CENTRAL COAST - 1 TO 8 DECEMBER 2022

 

1 DECEMBER

A hike to and around Seymour Pond in Katandra Reserve.

I parked and started at the picnic area at the end of Katandra Road. Heaps of parking spots. The tracks are sign posted and easy to follow.

The track was easy with some ups and downs and a few awkward steps that pass through open forest and into dry rainforest. Lots of ferns, vines and buttress tree roots. The pond is very pretty and can be viewed at a number of locations. Despite being pretty, I wouldn’t swim in it. The track circumnavigates the pond over a couple of small bridges. At the furthest point there is a cool bench to sit on to absorb the quietness, the whoop of the whip bird and the gurgling of the creek.

2 DECEMBER

A hike from Putty to Bullimah Beach in Bouddi National Park with Jacinta. We parked in the carpark at Putty Beach. We walked along the beach and onto the rock platform. The platform is very pretty being made up of swirling patterns of sandstone. There are small cup sized holes of water, waves crashing along the point, seashells and amazing views.

We scaled the cliff at the point to the path high above. The climb is so good with layers of various coloured sandstone depicting the eons that went into creating it. At the top, the path leads to Bullimah Beach and beyond. All the way along there are amazing coastal views.

We descended the wooden steps at Bullimah Beach, sat on the sand and just enjoyed.

3 DECEMBER

An early morning hike around the Haven.

There was a lot of wave action. It was pleasant waiting for waves to crash against the rocks and sent of a spray of foam.

4 DECEMBER

A kayak along an unnamed creek in Brisbane Water.

I parked at the jetty at Erina Creek and paddled around to Brisbane Water. I roamed around the mangroves enjoying being hidden from the main body of water. At the far end of the bay is the creek entrance which is too shallow to cross at low tide. The creek was lined with thick mangroves. The creek became narrower the further I paddled along. The tree canopy grew tighter overhead blocking the sun. Eventually, the creek ended at drain under a road. Along the way, I spied large eels in the water and water dragons on the creek banks.

An ocean swim at haven and coffee on beach with Jacinta.

5 DECEMBER

A loop hike along Bullimah Spur and Maitland Bay.

I started about mid-morning, which was probably a bit late as it was turning into a hot day. I parked at the Maitland Bay carpark and walked downhill towards Maitland Bay. After a short while, I turned on the Bullimah Spur track. It was amazing how green all the plants looked. The end of the spur was a great lookout with a view of the south coast towards Sydney.

I followed the steep and rough track downhill to the Bouddi Coastal Track. I followed this to Maitland Bay. There were some good viewpoints along the way of the coastline. The water was so clear.

At Maitland Bay, I had a cooling dip in the ocean and then the hot steep walk back to the carpark.

7 DECEMBER

A morning surf at The Ruins on Wamberal Beach.

There were a lot of fun waves with reasonable shape running through regularly. Only me and Chris D were out. It was nice to get back into the water surfing and it was especially good that the arm wasn’t hurting… too much. Haha!

8 DECEMBER

A morning surf at Wamberal Beach near the big house.

The tide was a bit high but there were some okay right handers breaking with no one on that bank. The wind picked up, it got cold, and the waves ceased to break… time for a coffee.

MAITLAND BAY HIKE - 18 MAY 2016

I drove to Bouddi National park for a hike down and along Maitland Bay.

The walk down was along steps and a track. Highlights - trees growing over rocks, a bridge, a ferned gully, huge majestic trees, views down to Maitland Bay, steps hewn into and between large boulders.

At the southern end of the beach I walked along the rocks and was impressed by the patterns in the sandstone and the view north.

The beach walk was nice with the waves lapping up the sand wetting my feet.

The north end was rocky and the water too high for a decent rock scramble but still the views south were nice.

Back along the beach, I walked along the base of the cliff until I reached a pond of water which was fed by two creeks. Some nice reflections at this spot.

The return walk from the beach to car park was about 20 minutes of steep pleasant walking.

A great 3.55 km hike with some nice surprises - sunrise through the clouds, vegetation silhouetted against the dispersed morning light, waves lapping the sand and beautiful sandstone patterns.

CENTRAL COAST - BOUDDI NP - MTB - 24 november 2014 - 'A LITTLE TIGHT AT TIMES'

Off for a cycle at Bouddi National park. I parked at Maitland Bay Centre and away I went. Tons of mosquitoes attacked me while I was getting ready

The first section was easy being mainly a service road through bush land. Then it was the paved road to the turn off to another service road. After a short distance, it was a track. It was fun, curvy, rocky with some steep drops through one section. The track joined a service road that followed the north west ridge.

 

At the ridge end, I had a walk around. The sun lightened the bush for a short time and there were heaps of large boulders to jump across. found an interesting bug on a tree and I was impressed with shape and textures of the various trees.

I back tracked and then followed the turkey trail back to the road. Sections of this were fun.

 

I think it would be better to go in the opposite direction as I spent a lot of time walking up rock drop offs.

A fun ride!

6.82 km
av. speed approx. 14km/h
50m elevation range

CENTRAL COAST - Putty Beach to Little Beach - HIKE - 20 September 2009

I parked the car at Putty Beach and followed the easily defined track. Once off the beach at Putty the path is on platforms or fenced off from the sea at cliff edges until Maitland Bay. Views are excellent along the way with the track changing from beach to wooden platforms to rocks and finally to bush.

Once at Maitland Bay walk along the beach to the northern end where the track begins again but this time it is more rugged and steep. Views are excellent again. The track becomes a fire trail from Caves Bay.

time: 3 1/2 hours (pickup at Little Beach car park)

rating: easy to moderate