TASMANIA - ROSEBERY TO STRAHAN - 3 TO 6 MARCH 2022

 3 MARCH

ROSEBERY TO STRAHAN

We drove to the track Head at Oonah Hills. The best mountain bike ride I’ve ever had. A long climb to the top and an awesome downhill along groomed tracks – wide berms, steep berms, long flowy sections, ups and downs and steep speed runs. The terrain changed from low shrubbed hilltop to thick myrtle forest.

Next was the Spray Tunnel. A pretty drive with a long disused mining train tunnel to walk through.

We stopped at Zeehan for lunch at a café and drove to Strahan.

Before checking in we drove along the waterfront – pretty.

4 MARCH

STRAHAN

A lazy day riding our bikes through the town. We checked out the waterfront and stopped at a number of shops and brought some wood souvenirs and rain jackets.

5 MARCH

STRAHAN

A drive to Ocean Beach and a wander along the beach. Water warm.

Next, Macquarie Head. A rough gravel road with some nice views along the way.

A bike ride on the Ocean Beach track. Easy and fun. A Tasmanian Tiger Snake on the path close to the beach. A wander along the beach.

An open-air play – ‘The Ship That Never Was’ – It was fun with a lot of audience participation.

A banquet dinner at View 42 with a nice bottle of wine. The weather changed to strong wind and rain.

6 MARCH

STRAHAN

We woke to clear skies and a little windy.

A cruise today along Macquarie Harbour – Macquarie Heads, Hells Gate, hike around Sarah Island, Gordon River and Rainforest Walk. They were all good and the boat was great. Food a little ordinary.

CENTRAL COAST - 25 TO 31 OCTOBER 2021

 

25 OCTOBER

A kayak at Avoca Lagoon.

I picked a couple of spots out of the wind and in the sun to watch the antics of the various birds. It was relaxing to soak in the sun and just gaze about. I also paddled through the reeds for a rougher paddle. The birds were in abundance with four juvenile swans and their parents foraging for food.

 

26 OCTOBER

A mountain bike ride at Bouddi NP.

I followed my favourite loop – Turkey, North-west ridge, Cliff, Strom and Ferny tacks. A fun ride with some flowy sections.

A swim and relax at Terrigal Haven Beach with Jacinta.

A bit chilly in the water but it was nice to cool down after the bike ride.

28 OCTOBER

A beach cycle along Ocean Beach to Ettalong.

Such a fun ride on the beach. People saying hello, racing the breakers on the shoreline, dogs running alongside, people doing fun things in the water. The tide was low enough to do the ride all the way to the last private jetty at Ettalong.

A swim and relax at Terrigal Haven with Jacinta.

New swim goggles were excellent with good visibility today.

31 OCTOBER

A mountain bike ride and hike to Spion Kop at Brisbane Water National Park.

It was downhill all the way along Bambara Road, the Koolewong fire trail and the final turnoff ending at the creek that runs into Waterfall Bay. The last section was very rugged and I had to stop heaps due to erosion and fallen trees. The ride along the creek was fun over smoothed sandstone. Just before the creek drops over a 5-metre fall, I parked my bike and hiked. The track climbed uphill between two boulders on the western side of the creek. The track was relatively easy to followed winding up steeply in between boulders and trees. After that, the track wound it’s way along. I stopped for a rest on a flat sandstone outcrop. I realised; I left my water with the bike. Being a hot morning and still an hour roundtrip to go, I decided to head back and finish it another day.

A swim and relax at Terrigal Haven.

It was a welcome swim after the hot ride/hike.

CENTRAL COAST - 1 TO 16 JULY 2021

 

1 JULY

I woke feeling much better.

We drove over to North Entrance. I had a kayak and Jacinta walked along the shoreline.

The sky was very contrasting between clouds and blue as blue skies. The water was the clearest I have ever seen. I saw a number of fish and a large stingray swam under the kayak. The birds were out in force around the small island north of the old fishing cooperative. There were pelicans, cormorants, ibises, ducks and my personal favourite Royal Spoonbills. I love the way these birds foraging so majestically and in flight their wings flap slowly. Never in a hurry.

As Jacinta was walking the shoreline, we caught glimpses of each other. J

4 JULY

A bike ride on Umina and Ocean Beach.

The first ride for awhile due to virus for both of us. We rode about 5km on the hard sand next to the shoreline. There were a lot of people walking and a lot of dogs. The surf was small but there was still a number of surfers out. The scenery was pretty – looking out to box head or towards northern Sydney.

5 JULY

 Spent most of the day working in the backyard. So much to do! In the afternoon, we had a fire burning off some of the vegetation excess and watching the sun set.

6 JULY

A check of the surf. The conditions were perfect but the tide was low and most of the waves closed out.

8 JULY

A mountain bike ride at Bouddi National Park.

A ride along the turkey and NW ridge tracks and for a change I did the whole of the cliff track. The track was smoother than the last time I ride it but it is still rough with a number of spots where I stopped due to boulders and thick tree roots. One section was steeps with rocks and tree roots, haha, I walked it. Maybe next time. It was fun doing it. The next tracks were the Strom and ferny tracks which were more flowy and fun.

11 JULY

A bit more rain this morning and then it lightened up. Off for a bike ride at Bouddi National Park.

There are restrictions regarding exercise travel but my choice for the ride was within the 10 km limit.

The car park was packed at Wards Hill but there was one space left. I rode the tracks leading to the Strom Lookout. Surprisingly, the track was only damp so it was very firm and fun. It was a bit difficult on some climbs especially, over boulders as I lost traction a few times. Still a great ride. I continued further across the road from wards Hill carpark and rode the narrow tracks there. There were some inspiring views across to the north and Brisbane Water.

12 JULY

A hike at Rumbalara Reserve.

We parked about halfway up the hill to walk the grass tree trail. The southern side was awesome – metal stairs, base of cliff track, huge overhangs, lots of ferns and grass trees, the call of the occasional bird, some awesome views and even one or two benches to rest awhile. The northern side was much drier and the vegetation was less luxuriant. A great hike!

13 JULY

A surf at Wamberal Beach. The waves were manageable and there was only a few surfers out. There was an occasional good right with a bit of power.

15 JULY

A kayak on Wamberal Lagoon.

I parked at Remembrance Drive , Wamberal and launched the kayak. The water level of the lagoon was high. I was able to paddle between casuarinas that were at other times on dry land. There was a bit of wind so the birds were only in sheltered spots. Towards the end of the paddle, I came across an abandoned swan’s nest. There were two eggs in it but the water had reached the eggs themselves. The cold would have killed the newborn.

16 JULY

A mountain bike ride on Daley Point tracks in Bouddi National Park.

I parked at the Wards Hill carpark. There were a lot of tracks on this ride that criss-crossed the main trail leading to the rock carvings. Some of the tracks were too hard for me in sections and I had to walk it through. Most of the tracks were free flowing with trees and rocks to enhance the skill level. A fun ride with some good views over Brisbane Water.