not have a National Parks permit.

Refreshed, Annie and I meandered down the track, past the most easterly point of Australia to Wategoes where Kenn kindly picked us up.

overlooking wategoes — After the morning’s adventures, a strictly downhill stroll to **Wategoes** was all I could muster.

Lunch at the Lighthouse Cafe was a lovely and unexpected way to end the morning.

The Worung Bagus

November 16, 2015November 21, 2015 ~ margaretsealey ~ Leave a comment

When Annie Milic asked me whether I wanted to go to lunch at a new cafe on the beachfront, of course I said “yes!” I love going to a new eatery. So many unknowns! What sort of eatery is it? How is the space decorated? Does it have a welcoming ambiance? Are the hosts approachable and obliging? And most importantly how good is the food and the coffee?

The Worung Bagus did not disappoint. Situated across from the Surf Club, the cafe has a youthful vibe, relaxed Balinese decor and delightful, enthusiastic hosts. The cafe offers both eat in or take-away.

relaxing — A lovely spot for tourist watching

In the mood for something hot, Annie and I perused the curry bar.

We decided on the ‘small’ plate for $11.90. But there were difficult decisions to make: did we want Nasi Goreng or a wonderfully fragrant brown rice? What curry would we choose – vegetable, seafood, chicken or beef rendang? Then we had to choose three vegetable sides and I wanted all of them! Eventually, I chose the eggplant balado, steamed vegetables and Cap Cay. And there were additional condiments to adorn our plates as well. Heavily laden, and our coffees ordered, we made ourselves comfortable on the deck and enjoyed every morsel. Then our coffee arrived with a lovely complimentary gluten free home baked cookie. For what more could we ask?

curry and vegetable bar — The Salad and Fruit bar

Next time and there definitely be a next time, I will explore the salad and juice bar. The ingredient list was just what you would hope to see, when experiencing a ‘ I need to be super healthy today’ moment. For me, these moments often occur after close encounters with decadent deserts.

shakes — I like the sound of the Kelapa, what would you choose?

So if you are visiting Byron and looking for something a little organically different or you just happen to be another hungry local, consider visiting the Worung Bagus. Whether you decide to eat in or picnic in the park overlooking the beach and the bay, you won’t be disappointed.

Pass Perfect

July 29, 2015November 21, 2015 ~ margaretsealey ~ 2 Comments

Do you have a favourite cafe or eatery? A place to catch up with friends while you sip a latte or cappuccino or perhaps a peppermint green tea while basking in the sun? A place which delivers a delicious bite to eat if you wish to indulge? A place, perhaps with a deck or veranda overlooking a beautiful view? There are many such establishments in Byron, but one of my favourites is the Pass Cafe. (www.thepasscafe.com.au)

pass cafe 5-001 — The path leading to the Pass Cafe from the Lighthouse walking circuit. The elevated deck is to the left.

The cafe is situated in the Arakwal National Park, overlooking the iconic Pass Beach. You can get there by car: drive along Lighthouse Road, turn left into Brooke Drive and park in the adjacent car park. It is a paid parking area. But my preferred option is to walk to the cafe following the circuit which eventually leads to the lighthouse. A little bit of exercise, lovely views, nice people to encounter, what more could I ask for?

looking out to the lower deck — View from the deck, looking into the rain forest of the Arakwal National Park

There on the deck you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast while you watch the birds or admire the view of the ocean through the trees. I love their brekkie burger but have suffered acute menu envy when others have ordered the Spanish omelette. As a reward for walking even part of the lighthouse circuit, morning coffee and cake is a must. I can recommend the gluten free brownies and the Middle Eastern orange muffins in particular but really it is always so hard to choose which delicious calorie laden morsel to have! In the name of research, I should work my way through the lot! (it would be a service for my fellow man) It goes without saying that the coffee is very, very good.

IMG_20150318_094756-001 — My skinny cappuccino! Love it.

The staff are amazingly helpful and always make you feel welcome. The cafe is also open for lunch but not for dinner. Lunch servings are generous, seasonal, varied and very reasonably priced. They also have a takeaway menu for those who fancy a picnic on the beach, only a few steps away, or a snack to tide them over as they tackle the steps to the Lighthouse.

The Pass Cafe is simply Pass Perfect.

