NORTH ROAD TRIP - HAWKS NEST - 1 TO 5 NOVEMBER 2021

1 NOVEMBER

We left for a road trip to northern NSW.

We stopped for petrol and 2 hours later, we were at Hawks Nest. First thing was to check the surf which was blown out by a strong NE wind. Second stop was checking into the campgrounds at Bennett’s Beach and having lunch. The third stop was Tea Gardens for coffee and Jacinta’s homemade chocolate weetbix slices … yum! We sat on the river waterfront and enjoyed the view. The wind was strong here as well. We drove to Windy Whoopa and had a walk along the beach. It was more protected here from the winds. We sat on the beach, enjoyed the sun and watched the tiny waves slippin' and a-slidin' along the shore. 

Back to camp, drinks, guitar and dinner. A great first day!

2^nd NOVEMBER

After waking, I had a bike ride to Bennett’s Beach to check the surf which was still blown out. Continuing from there, I rode the bike along a few tracks to Jimmy's Beach campground. Good short tracks.

After breakfast, we drove to Jimmy’s Beach and had a pleasant morning sitting in the sun, a few swims and watched the birdlife.

A coffee at Tea Gardens, which was pretty windy.

After lunch, we rode the bikes to Windy Whoopa. We rode on a few short tracks then the service roads out to the massive sand dune at the entrance to the Myall River. Amazing scenery but the wind was strong and getting stronger. A hard pedal back against the wind.

3 NOVEMBER

The wind still howling but what a sunrise!

First stop, a mountain bike ride on the old mining road in Myall Lakes National Park. The plan was to ride as far as the turn off to Johnson Beach and turned right and loop back. This track was very rough and overgrown. Eventually, we had to back track as the reeds grew very high and the track went underwater. Still, it was fun and of course, my shoes and socks were drenched.

We drove to the car ferry at Bombah Point but they now charging to use the facility so we gave it a miss.

We stopped at Angophora picnic area in Myall Lakes NP for a check of the lake. The water was calm as it was protected from the wind by the thick trees.

Next was coffee and onwards to Jimmy's Beach. The sun was shining at times, the water was cool and it was pretty. We relaxed and I had a couple of dunks in the bay.

4 NOVEMBER

A mountain bike ride on the Hawks Nest Seal Rocks (HNSR) in Myall Lakes NP.

We parked at the Angophora Picnic Area. Jacinta wasn’t riding today so she had a hike along the lake shoreline. I rode along Mungo Brush Road to the intersection of the HNSR Road. It wasn’t much of a road being overgrown, potted, rocky and muddy in sections. It once was a viable road. Part of the road had been used by 4WD cars but that must have been awhile ago. The weird thing about this ride was the feeling that I was riding uphill in either direction. There were some fast sections but generally there were too many obstacles. The obstacles were fun to navigate over, under or through. In general, it looked very snaky as there were swamps either side of the ‘road’. A fun though tiring ride.

Back at the van, I had a refreshing dip in the lake and then we drove to Tea Gardens for lunch.

We spent the late afternoon back at the camp. The wind had swung around to the south-east and there were a few light sprinkles of rain.

5 NOVEMBER

We left Hawks Nest to go north.

HAWKS NEST - 13 TO 15 DECEMBER 2020

13 December

We arrived in Hawks Nest after an hour of driving. Along the way we checked out a few beaches but the surf was blown out with the strong onshore winds. It was bucketed down with rain a few times.

At Hawks Nest, we decided to stay at Jimmys Beach Camp.

We set up camp and walked the sandy track to the beach. We sat in the occasional sun and I had a few swims.

Back at camp we rested then we had a mountain bike ride along a few of the tracks at Hawks Nest. I was turning on the go pro mounted on my helmet when wham I hit a low sawn off branch on a tree. It hurt! After awhile the pain and bleeding subsided and we continued onwards.

Back at camp we decided to move sites as the elderly couple set to us had a television blaring.

14 December

A red sunrise after a terrible sleep – I had a sore shoulder and gut pains.

Later, we had a long walk to the south base of Yacaaba Head along Jimmys Beach. It was a pretty walk and there were a few guys surfing the headland. It was too far to walk to with a board but four-wheel drive looked much easier. We continued the hike along Bennett’s Beach to the surf club and nearby coffee.

A late afternoon sit on the beach. It was quiet and cloudy.

15 December

Time to head home. J

HAWKS NEST - 20 TO 23 NOVEMBER 2020

 20 November

We were off for a road trip north.

We packed the van and left for our first destination – Hawks Nest.

Our first stop was the supermarket and a surf check. The surf was blown out so we drove to Jimmys Beach for camping. We were lucky as there was one vacancy. We settled in then walked down to Jimmys Beach.

The beach was a long stretch of white sand inside the bay at Port Stephens. I had a few swims in the calm and clear water.

Back to camp. There were a number of dingoes roaming around and heaps of screeching parrots.

