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Published: December 2nd 2013
Monday 25th
Off early and our first stop is Trial Bay Gaol in Arakoon NP. It's a ruin of a gaol built in the 1800's and used for criminals to build a breakwater and many years later to intern German citizens during the war. It's quite interesting and located in a beautiful spot. Not many interns bothered to try and escape !
We then drive on for about 55 miles and just as we reach our over night site in Port Macquire, it pours again and I have to pull over as the wipers can't cope.
After booking in we drive into town and sort out a lunchtime river cruise for tomorrow. Hope the weather's going to be ok ! we then stock up with more wine before driving round to the town's look out and watch some surfers in action, or non action as it turned out.
We get back to the site just as it thunders and pours again.
Tuesday 26th
This morning we are picked up and taken to the jetty for our 2 hour lunchtime cruise along the Hastings river in a Chinese Junk. All starts well as we enter the
mouth of the river but after 45 mins we enter a modern canal system and start going up and down looking at the new houses. We continue to do so for another 45 mins before collecting our lunch. We then do circles in the river whilst eating before returning to the jetty.
A pleasant way to spend a couple of hours but a disappointing journey. At least the weather was good !
We then drive a short distance to the Koala hospital which looks after injured koalas. It's quite sad reading about what's happened to them and particularly the ones that don't make it.
Christine then braves the hairdressers, she's been dreading going but needs must. The result is---------- ok.
We finish the afternoon with a long walk along a couple of beaches and on boardwalks overlooking them. The sea's really rough and there are no surfers in sight.
Wednesday 27th
A drive of about 90 miles this morning to Tuncurry Foster and we reach it by 10.30. After checking out what's on at the tourist office we rent a small motor boat and I buy a hand fishing line and some bait.
With our picnic packed we take to Wallis Lake and chug along through the oyster beds and out around the lake.
We stop for half an hour or so while I drop my line and prawn bait. The fish are biting but are too sneaky for me. My line keeps coming up with a bare hook. We give up and continue our tour around part of the lake. Like everything here it's enormous.
I try once again with my line but to no avail. I think I've got the wrong bait, it can't be me !
After a couple of hours we arrive back, empty handed again.
We book onto a site backing onto the lake and take a 4 K walk through the mangroves out onto a large spit of land. The views over the lake are attractive.
We return to spend the rest of the afternoon around the pool.
Thursday 28
th We stop en route for a short walk to view the bottom end of Wallis Lake before driving off along the shores of Smiths Lake. We stop and take in the view. Another huge lake. The scenery in this area
is beautiful.
We then drive for about 45 mins before stopping at the tourist info at Bulahdelah to get some info about Myall Lake, the largest in the lake system. We then drive along an unsealed road for about 7 miles and stop briefly in the NP to view the lake. It’s enormous !
Finally we stop around lunch time at our caravan site on the edge of the lake and book in for two nights.
Afterwards we find that they don’t have kayaks for hire as advertised and there aren’t any walks as we thought. We’re now stuck in the place for two days with nothing to do ! We decide that we’ll move on tomorrow even thought we’ve paid for two nights.
One small benefit is that they have a small landing stage and I decide to try out my fishing skills again. Christine comes along for support and brings her chair and a good book.
After an hour we decide the fish aren’t biting and go for a swim in the pool.
Late afternoon I decide to try again. Christine goes back for a bottle of wine to help things along.
I bait my hook and cast out. Five mins later I get a bite and strike ! I’ve got one !! I start to haul it in when there’s a tug and my line snaps. I’ve lost hook, line and sinker. My tackle’s not big enough ! Dejected I throw the rest of my bait in and dump my hand reel in the nearest bin. I need stronger gear for these monsters. I’ll be back !
I meet Christine on the way to see me and tell her what’s happened. We spend the late evening sitting on the beach sipping our wine while I dream of the one that got away.
Friday 29th
We wake to the sound of pouring rain. We leave our site and catch the 2 min ferry ride across the river to the road leading south. We stop along the way at Mungo Brush Camp and Hole in the Wall view points over the beach but can see virtually nothing due to the rain and mist.
Shortly after we stop at Dark Point to look at the huge sand dunes. They're impressive and you could be in Saudi Arabia but we can't
stop for long because of the rain. We drive on through Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens on the estuary. We were going to make them an over night stop but decide to drive on as it's still pouring.
We take a side turning to Port Stephens and the rain finally eases off as we arrive in Nelson Bay. We have a fish and chip lunch on the quayside run by the fisherman's co op. It's good but not as good as the Fish and Chips in Margaret River.
We take a brief walk along along the front and I nip into a fishing tackle shop and stock up with a rod, spare hooks and sinkers. I'm ready !
The rain starts again and we take a quick drive out to Little Beach and Fingle Beach. We decide there's not much else we can do so we just drive on with the rain and wind getting worse. By 5 pm we are in Stockton across the river from Newcastle and stop for the night. It's been the worst day for bad weather since we left the UK.
Saturday 30th
Another very rainy morning. We drive into
Newcastle and search out the shopping centres without much luck. Christine manages to buy me a birthday present from I don't know where but she didn't get much choice so who knows what I'm getting.
We drive on through the suburbs towards Lake Macquire and stop at Swansea just after the rain stops ! We drive out to Caves Beach and take a 4 K walk along the cliffs before driving round to Galgabba Point for another 2 K walk. It's the first time we've been able to stretch our legs for a couple of days.
Late afternoon I find a quiet little jetty to try out my new fishing gear. The rod and reel work fine but there's a problem with the fish. They're not biting at least not for me after spending an hour staring at the water. The chap next door cast out and catches one second time out ! Just lucky I guess !
Sunday 1st
We drive for about half an hour and stop at Catherine Hill Bay, a small mining village but can't see any remains. There's a surfing competition on the beach but unfortunately we can't watch due to
the pouring rain.
We drive on and stop at the road side to have a walk on the Lilly Pilly trail. Unfortunately it's not well marked and we end up going around in a circle and give up !
We arrive at The Entrance, a strange name for a place. It's a seaside town that boarders the sea and Lake Tuggerah. It's a nice seaside resort. The lake is huge and we take out a small motor boat and cruise around the lake. I take along my fishing road but they're not biting again !
The sun's come out at last and it's a nice afternoon. About time !
We book into a site bordering the sea and have a walk down to the beach. It's another fantasic sandy beach. The whole coastline is full of them.
In the evening we go to the local golf club for Sunday roast. Our first since leaving the UK.
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Roger Smith
non-member comment
Not for general release
Steve. I know you have been enjoying what can only be described as inclement weather but you need to keep your wits about you. Publicly stating that your tackle is not big enough could leave you open to abuse........ I have also managed to ascertain your levels of alcohol intake by the horizons in your pictures which range from pi***d at Port Maguire to smashed out of your head at Tunggan lake. we'll have to have some photoshop sessions when you get back straightening them out!! Keep the entertainment coming!