Yoga in the Bay

June 24, 2015May 5, 2016 ~ margaretsealey ~ Leave a comment

My view across the bay from the Beachside Yoga Studio — My view across the bay from the Beach side Yoga Studio

June 21st was extra special this year. Not only was it my birthday and the winter or summer solstice depending on whether you live in the northern or southern hemisphere but it was also International Yoga Day.

Not so long ago, I looked in the mirror and saw one too many lumps and bumps. Gazing at my reflection, I found it difficult to visualise myself doing cartwheels in the sand, something that had seemed so easy when I was younger. So, I decided to give yoga a go, as I’d been reliably informed that if you want to improve your flexibility while strengthening and nurturing your body and mind, then yoga is the go.

But, I encountered a problem. What kind of yoga should I attempt? Here in Byron Bay, you can practise downward facing dog in various styles including Vinyasa, Kundalini, Ashtanga, Hatha Flow, Yin Yoga, Power flow, Purna and Bikram just to name a few. Now I know my limitations: didn’t want to break anything nor did the thought of sweating myself into the perfect body shape appeal. My friend, Annie came to my rescue. “Join me at Beachside Yoga,” she urged.

The Daily Bulletin at the Surf Club — The Daily Bulletin

I check it out. Two words stand out: slow and gentle. Then there is the location. The Beachside Yoga studio. is upstairs in the Byron Bay Surf Club and all equipment is supplied. I decide to give it a go. Classes are 90 mins long and the cost is $18 per class. There are regular specials so check out their website. http://www.beachsideyogaandmassage.com.au/

The teachers are great especially Grace Benn. Under her guidance, Annie and I have traveled some way along our yoga journey. The view of the ocean seems to illuminate our practice.

view through the window — Salute to the sun!

I have had found that the body awareness relaxation or shavasana really does make you feel relaxed and stress free. (I fallen asleep during shavasana – lavender eye pillows and a soothing voice can have that effect. I only hope that I haven’t snored!) Afterwards, I seem to float my way to coffee at a nearby cafe.

Fishheads Cafe, just a stones throw away from the surf club

My yoga class has become a weekly ritual. I hate to miss a class! Have you given Yoga a go? If so, what has been your experience? I would love to hear from you.

Souvlaki and chai energy muffins

March 22, 2015May 5, 2016 ~ margaretsealey ~ 5 Comments

Until relatively recently, my culinary skills could, at best be described as rudimentary. This I attribute to my childhood. The kitchen was a place where I had to mop the floor and peel potatoes. It was the place where my sister Jenny always got to wash up, while I had to wipe up and put away the dishes, a much more time consuming task. To this day, I don’t know how she managed to convince our mother that she was the superior washer upper when she completed the task in a time worthy of an Olympic 100 m champion. So, in protest at my unfair treatment (and a desire to finish my current book), I avoided the kitchen as much as possible. As a result, I left home knowing how to pour milk on cereal, boil an egg, cook toast and open a can of baked beans – real survival stuff!

But one of the joys of living in Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers is the foodie culture.. There are an amazing variety of restaurants and cafes to sample. This week, I revisited The Cyprus Tree, our local Greek restaurant. This restaurant never fails to deliver memorable and delicious food,from souvlaki to scrumptious seafood, perfect for a birthday dinner for my friend Annie.

PicMonkey Collage — Champagne not Ouzo was the order of the night!

As well, the area is full of really knowledgeable, capable people willing to share their skills and help you develop yours. This week saw the inaugural meeting of Byron Library’s Recipe Club. The club will meet on the third Tuesday of the month at 2pm, at the Library. There was a very promising roll up of interested parties. The guest speaker was the bubbly, Julie Ray.
I had met Julie before when I had attended her seafood paella class in Lismore at The Pepper tree Kitchen. I shared the photo of my success on that occasion with as many friends as possible. My culinary efforts had never looked or indeed tasted so impressive! So I was looking forward to listening to what she had to say. I was not disappointed. She came laden with ideas about interesting ways to use macadamias, a totally decadent recipe for a passionfruit cream curd cake and her chai energy muffins which we shared for afternoon tea. The muffins were delicious and you can find the recipe at Julie’s website, julieray.com. I noticed that she also had a great recipe for Gramma Pie on her website, that she had sourced from Bangalow grandmother, Mrs Jarratt. I love trying heritage country recipes. Maybe it’s because I love to daydream about all things historical.

chai-muffins-300x127 — Super healthy Chai energy muffins