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My friend shakes me awake at 6 am and I roll out of bed, unimpressed by her presence. I’m partial to the odd sunset, but this is my first sunrise. I’m a northern English woman in a Byron Bay summer, yet I pull on yoga pants and a jumper over a swimsuit, completely unaware of what the temperature might be at this time of day. The warmth hits me the moment I leave the building but I carry on; it’s too early for reassessing decisions. We arrive at the car park and begin the walk up to the well-known Cape Byron Lighthouse. Perhaps it’s because my favourite song played on the radio on the drive here; maybe it’s because I’m a former city kid looking into the night sky to see an entire universe of stars, but I’m already in a good mood. This is no easy feat for an anything-but-morning person. We set out along the coastal walk. The far flung bubbles of the milk-frothed agate waves speckle my face as I walk, cooling my ever so slightly too warm skin. I climb the steps of the hill leading to the lighthouse watching the sky grow steadily lighter, as the salty breeze hugging my shoulders becomes a welcomed friend. I reach the eastern most point of Australia to find a couple huddled together on a bench, facing out to sea with a surrounding group of fellow backpackers. I climb further, despite my body's reluctance to reach the easily sought tourist-ridden precipice. My friend suggests we continue on to a cove carved in the opposite side of the hill just another 20 metres down to get away from the crowds. I willingly follow. The waves rush in from the outer edges of the rocks, running over each other in chevron ripples. The usual golden sea blanket, typical of the sunsets that I’m familiar with, is replaced with a breathtaking, metallic onyx wash beneath navy-purple clouds lined by ethereal silver wisps. Content, I stare into the dark waves as they crash below. As the first of the suns rays turn the water a brilliant turquoise, they reveal a pod of dolphins playing in the surf. Flipping and tossing in the misty break. We stay a while, watching until they swim away. The walk down to the beach is a winding road through shaded, leafy woodland that brings us out on the opposite side of the hill. I take my yoga pants and jumper off and reluctantly walk to the water expecting it to still be affected by the previous nights chill. With closed eyes, I hold my breath and tip-toe in. It’s warm and glorious. I duck my whole body under and swim out a little. Turning to face the shore with the hill towering over it; behind the lighthouse, for the second time that morning, I watch the sun rise as dolphins play in the surf behind me.