21 November

I had an early walk along the sandy track to Jimmys Beach. The water wasn’t very inviting for a swim as the wind was strong and cool.

We packed and drove to Bennett’s Beach camping where we booked in for two nights. Before we settled in we drove to Tea gardens for a mid morning coffee and food.

After that, we drove to Bennett’s Beach where I had a ‘small and weak but still fun surf’. I got a bit sunburned as well.

We settled into our camp site, had lunch and a much needed sleep.

Later, I had a bike ride on three tracks through the bush. One of the tracks lead to the rear of Jimmys Beach camp.

Later, we met Jill and Joseph from Newcastle and had a few beers/wines.

22 November

I walked the short track to the beach. The waves were small, there was no wind and the water looked very glassy. I sat on the beach for awhile. Two pods of dolphins were appearing and disappearing in the distance.

Back at camp, we had breakfast and a late start to a kayak.

Jacinta had a hike along the beach at Windy Whoopa while I had a kayak around Corrie Island.

The kayak was longer than I thought it would be and I was pretty tired by the time I finished from the constant paddling. Highlights included:-

Stretches of long, untouched and bright, white sandy beaches.

Flocks of endangered shore nesting birds.

Clear and shallow water where I could see small sharks and stringrays darting away from my approach.

An island.

Mangroves to paddle around and through.

Strong currents.

Small waves from the ocean and passing speed boats.

 

23 November

We left Hawks Nest and drove to Gloucester Tops.

MYALL LAKES NATIONAL PARK - HIKE, KAYAK, SURF, MTB, BIRTHDAY - 13 TO 18 APRIL 2019

13 APRIL

We are off in the van for a few days to Myall Lakes National Park.

We packed and readied the van and had problems with the new bike racks so we had to use the old ones again. No worries!

Our first stop was Myall River Camp where we laid claim to a site.

Next, was Bennetts Beach where we had a swim and a sit in the warm sunshine. Beautiful day.

Over to Tea Gardens for food and alcohol supplies. Definitely cheaper to get the latter at home.

Back at the camp, we organised the van then sat on the river beach drinking wine and watching the sun set over the hinterland.

14 APRIL

A beautiful morning. I had a kayak on the Myall River - reflective water, tiny waves from the wakes of the occasional boat and birds foraging in the mangroves.

Later, the rain came and went a number of times as the day progressed.

In the afternoon, we managed a bike ride from the camp to the ocean beach. There were heaps of tracks going in all sorts of directions. The closer to the beach we got the sandier the tracks became. At the beach it was very pretty.

Dinner with a campfire. The latter was amazing as the wood was very wet due to the rain but somehow we managed to get a small inferno going.

15 APRIL

A beautiful morning with no wind. The river was like a sheet of glass and the sun was shining. About an hour later it was raining!

We drove to Tea Gardens for coffee and donuts and sat by the waterfront.

Back at camp and the rain had stopped. We loaded the bikes on the van and drove to Boomeri Campsite in Myall Lakes NP. This was the start of the ride to Johnsons Beach and Johnsons Hill. A great ride along an easy trail with some steeper parts in the last section towards the beach. The beach was a campground mainly used by boating campers. Today it was empty. Johnsons Hill was steep and so much of a challenge and fun ride.

We checked Hole in the Wall on the way back.



Back at the camp and after lunch, I had a kayak in still to windy conditions. I used the wind and tide to have an easy return journey.

Another campfire night and drinks. Nice!

16 APRIL

There was rain at first light but it soon eased off. I had a bike ride along the tracks to the beach. Fun!

The rain settled in again but when it eased we drove to Bennetts Beach for a pleasant sit in the sun - clear light blue water!

Back at camp for an easy afternoon of reading, dinner and campfire.

17 APRIL

It rained again at first light but soon cleared. The tide was high and so I was able to paddle along the long channel leading off the Myall River for a pretty kayak. At low tide a sand bank blocks the entrance to the channel.

After breakfast, we had a hike to Dark Corner in Myall Lakes NP. It is a great hike over sand dunes and turfs of vegetation leading to a small headland with pretty beaches on either side of it. We had a sit, wander and swim. Dark clouds appeared on the horizon so it was time to go. We just got into the van when the rain came.

We drove to Tea Gardens for coffee at the waterfront.

On the way back to camp, we stopped to fill the van with firewood.

18 APRIL

My birthday today! 63!

I started the day with a mountain bike ride to the beach. The beach looked so pretty in the dawn light and the swell had increased.

Jacinta prepared a nice breakfast for me and presents of some muscle shirts that I loved!

Time to pack and leave for home. Along the way, we stopped at Catherine Hill Bay. Jacinta had a bake on the beach and I had a so-so surf. Not the best waves but it was still fun.

Back home and we quickly unpacked, rested and then it was a Mexican Restaurant for dinner with my family. Later, we had a baklava birthday cake. The girls gave me a long sleeved hood rash shirt. Just what I needed.

A great day