BEGA - 3 TO 5 APRIL 2021

3 April

After leaving Narooma, we headed to Bar Beach to check the surf. Not so good so onward we roamed.

The next stop was Kianga Beach. After a chat with two young fellas from Mittagong, I had a small fun surf while Jacinta had a walk.

We headed towards Bega enjoying the pretty countryside of rolling green hills and pastures along the way.

We shopped at Bega and settled into on camp at the Bega Showground. It was nice – showers, old buildings and random areas to camp. We met Rob and Sue, who had decided to become nomads. Nice van to do it in.

4 April

We watched the sun rise through the van window (end of daylight saving) and I had a walk around the showground. After breakfast, we set off on a bike ride. We followed the bike path to a park filled with Flying Fox bats and along the edge of the Bega River. The path ended abruptly as it went under water – the recent flood was still having an effect. We rode past some pretty rural homes and headed towards a pleasant coffee shop.

The rest of the day was relaxing.

5 April

We left our campground but stopped for awhile looking at the birdlife in Kis Lagoon, Bega.

NARRABEEN LAKE AND CREEKS KAYAK - 25 MARCH 2017

I was up very early this morning for an hour plus drive to Narrabeen Lake.

I parked in a reserve off Wimbledon Avenue and launched off a small beach.

The morning started glassy with a partially cloudy sunrise. There were a number of of people kayaking and rowing on the lake.

I paddled around circumference of the lake and took three detours into the feeding creeks - deep, middle and beside the golf course.

Deep creek was very interesting as there was a bridge , old brick work and very thick vegetation. It was very green and pretty.

The golf course creek ended in a weir with water cascading over the edge.

The lake itself was okay in parts but a lot was fairly developed with paths and roads easily seen from the water. Still it was a nice long 13. 36 km paddle with some nice birdlife.

CENTRAL COAST - Brisbane Water - Kincumber Broadwater - kayak - 11 november 2012

I launched from Sorrento road in Empire Bay to kayak around Kincumber Broadwater.

The tide was with me so it was an easy paddle along Cockle Channel towards the entrance of the Broadwater. There was an interesting small mangrove island which divides the channel into two. The water was shallow along the island shores making for clear viewing of the underwater world.

The entrance to the Broadwater was relatively narrow with a number of boats, houses and places to launch. I veered to the eastern side where there was a variety of birdlife. I just drifted with the current and enjoyed the show.

Further along, I came across to small tributaries and one larger one. I paddled up all three. The smallest was shallow and difficult to paddle due to the mangroves. I tended to pull myself through rather than paddled.

The second one passed a mobile home area.

The third was wider and much longer. I passed houses, industrial areas, jetties in the wider section. The narrower section passed between mangroves with closely encroaching urbanisation. Still, there were lots of ducks and lizards and unfortunately dumped rubbish. It is amazing how plants and animals survive under these conditions. Despite the rubbish it was still pretty.

On the journey back, I stopped at a small island in the Broadwater and rested and watched the world go by.

It was a good kayak with pretty scenery and birdlife.

 

Distance               9.12 km

Time                      2 hours 51 minutes

Av speed             4.4 km/h

CENTRAL COAST - BRISBANE WATER - Cockle Bay - kayak - 31 october 2012

I launched at the boat ramp at serento close empire bay.

It was a nice glassy paddle along the channel with the tide helping me. There were a number of small islands at the end of the channel. These islands and their foreshores were teeming with birdlife. I followed the bay around to the right to the entrance of cockle bay.

The channel was narrow and fun to paddle due to the volume of water moving in to fill the bay. The bay is quite scenic with eagles, ibis, etc. At one stage, I notice a strange movement in the water that turned out to be a large turtle. Further along, I pulled in for a rest and sunk into the mud up to my knees. An experience that I'm glad stopped at the knees.

Leaving the bay. I paddled over to some oyster leases. Seagulls had made them their nesting sites and they weren't happy as I neared them.

The paddle back was a little hard with the tide now working against me.

A nice paddle with heaps of birds and a turtle!

distance 3.54km
time 2 hours
av speed 2km/hr

CENTRAL COAST - Brisbane Water - Woy Woy Inlet - kayak - 26 february 2012

Warm sunny morning. I went for a kayak at Woy Woy Inlet.



