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