On the Road with Flip Byrnes

travel.com.au Roving Reporter

Flip was looking for the last outpost of civilization, instead she uncovered the hottest nightlife on the planet. Where? Iceland.

Iceland. Travel to the end of the world from Australia and you’ll find Iceland, floating alone and isolated in the middle of basically nowhere. It is fair to wonder exactly does one find at the end of the world? You might be surprised by the answer.

The hottest nightlife on the face of the planet.

The coloured house capital Reykjavik is earning a reputation as a wild area, and that has nothing to do with the landscape and everything to do with the locals.

A resilient lot, they refused to accept the social exile of living in the dark half the year, imported some serious sound systems, threw in a few strobe lights and voila, Ibiza on Ice.

With the best dressed, best looking and highest prices you’ll find anywhere ($10AUD a beer). So drink slowly or do what the locals do and drink at home. Or make a friend with lots of money.

When out of the bars like Olivers, Sirkus and Dillon, the café culture thrives, many housed in smoky, dimly lit wooden houses where students gather and solve the worlds issues.

A few days in Iceland is enough to get a taste of this country of contrasts. Untouched wildnerness vs. raging nightlife, 24 hour daylight (the summer solistice is June 21) vs. the permanent dark of winter, the chill of arctic ice and the heat of molten lava. If there was a list of “extreme countries”, this would be top of the list.

To see the best, the most efficient, informative easy way is to jump onboard a Rejkajvik Excursions bus and take in the Golden Circle.

This is a standard day trip, in which you sample a slice of the history and geology of Iceland, all within striking distance of Reykjavik. In a country where water temperatures of 200 degrees lurk just beneath the surface (providing most of the energy for 200,000 homes), you can expect some explosive action.

First up, the volcanic crater of Kerio, followed by the geo thermal field called the Geysir area, with boiling water shooting up from unexpected areas and where mud bubbles and groans. Plus in the adjacent Geysir Museum, you can experience an earthquake and see footage of recent volcanic explosions.

Budding geologists will be barely able to contain themselves at the next stop in the Pingvellir National Park. The tour takes a drive along the edge of a tectonic plate, before you walk into the fissure caused by the continuing division of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and its’ two plates.

The base of the Erasian plate where it rises up from the earth in a stark wall of rock history is also home to the worlds’ oldest existing Parliament. After a few hours of solemnity, go frolick in the Blue Lagoon.

No, not THAT Blue Lagoon with Brooke Shields, but a warm lagoon of 37 degree temperatures with white salica sand and nourishing blue green algae. Yum.

After which there is even time for a siesta before venturing out again in the wilds of Reykjavik. Travellers beware, no mud caked trainers accepted here, bring your slinkiest party top, no matter what time of year.