Queensland and the Coral Sea

It's goodbye NSW, goodbye to the East Australian Current, goodbye to the ocean swells and hello Queensland. We are on the Gold Coast, anchored in Marine Stadium, or as it is otherwise know, Bum's Bay and we fit right in.

It was a hard slog up the coast north from Laurieton. Not because of weather or seas, because we were pushing against the East Australian Current. The worst was between Port Macquarie and Smokey Cape (South West Rocks). It's strength in this section was between 2-3 knots and we were close to the coast which is suppose to reduce its strength. In other parts of that coasts it was between 1-2 knots. The only way for us to get through this part of the coast quickly was to have the motor running quite hard and some help from the wind.

We left Camden Haven after breakfast bound for Coffs Harbour. We logged on with the Marine Rescue and gave them an E.T.A of 23:00 but because the current is so strong here we didn't drop anchor until 3:30 the next morning. We moved into the marina after some sleep.

It really is a small world. There was a guy that had worked for Telstra in the catamaran that was tied up next to us. He worked in Crookwell Exchange the same time that I was there in the late 90's. They were delivering their cat, Nomad to Brisbane and eventually Townsville.




Small world, Hudson and I and Coffs Harbour

We had four days to wait for favorable weather in Coffs. The days are hot and to cool of we jumped off the jetty in the Harbour. The jetty isn't used commercially any more but local kids and fishermen make good use of it.

The water looks flat in these photos, it doesn't show an annoying swell that can give you no sleep if you anchor in here on the wrong day.

Daniel takes a jump

From Coffs it was three big days in a row to the Gold Coast with overnight stops in Iluka and Ballina. We wouldn't normally push so hard but our older kids are coming up to be with us at Easter(tonight). It was such a relief to turn west at Point Danger and see the high rise buildings because our passage was nearly over and our speed went from 5 knots to 7 knots.

Nomad passing us on route to Iluka

Cape Byron, Australia's most easterly point

Full moon rising over the Seaway Tower at The Spit, Gold Coast

From here on the cruising gets a whole lot more enjoyable. Protected waters and trade winds will soon kick in as will warm water and coral. At the moment we are playing with the idea of joining the Indonesia Rally. Over 100 boats leave Darwin each year in July to sail the waters around these islands. If we decide to do this it means that we would have to be in Darwin by the end of June. It is easily achievable but means we will have to "rush" up the coast to Cairns. I'd like at least 2 months to explore Cape York and Northern Australia before we get to Darwin. That leaves us a month to get to Cairns!

Crowdy Head and Laurieton

On our sail from Forester to Crowdy Head there was very little wildlife, there was however a group of 8 sting rays floating on the top of the water in bird flying formation as we were crossing the Forester bar unfortunately we didn’t get any photos of them. Other than them we only saw the occasional bird however we have 3-4 dolphins escort us into the bay at Crowdy Head and they even did some swimming on their backs they must have been glad to see us. We tied up aginst the visitors wharf which had a sign on it saying you can’t tie up to it, the wharf is falling down and we ended up were the fishing boats stay. The bay is only small and it’s a shame to see the wharf fall into disrepair.

It is really windy here which is part of the reason why we decided to find somewhere to hide. We went for a walk up to the lighthouse and nearly got blown away. 

Amy trying hard to hide from the wind

Hard work walking against the wind

Checking out the beautiful views at the top of the headland

Lovely to look at but not to be out in

There is a nice long beach to goes for miles here so we are still going for a run. Amy had heaps of fun running along a sand bank. We used this time to do Amy's school project a diorama she did one on whales but without the box.

It even spurts water



Digging for treasure

All they found was rocks, rocks and more rocks.

Amy can not only drive the dingy but also start it by herself now
 

We set sail for Laurieton the bar was a bit messy to get across but we made it without any mishaps. We dropped anchor infront of the United Services Club up the river as the wharf already had 2 boats on it. We could use the clubs facilities for free which was a bonus. The mountian seen behind the club is North Brother Mountain which Ian had this really bright idea to walk up one morning which we did and my legs are still paying for it. The walking track goes straight up the side of the mountain, we walked back down the road which was about 10km. Not a bad mornings excerise.

 

United Services Club with North Brother Mountain behind

 

Almost to the top and still smiling

 Our shirts were soaking wet by the time we got to the top and thankfully we had taken water. Amy didn't even break a sweat and not one complaint. I was very proud of her.

At the top what a view

Having a well deserved break

 

Heading north now

We had done Newcastle to death and it was time to start heading to warmer climes. Before we left we joined in with our good friends, the Smiths, and some other Hunter Valley homeschoolers to go on some Aboriginal cultural tours run by Jonathon from Murrook Culture Centre at Williamstown. The land around the Hunter is Worimi and the day before we left we visited at a site on the Stockton sand dunes that has cutting stones that have been shown to have come from all over Australia.