There were a number of places to launch the kayak but the boat ramp was the easiest.

I paddled south into Correa Bay. There was a amazing number of birds foraging in the mud flats. The creek ventured further but with the low tide crossing the mud flats was not an option.

I followed the north edge of the inlet going into Horsfield Bay and Phegans Bay. At the eastern tip of Phegans Bay , I paddled ashore onto a small beach. After a rest, I paddled back to Correa Bay boat ramp.

It was a nice kayak. The highlight was the birdlife.

CENTRAL COAST - Woy Woy Bay - KAYAK/HIKE - 8 february 2012

Drove to Woy Woy Bay and launched from park near the end of the point.

I paddled along following the jetties. A short distance after the jetties there were mangroves and hidden amongst the mangroves was a small creek. I paddled up the creek with a paddle At the end i walked around following the creek and the many cascades of water it produced. pretty!!!!

Back in the kayak, i paddled back along the creek and around the bend and came across more mangroves and another creek which was a bit wider and longer. Once again at the end, i followed the creek and it's cascades up the hill. Pretty!!!

The journey back was a bit harder as the wind had increased and i was paddling against it.

CENTRAL COAST - Wamberal Lagoon - kayak twilight - 18 January 2012

It was slightly windy when i started and i was paddling into the wind.

I paddled a short distance and came across a group of roosting cormorants.

I continued to the far side of the lake and out of the wind on the Forresters side. The lagoon was serene and peaceful. there were a number of birds and croaking frogs.

The paddle back into the sunset was awesomely pretty.

CENTRAL COAST - Spring Creek - kayak - 27 october 2011

It was a cloudy day with the chance of rain. i drove to Emu Drive, San Remo which is ner the mouth of Wallarah Creek and launched the kayak.

The creek starts off wide and passes under a bridge. There are a few dwellings along the creek's northern bank. The southern bank is natural. Eventually, I reached the junction of Wallarah and Spring Creek.

I took the turn into Spring Creek. for a long while it was crowded with dwellings on the east and northern banks. The south and west bank remained natural. After a time the dwellings stopped and the landscape was more natural with bird and lizard life.

I came to another bridge which had a rubble strewn crossing just before it. I continued on for some distance until the creek branched off in to two opposite directions that was strewn with branches and logs. It wasn't passable.

The return journey took a total of 3 hours with a strong wind against me on the return leg.

A good paddle with a variety of landscapes.

CENTRAL COAST - Ourimbah Creek - kayak - 16 September 2011

A sunny day with a light wind. Off for a kayak.

I decided to try to launch from a dirt road off Tuggerah. It looked good but unfortunately, the car became stuck on the high side of crest. I rang the NRMA, and and hour later I was on the move again.

I parked and launched near the bridge on Wyong Road. Luck was with me and against me as I lost the oar then the kayak then the oar again on launching, then nearly capsizing. i figured it couldn't get much worst so away I went.
The creek began to surprise me after I went under Wyong Road. There were lots of birds to be seen and heard. Further along, There were a number of water dragons on the shore and in overhanging branches. even a turtle was basking on a group of floating sticks.

At the weir near the railway bridge, I had to carry the kayak over the rocks. From this point on, the creek started to fill with fallen trees and branches. These were fun to find a way to pass - some i went over and some i went under.

Eventually, the water became shallower and a large tree put an end to the journey. i walked around for awhile enjoying the solitude and eating lunch.

It was a great kayak!

time: 3 1/2 hours

CENTRAL COAST - Avoca Lagoon - KAYAK - 17 December 2010

Cloudy day with little wind. Off to check out kayaking at Avoca Lagoon.

It was still with the sounds of birds. The water level was a bit low but there were heaps of birds.

AUSTRALIA - QUEENSLAND - O'Reillys Rainforest Resort and Morans Falls - HIKE - October 2010

O'Reilly's Rainforest Resort and Moran Falls are in the Lamington National Park, Queensland.

O'Reilly's has an excellent walk through the rainforest and gardens. The walk through the rainforest is on platforms which rise into the tree canopy. At one point there is a tree ladder which takes you to the top of a huge tree and a great view of the surrounding forest and valley and the scenery below.

The walk branches off into a created garden with a variety of signposted plants.

