CENTRAL COAST - SPECTACLE ISLAND - KAYAK - 21 april 2014

We drove to Mooney Mooney Creek car park near Peat Island. There were a lot of cars parked there. The car park had a lot of huge pot holes and there was a sign saying there were going to be parking charges soon.

After checking out the tides and a launching spot, we launched. The water was a little turbulent around the bridge area. Going under the bridge, we had driven across many times was cool.


After the bridge, there was a strong current until we reached shallower water out of the boat channel.


We paddled to Spectacle Island and along the mangrove area. Eventually, the mangroves decreased as we reached the island proper. We came ashore on a sandy area and walked around a bit. The island looked very steep and would harbor heaps of snakes so we stuck to the little beach.

We continued around the island. There were - small beaches, oyster farms, flat tidal rocks and an inlet into the mangroves. At the end of the inlet, there were four abandoned boats in various stages of rot.


We paddled back and used the boating channel to drift back to the bridge. the current there was pulling us along at about 3km/h.


A good kayak. I usually don't like more open water kayaks but the island shoreline diversity, bridges and currents made it an interesting paddle.


distance - 4.72km
time - 2h 7m

CENTRAL COAST - BRISBANE WATER NP - KARIONG BROOK - MTB/HIKE - 20 april 2014

We parked at Staples Lookout and cycled down the Woy Woy Road for 100m to the first dirt service road on the right. There was parking there for about three cars.

We hauled the bikes over the gates and cycled down the service road. At one stage, there is relatively flat sandstone rock area with good views over the west.


At the junction for the great north walk track,  we locked the bikes to the sign and walked the track to Kariong Brook. The track was well worn and eroded in some places. Just before the brook, the steep section follows steps which go under an overhang.

The pool near the falls was very cold but so inviting for a swim. Dunking one's head under the waterfall seemed the right thing to do. The area around the falls is rainforest and nice to walk and scramble round.


We met a group of students here from Thailand and Malaysia. They were very polite and nice young people.We left the falls for the short but steep walk back to the bikes then the cycle back to Staples Lookout.


Funny, how the return always seems quicker even when going uphill.


distance - 5.54 km
time - 1 hour 12 minutes
elevation range - 178m

CENTRAL COAST - STRICKLAND STATE FOREST - MTB - 19 april 2014

Weather was looking good for a bike ride.

We drove to Strickland State Forest going down Strickland Forest Road and parking at the lower car park.


It was a fun ride along a narrow track. It included a suspension bridge, creek, rainforest, creek crossings and a log over creek crossing.


tips - a lot of leeches so take salt and insect repellent.

CENTRAL COAST - AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PARK - 18 APRIL 2014

A great Central Coast venue and well worth the visit.

Upon entry, we turned left where there were three pit type exhibits. In the exhibits were  a mixture of animals. Most surprising were the snakes. We watched as a red bellied black snake slivered amongst a group of turtles - amazing!

The shows were very entertaining - crocodile, snakes and lizards. The show exhibited the animals and the care given to them at the park.

Birds, spiders and marsupials were also on display.

I know I'm not saying much but it is  place you have to see rather than describe.

It easy to get around and there are a number of places to sit and eat.

www.reptilepark.com.au/

CENTRAL COAST - TERRGAL LAGOON - KAYAK - 18 april 2014

A sensational morning! Warm, clear skies, little wind. The lagoon at Terrigal is opened to the sea when it gets too full as it floods properties on the lagoons foreshores. This results in little water at all, turning the lagoon into a mud flat. BUT today it is very full!


It was a great paddle around the lagoon and the two tributaries at the western end. Unfortunately, progress was hampered  as someone(s) had cut down trees on the reserve so that they fell across the waterway blocking access. I also paddled towards the beach end, which had  great view of the waves.

distance - 3.11km

CENTRAL COAST - BRISBANE WATER NP - WONDABYNE TO GIRRAKOOL TURNOFF - HIKE - 8 april 2014

I had been meaning to go to Pindar Caves for a long time. This was my goal on this trip but a misreading of the map took me way off course. Still it was a great walk!

I parked near Gosford Station and caught  train to Wondabyne. Wondabyne is a small station so I had to sit in the last carriage at the last door and tell the guard my intentions to disembark at Wondabyne.


The train faded out of sight around the bend and there I was at Wondabyne station and solitude. I walked down to the small wharf on Mullet Creek and gazed over the water, hills, greenery and scattered houses by the water's edge.

The start of the track is very clearly signposted and easy to follow. Straight way it was a very steep in two sections to the ridgeline. The track then became a service road. I am not very excited walking along service roads. Eventually, I came to a rock clearing which had a turn off to the left. there were no posts but an arrow scratched on the rock. Being unsure if this was the turn off, I decided to wander on further. Unfortunately, a series of descriptions led me to believe that I was on the right track. Anyway, the service road ended and I was walking on a rough track. I passed over large expanses of sandstone rock escapements with views over Mooney Mooney Creek and nearby mountains.

The track lead up and down and around and about over a well eroded and wet track. I passed two creeks, which were reasonably pretty. Eventually, I reached the turnoff for the Girrakool Loop track and reversed my direction.

The odd thing about this walk was the amount of ants that were on the move which made it difficult to find a spot to sit and rest. Later, I sat near one of the creeks but had to abandon this idea due to the high number of leeches.

By the time I reached Wondabyne Station, I was pretty tired. At the station wharf, a boat pulled in and a guy disembarked and came to the station. We struck up a conversation. he had lived in the area a long time telling me a bit of local history - houses were on leash from national park to the owners and their direct descendants, there use to be a large town there with a pub and brothel due to the construction of the Woy Woy tunnel and the quarry and oyster leashes. The town now has been reduced to a few houses with most being demolished by the national parks.


All in all a great hike, train station, train ride and conversation.

distance - 13.81 km
time - 4 hrs 37 mins
elevation range - 208m

CENTRAL COAST - AVOCA LAGOON - KAYAK - 1 april 2014

An early morning kayak on Avoca Lagoon. There was a mist across the water. The birds were out and about and very active.


distance 1.75 km
av speed 2.1 km/h