PORT MACQUARIE TO NORTH HAVEN - 7 TO 11 DECEMBER 2020

 

PORT MACQUARIE

7 December

On the way to Port Macquarie, we looked for the mountain bike park at Kempsey but no luck. It was getting too hot for a ride anyway.

We stopped in the main part of town and had lunch then drove to the Town Beach.

I had a fun surf on nice rights though it was a little crowded.

We stopped at a friend’s place, John and Carmel to stay for the next two nights. Before that, we walked around nearby Tacking Point lighthouse. A cute lighthouse with excellent coastal views.

The beginning was with a few other visitors of John and Jacinta’s school days. The reason was that tomorrow we were all attending the funeral of one of their school friends, Rosemary.

8 December

The day was spent at the funeral service and then the wake. A lot of people attended, especially from her school days. It was all very nice yet heartbreaking.

9 December

We left early for not sure where but it wouldn’t be far.

BONNY HILLS

9 December

Bonny Hills was just down the road from Port Macquarie but after the yesterday, we were a little drained to continue further.

We checked the surf along the way and stopped for breakfast at North Haven. After that, we picked up food supplies before setting into a camp area at Bonny Hills.

The wind had swung around lightly to be onshore so we sat on the beach in the early afternoon heat.

10 December

I was up early to check the surf and watch the sunrise over the ocean.

Later in the morning with drove to Lake Cathie where I had a kayak and Jacinta had a beach walk.

The highlights of the kayak – clear water, the river bank soil was in a number of layers of colour, stingrays darting away from the kayak, a cool wind, solitude, little holes along the river bank and in the shallow water and a number of birds.

Afterwards, we drove to North Haven where we had coffee and Christmas cake while watching the surf. So delicious! We wander along the north breakwall with great views over the beach to the north and hinterland and mountains in the west. A number of dolphins were cruising along the river near the entrance with a few large and small terns circling around.

11 December

It was a heavy rain in the night and heavier rain in the morning. I got drenched packing away our camp.

AUSTRALIA - POINT PLOMER AND LAKE CATHIE - MTB, SURF, KAYAK, HIKE - 12 TO 14 APRIL 2015

Point Plomer - 12 April 2015

The drive up was about 5 hours with a short stop for breakfast and petrol.

On arrival at Crescent Head I was greeted by masses of cars and about 200 plus surfers in the water. I looked for a while. Some waves were okay.

I drove down the back roads of Crescent. The prospects weren't looking good - small surf, mono sand banks but the  water was clean and sparkling.

I booked into Point Plomer $20 per night with cold showers. I had a small but fun surf at Point Plomer with heaps of grommets.

Later, I had a bike ride around the headland, which was short but gave a good view of the two beaches between Plomer and Queens Head. Continuing on the ride, I cycled to the car park at Queens Head and climbed the hill. It was a great view along the coastline both north and south.

distance - 5.52 km

elevation range - 21 m

A swim on the beach at Plomer then another bike ride along Plomer Beach towards the cliffs in the north. It was a good ride  but a bit hard on the way back with the wind against me.

distance - 7.06 km

Dinner and sleep!.

Point Plomer - 13 april 2015

Up at sunrise with a walk to the top of the headland at Plomer..

I drove down the road and had a small but fun surf mid way on plomer beach. I met a guy from Belligen Tyon. We had a good time sharing a right hand bank between the two of us.

I drove to Big Hill and discovered that the waterway was private and access was prohited. I checked out two possible cycle hike tracks but they were overgrown.

Back at Big Hill I did the hike around Big Hill. . Good views at the end and heaps of mosquitoes in the rainforesty type area.

distance - 0.77 km

elevation range - 48 m

The wind had increased so hopefiully there will be a swell increase :)

Point Plomer and Lake Cathie - 14 April 2015

Last day :)

The swell had increased and there were good waves on the point at Plomer and no one out. I paddled out and had about three waves. Soon there was about 40 out. Waves were good but there were too many people in the way.

I checked the other back beaches after breakfast. The tide was getting too low for the beaches to handle the swell so I headed down the coast to Lake Cathie.

I had a kayak in the lake starting near the coastal bridge and paddling around the sandbanks to the entrance bridge to Lake Cathie. The tide was too low and the water was gushing out of the narrow waterway under the bridge over barnacled rocks.  I portaged the kayak over the road and into the lake. It was a nice paddle with pristine vegetation and a number of birds and very shallow water.

distance - 3.89 km

Time for the drive back home.