Morans Falls is a two hour walk starting about a kilometre from O'Reillys. The track is easy through rainforest which becomes denser near the falls. The view of the falls is excellent and continuing onwards the track leads over the creek that feeds the falls and onwards further leads to valley views on the other side of the falls. It is also easy to follow the flat rocks lining the creek.

While photographing the canopy above me, i didn't notice the snake coiled on the path. luckily, i did before i stepped on it. I jumped back like a ninja to avoid it. Still, it was interesting and i observed the snake for quite a while before it slid off.

AUSTRALIA - QUEENSLAND - Tallebudgera Creek - Kayak - october 2010

The bridge across the creek is a good place to start a kayak due to easy parking and a creek beach.

I was surprised with this kayak not quite knowing what to expect. The beach start is fun with a strong current, followed by paddling under a heavily used bridge. Either side of the creek has white sand beaches with barnacled rocks in the murky shallow waters.

Once past the urban area, the sounds of traffic are lost to the sounds of the bird life. The creek becomes mangrove along its banks.

I stopped for awhile at a small sand island in the centre of the river.

AUSTRALIA - Lennox Head - september 2010

We stayed for a week at Lennox Head at the camping area next to Lake Ainsworth.

It is an excellent camp site with Lake Ainsworth, a tea stained fresh water lake on one side and Lennox Head beach on another. The day consists of swimming on the beach, swimming in the lake and back to the camp site. This is all within a few minutes walking distance.

There were a lot of things to do in the area. The flat area makes it great for bike riding and the the beach sand is firm enough at low tide to also cycle along.

There are good waves along the beach and at the point. there are also other surfing breaks within a short drive.

When the wind is up there are windsurfers and kite boarders on the beach.

The walk to and around the headland is great with excellent views from the headland over the point and town.

 

 

 

CENTRAL COAST - Brisbane Water - Riley Island - kayak - 13 July 2010

The weather was cloudy but no wind. I drove to St Hubert’s Island and launched from the north east of the island.

It was a perfect morning with a mirror image of the island reflecting off the water of the channel. The wind held off throughout the whole kayak affording a perfect reflection for the whole trip.

The island had a few sandy stretches to land and walk around but mainly it was mangroves with oyster shells clinging to every rock. At one point, there were a number of old rusting tanks possibly from some sort of past farming occupation. The area around the tanks looked like it had been cleared in comparison to the rest of the island.

The bird life was a bit scarce on this journey – some cormorants, herons and ducks.

Though the water was glassy the surface was very swirly in some sections where the incoming tide crossed currents.

It was about a two hour quiet and scenic trip.

New Zealand - Pakiri - 11 to 13 January 2010

pakiri beach

Pakiri is a quiet area north of Auckland. It has a long white sanded beach with plenty of birdlife. A great place for quiet morning or afternoon walks. There is even a reasonable wave to surf.

pakiri beach surfing

CENTRAL COAST - Tuggerah Lake - The Entrance - kayak - 24 december 2009

Started on the north side of the Entrance bridge. Paddled down the channel to the bridge and criss-crossed to the south side. Paddled wide due the shallowness of the water. Eventually, paddled around the far island in the lake and back and around the island near the old fishing cooperative and then down the channel to the bridge.

A lot of bird life within a short distance of man made environment was a bit of a constrast. Quite often fish would leap from the water.

time: 2 1/2 hours

CENTRAL COAST - Bateau Bay to Crackneck - HIKE - 20 december 2009

Cloudy and cool temperature day. Good for a walk.

Parked at south end of Bateau Bay. Walk down the ramp or stairs and on to the beach. The bay is partially sheltered and good for a swim though it is unpatrolled.

Walking south there is a large shore platform from the edge of the beach to Crackneck Point. Along the way there are shallow pools of water and even mangroves at one spot. The cliff background is densely vegetated with native and weed growth.

Birdlife varied with crows, seagulls and other sea birds. Molluscs clump in species groups along the surface of the rock platform and mix together in the watery crevices.

 

There are floaters of iron oxide amongst the sandstone which shows the development of pools in various stages. This has developed into interesting formations of sandstone similiar to a maze at the northern end of the rock shelf.

grade: easy, flat

warnings: best 3 hours either side of low tide, rock platform is very slippery in parts.