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

TUNCURRY TO CAPE HAWKE - 11 TO 13 DECEMBER 2020

 11 December

It was an off and on rainy drive to Forster.

We stopped at a few places to look at the surf and North Haven for coffee.

We spent the day out of the rain. By late afternoon, the rain stopped so we had a walk along the breakwall at Tuncurry. A number of dolphins were frolicking in the river.

12 December

We woke to rain but it eased soon and I had a pleasant bike ride to northern breakwall then along a few tracks in the beach hinterland.

After breakfast, we drove around the Forster coastline and stopped at a number of lookouts with spectacular views and had a few short walks in the process. 

We continued onwards to Cape Hawke Lookout which was a short uphill hike to a four storey viewing tower. Great views to the north! Next was coffee at Main Beach in Forster on the return leg of the journey.

It was an easy afternoon back at the camp with two downpours of rain.

13 December

We woke to a beautiful sunny morning but only for awhile. The wind and clouds soon rolled in.

It was time to move onwards.

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.

HAT HEAD - 3 TO 7 DECEMBER 2020

3 December

First stop was Grassy Head. We checked the beach and camp and decided to move on.

The second stop was Stewarts Point, where we got coffee and checked the river.

The third stop was Hat Head. We decided to stay for the next three nights.

We set up camp then wandered down the beach for swims.

Later, we had a mountain bike ride along the tracks that parallel Korogoro Creek.

4 December

An early beach check – flat as.

Later in the morning, we meandered down to the beach. We sat in the sun/umbrella shade and had a few swims in the clear waters.

In the afternoon, Jacinta had a walk and I had a mountain bike ride on a few of the local tracks.

 

5 December

I had an early swim then we breakfasted.

The day was cloudy so we headed off to South West Rocks for food supplies. While we were there, we checked out Horse shoe bay and had a coffee and the local cafe. Next, we had a wander around Smoky Cape and the lighthouse. Excellent views! Before we left, we visited the Smoky Cape campground. It was a bit rough and the road out was cut off by water. We had to backtrack the wrong way on the one way road.

Back at camp we had a late lunch, a swim on the beach and I had a mountain bike ride on the local tracks.

Storms in the afternoon with thunder, lightning and light rain

6 December

After breakfast, we had a hike around Korogoro Headland in Hat Head National Park.

The hike was up and down for about 4.2 kilometres. The highlights were the great ocean and coastal views, wildflowers, a crevice to climb into and out, kangaroos and hidden beaches. The hike started off well but it became very humid towards the end.

The wind had picked up from the north. The waves were getting a little bigger. Hopefully, the winds will swing around off shore by the morning.

Later in the afternoon, Jacinta and I rode the mountain bikes along the tracks of the Korogoro Creek. A fun track.

7 December

The wind had turned offshore. I managed a one hour small surf before the tide swallowed the waves. There were small fun rights for about half an hour.

We left Hat Head for Port Macquarie.