We left Walcha for a longer than we anticipated drive to
Hawks Nest.
We arrived late afternoon, settled in, bought dinner and
prepared for the evening
1 OCTOBER 2020
A lazy day.
Checked the surf, sat down the beach and had a swim.
2 OCTOBER 2020
A sunny and warm morning.
I rode the bike to check the surf but it was a no go.
After breakfast, we had a look at the beach again and drove
to Myall Lakes NP for a bike ride on the Tomboy track. It was a relatively flat
ride of about 6 km return. The scenery was palms and wetland vegetation.
Next stop was coffee at Tea Gardens, petrol and food
supplies.
The afternoon was lazing about as the camp area began to
fill up.
3 OCTOBER 2020
In the morning, we had a visit from Rolf and Kerry. We
chatted away then we finished packing and drove home.
We are off in the van for a few days to Myall Lakes National Park.
We packed and readied the van and had problems with the new bike racks so we had to use the old ones again. No worries!
Our first stop was Myall River Camp where we laid claim to a site.
Next, was Bennetts Beach where we had a swim and a sit in the warm sunshine. Beautiful day.
Over to Tea Gardens for food and alcohol supplies. Definitely cheaper to get the latter at home.
Back at the camp, we organised the van then sat on the river beach drinking wine and watching the sun set over the hinterland.
14 APRIL
A beautiful morning. I had a kayak on the Myall River - reflective water, tiny waves from the wakes of the occasional boat and birds foraging in the mangroves.
Later, the rain came and went a number of times as the day progressed.
In the afternoon, we managed a bike ride from the camp to the ocean beach. There were heaps of tracks going in all sorts of directions. The closer to the beach we got the sandier the tracks became. At the beach it was very pretty.
Dinner with a campfire. The latter was amazing as the wood was very wet due to the rain but somehow we managed to get a small inferno going.
15 APRIL
A beautiful morning with no wind. The river was like a sheet of glass and the sun was shining. About an hour later it was raining!
We drove to Tea Gardens for coffee and donuts and sat by the waterfront.
Back at camp and the rain had stopped. We loaded the bikes on the van and drove to Boomeri Campsite in Myall Lakes NP. This was the start of the ride to Johnsons Beach and Johnsons Hill. A great ride along an easy trail with some steeper parts in the last section towards the beach. The beach was a campground mainly used by boating campers. Today it was empty. Johnsons Hill was steep and so much of a challenge and fun ride.
We checked Hole in the Wall on the way back.
Back at the camp and after lunch, I had a kayak in still to windy conditions. I used the wind and tide to have an easy return journey.
Another campfire night and drinks. Nice!
16 APRIL
There was rain at first light but it soon eased off. I had a bike ride along the tracks to the beach. Fun!
The rain settled in again but when it eased we drove to Bennetts Beach for a pleasant sit in the sun - clear light blue water!
Back at camp for an easy afternoon of reading, dinner and campfire.
17 APRIL
It rained again at first light but soon cleared. The tide was high and so I was able to paddle along the long channel leading off the Myall River for a pretty kayak. At low tide a sand bank blocks the entrance to the channel.
After breakfast, we had a hike to Dark Corner in Myall Lakes NP. It is a great hike over sand dunes and turfs of vegetation leading to a small headland with pretty beaches on either side of it. We had a sit, wander and swim. Dark clouds appeared on the horizon so it was time to go. We just got into the van when the rain came.
We drove to Tea Gardens for coffee at the waterfront.
On the way back to camp, we stopped to fill the van with firewood.
18 APRIL
My birthday today! 63!
I started the day with a mountain bike ride to the beach. The beach looked so pretty in the dawn light and the swell had increased.
Jacinta prepared a nice breakfast for me and presents of some muscle shirts that I loved!
Time to pack and leave for home. Along the way, we stopped at Catherine Hill Bay. Jacinta had a bake on the beach and I had a so-so surf. Not the best waves but it was still fun.
Back home and we quickly unpacked, rested and then it was a Mexican Restaurant for dinner with my family. Later, we had a baklava birthday cake. The girls gave me a long sleeved hood rash shirt. Just what I needed.
Back in the water surfing yesterday at North Avoca. Good and fun left and right handers. One short barrel off one of the lefts. After all the virus, I was expecting to surf poorly but I was happy with my effort - throwing myself into some hard takeoffs, a few cut backs, a couple of races down the line and feeling tight on the backhand.
I had an early surf again at North Avoca. Just a couple of other guys out but plenty of good waves. A fun surf.
Back home, to wake Jacinta and off north in the campervan to Myall Lakes National Park.
We had done most of the packing the night before so it was just a few small packs and off we went.
The first stop was Medowie MTB tracks. This was a single 10km track through dry eucalypt forest. Luckily for me, there were a couple of young guys there who guided me to the start of the track (there were a number of tracks to follow) and away I went. It was an easy track in that the gradient was low but their were some fun obstacles to test myself on.
I did about 8 km of the track. I don't know where the other 2 km were but I had fun and felt great.
Next, we had a short stop at Bennetts Beach in the town of Hawks Nest to check the surf. The surf was small and breaking close to the shore. Once again were pretty.
Next stop, was Hole In The Wall. This is a beach inside the Myall Lakes National Park. Once again the surf was of a low quality but the scenery was so pretty. Just a long and empty of people beach.
We drove onwards to Mungo Brush camp area, which was next to the lake, where we stopped for lunch and then a had a hike through the rainforest.
The hike was through dry rainforest with dried cabbage palm leaves covering the track base in places. About halfway through the walk, we had access to the lake and much to our surprise there was an Eastern Bearded Dragon lizard trying to look invisible on the tree root.
Next, was a short drive to Banksia Green camp area. We set up camp and after awhile we met a local couple who told us a short history of the area - rutile mining and shacks on the beach.
We sat on the beach watched the surf, a couple of whales and the changing shadows of the sand dunes as the sun set.
A promising day with reasonable waves at Wamberal beach.
The video above is of the 4 day trip
Red Ochre Beach
I drove to Red Ochre Beach. The surf was bit messy. Onward!
Hawks Nest
The waters between Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest looked very
serene.I drove on to Bennett Beach
which was very messy due to howling north east wind.
Hole in the Wall
Hole in the Wall wasn’t looking too bad but the tide was too
high for waves to be breaking. I decided to come back later. I came back later
but the wind had increased and the place was a mess.
Mungo Brush
I went on a bike ride along rainforest and tamboi trails.
The rainforest ride was up and down with tree roots and low branches. I went
over hard on one occasion. I returned via the road and then followed the tomboy
trail. This was flatter with some fun bumps on the cabbage palm lined trail. It
ended at tamboi fishing village
Distance 8.61
km
Time0:50
Av speed 11.2
kph
Elevation gain 10 m
After lunch, I crossed in the car ferry at Bombah Point and drove on to Treachery.
Treachery
The surf was bigger but the inside wave was just dumping and
the outside wave was a short right going left… not very inspiring!
I cycled out to the headland. The track was narrow and thick
with vegetation in sections. The view from the headland was excellent.
Distance3.17km
Time0:34
Av speed 5.45kph
Met two guys who knew Ross and Tony in Tathra. Small world!
I walked along the sand dunes and beach at sunset.A good way to end the day!
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