Jonathon taking the group to the site

Amy checking out some of the stones

A freshwater lagoon at the site
 

The next day we took on some fuel and filled the water and motored in no wind up to Port Stephens. A little wind developed in the afternoon allowing us to motorsail the last couple of hours.

Mt Tomaree and the entrance to Port Stephens

 

 

WW2 defense building on the entrance to Port Stephens

 In Shoal Bay we thought we would get some of the fish and chips that were so good on the way south. The kids were feeling a bit hungry and decided to take on an Aussie Burger. They finished it.

Amy trying to pick the bigger of the two

Good girl



This dog was ready to have a go at Amy's dog

Still warm enough for an afternoon swim

One night only at Port Stephens, we are on a mission to be in Queensland by 1st April for Kathleen's birthday. So with no wind again we motored  for 2 hours to Broughton Island. At first we pointed our bow towards Esmeralda Cove, but this was too narrow and with our anchor dragging the way it does we decided to move over to Coal Shaft Bay. It was beautiful and sheltered from the NE swell. The water is very clear and lots of fish and other things to see when snorkeling. On shore there is a lovely beach and caves to explore.

Coal Shaft Bay

Exploring

Love it

First fish



Looking for treasure

Normally we would wait for some favorable winds, but as I said, we are on a mission. So the next day we motored to Forster. The tide was still ebbing but the bar looked ok so we crossed and tied up to the fisherman's co-op jetty for 2 nights. At high tide there is a surge that comes in and keeps you busy adjusting fenders, otherwise it's handy to shops and services. Have to thank Nick from Maritime who came to check if there was anything we needed and later drove me to get the gas bottle filled.

Bonito, we ate this sashimi style

Good view of the bar from the jetty

The next day we walked out to a sand blow that I spotted from the boat. At the bottom of the blow was a sand cliff about 3 meters high. We love walking on the top of these drop offs and sliding down.

On the way to the blow, break wall in the background

Also on the way, they call this Pebbly Beach for some reason

Top of the sand blow

Hard work getting back up

Cape Hawke in the background

Still taller than you

Another five hours of motoring sees us in Crowdy Head Boat Harbour waiting for a gale to pass. It's either no wind, from the wrong direction or too strong to sail.
That's why it's great to have time on your side. Wendy and I once delivered our 28ft compass from Sydney to Hervey Bay and had to be back for Daniels birthday in 11 days, we then sailed in this type of weather with no autopilot and it was not pleasant.
Tomorrow the wind is forecast to get below 20 knots so we will head further north again then.

On passage to Crowdy Head

Entrance to the boat harbour

Beach at low tide

Swimming in the harbour

Monkeys on the ropes

And they fell in



Still in Newcastle with a camping trip to Sydney

We are still in Newcastle we bought some second hand bicycles to get around a bit easier. Amy is really happy to have a bike as at home she doesn’t have anywhere to ride one. She asks to go at least once a day but likes to go twice or more if possible. We haven't done much at all in the last couple of weeks with the rain and we went camping in Sydney for 5 days. 



Amy having a great time riding her bike along the water front walking and bike way.

 

Amy has found a cat that always has it’s tongue hanging out. Would you believe its name is GRUMPS and looks really evil. Remind you of anyone?

 

 

We decided to go to Sydney for 5 days so I could experience some other emergency departments, as it turned out I only got to experience one. Lane Cove National Park which is not far from North Ryde train station became our base. We packed up 2 hiking back packs with 2 small tents and sleeping bags. It would have been nice to have some chairs to sit on but we didn't have any and it would have made the bags too heavy to carry.

Back packs loaded off to Sydney camping we go,

Camping in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney



Hyde Park, Sydney

While in Sydney we did some exploring of the Australian museum, Maritime Museum, Hyde Park and Darling Harbour. Daniel doesn't remember ever coming to the Australian Museum we used to visit  a few times a week when he was little with Kathleen and Michael. The museum isn't as big as I remember it either.


Hyde Park, Sydney

 

Amy at the Australian Museum



 

Wendy and Amy after enjoying a BBQ at the camp ground at Lane Cove National Park.

 While having a BBQ dinner we had 3 kookaburra's and a magpie watching us. Amy had a piece of meat in her hand that was shaped like a kookaburra after she had taken some bites out of it a kookaburra came down ans snatched it out of her hand and scared the life out of her and us. The only thing is that Ian didn't get a photo of it even though he had the camera in his hand.

Ian wanted to visit the Maritime Museum we have visited a few different one now but the kids love going onto the warships and this time we even got to go on a submarine I knew there wouldn't have been much room but was quite surprised by how little room there really was and to think it was staffed by over 60 people is amazing,

Captain Amy giving her first mate Daniel orders
 

Amy manning the gun



Daniel going into the submarine