TERRIGAL SKILLION HIKE - 5 SEPTEMBER 2016

I've had a sinus virus for a few weeks so I haven't been up to doing much. I'm still feeling like crap but I had a strong urge to move.

I drove around down to Terrigal wondering what to do. I parked at the Haven at the bottom of the Skillion (a large seaside hill) and decided I'd try a walk to the top. 

I put my head down and concentrated on getting enough oxygen. It sounds like a mountain climb but this virus made it feel like one. :)

At the top, I took a long time taking in the views along the coast.

Unusually, a flock of Sulphur Crested cockatoos landed on the far end of the Skillion cliff top.

A good friend also arrived unexpected. We chatted and admired the views.

It was good to get out and about.

WAMBERAL LAGOON - FATHER'S DAY - 4 SEPTEMBER 2016

Father's Day so we went for a picnic.

It was sunny at the lagoon but a chilly wind kept the temperature down.

We had a lovely picnic and then I  fell asleep. They told me I was snoring... nah, don't believe that! :)

I was woken up when everyone wanted to go.

I know, I was a bit boring but it was my day and I was also sick.

ERINA CREEK KAYAK - 22 AUGUST 2016

At Erina Creek for a kayak.


The weather was looking changeable and it did get a little cold towards the end of the paddle.

The start of the kayak is a bit boring as it is a straight run and the highway runs beside it but there are a lot of birds and the water was glassy so it made up for it.

After a kilometre, or so the creek goes more natural.

I was so lucky today as I just noticed a eastern water dragon with it's head barely above water. As I looked for my camera, it disappeared. Once again, I was lucky and noticed it under the water. I attached my go pro camera to a selfie stick and got some pics and videos of it under the water.


I was pretty happy with the 6.16 km kayak after seeing the dragon.

BOUDDI NP BOX HEAD MTB - 21 AUGUST 2016

Today, a ride and hike to Box Head in Bouddi National Park.

The start of the ride is a steep road... well I walked part of it. Once at the summit the road is undulating with great coastal views and some views towards Brisbane Water.

There are a number of other tracks to divert towards to get a rough ride or out along one of the ridges. I stuck on the main road with a few view turnoffs.

The views never cease to inspire me. An added attraction was a dumped car along the road.

I rode partly along the Box Head track then chained my bike to a tree and continued on as a hike.

It is a great hike. Easy with coastal views and changing vegetation and some rock hopping. The final stage, leads around a short bend then wham... its the end and I was at Box Head with stunning views over Broken Bay, Pittwater and along the coast from Barrenjoey, Sydney.

A fence has been erected to block the last few metres on the Box Head cliff edge. Looking over the edge is a vertigo challenge.

A great bike/hike track.

I still had a bit of time, so I drove to nearby Killcare Surf Club for coffee and food.

The sun was shining and the beach looked so inviting so I had a little wander.

KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN MTB - 20 AUGUST 2016

Kincumber Mountain has some of the best tracks in the area for mountain biking. The last time I was here, most of the tracks had been covered with branches, etc and signs prohibited riding and walking.

Ah well, that's the way it goes. I went for a ride late in the afternoon, mainly for some exercise and when I pedaled past the closed tracks.... the signs were gone... well, maybe someone removed them and the tracks were still covered. The tracks were clear and all signs were gone.

It was such a fun and exciting ride.

Sometimes when you least expect it... a great 4.5km ride

COPACABANA LAGOON KAYAK - 17 AUGUST 2016

A great day for a kayak at Copacabana (Cockrone) lagoon. The weather was sunny with a light wind.

The water level was high in the lagoon. It was heaps of fun paddling through the water bounded casuarinas and paper bark trees.

The main tributary was still and primal but the water was too high to go under the bridge.

Paddling around one bend were a pair of black swans. I watched them for ages. One of them gave me a honk when I got too close.

A fun3.36km kayak.

NORTH ENTRANCE BIRDS - 16 AUGUST 2016

A warm and sunny winter's morning. a lot of weather like this lately.

I drove around looking for a surf but no luck. The tide was too high but the beaches looked pretty.

I stopped at Tuggerah Lake on the way back home and wandered around the lake edge in the wind sheltered area behind the islands. There were a lot of birds congregated here. I had a nice time watching and photographing them.

 Red Wattlebird - Anthochaera carunculata

BOUDDI NP MTB - 15 AUGUST 2016

A warm and sunny winter's morning.


Stopped at Marie Byles lookout at Bouddi NP for an inspiring view across to Sydney.

Next stop, a bike 5.1 km ride at Bouddi NP.

The tracks were mainly dry and it was such fun riding along the turkey and NW ridge tracks. need to get my brakes fixed though.

I stopped for a bit of a wander around the NW ridge.

Next stop, Copacabana... how lucky, there were two pods of dolphins splashing and frolicking in the waves.


A most great start to the day.,

AVOCA POINT HIKE - 13 AUGUST 2016

Another sunny winter's day.


A bit cold this morning.

I couldn't make up my mind today what to do. I checked the surf but it was flat. I thought of a bike ride at Kariong but changed my mind to Bouddi. Then I changed my mind and turned towards Copacabana Beach. Once again, I changed my mind and drove to Avoca Beach.

At Avoca Beach, I bought a take away coffee and wandered along the beach.

Before I knew what my feet were doing, I had walked around the rock pool and towards the rocks around Avoca Point.

From there, I continued around ... looking at the rock pools, watching the swallows darting and diving, felt awed by the massive seaside cliffs, contemplated the fishermen and gazed at the waves crashing lightly into the rocks.

An excellent walk.

UMINA AND ETTALONG BEACHES MTB - 12 AUGUST 2016

This morning, a bike ride along Umina and Ettalong Beaches and foreshore.


The weather was perfect, the tide was low and the wind light.

It is such a good feeling riding along the beach on compact sand skirting the edge of the waves as they guide up the sand.

On the Ettalong side, small waves were breaking perfectly on the edge of the sand.

So many places to stop and admire the view.

An excellent 6.16 km ride.

TERRIGAL BEACH HIKE - 11 AUGUST 2016

A beautiful, sunny, winter's morning.


I didn't make it for the sunrise but after a drive past the beach, I had to stop.

An easy, slow, low tide walk along the beach, rocks and promenade.

A nice way to start the day.