Iluka to Southport

With thoughts of sunny walks along beautiful beaches, swimming in warm surf and catching fish for dinner our time on The Clarence River didn't quite live up to expectations. Fortunately our time spent with my (John's) Aunty Sue, who lives at Iluka, more than compensated for the less than perfect weather. It began with fresh king prawns for lunch at Aunty Sue's and over the week in Iluka included many cuppas and catching up on family news and reminiscing. My Dad's and Aunty Sue's parents retired to Iluka and as a child I spent many memorable holidays here from the sixties onwards.

rainforest on The Bluff Nature walk

We managed to fit in between rainy days, a walk through the peaceful Nature Reserve rainforest to The Bluff Beach for a quick swim then back along the main Iluka Beach to town followed by a birthday celebration gathering for Aunty Sue at the Boatshed Cafe with the volunteers from the op shop for afternoon tea.

Sea eagle nest on telegraph pole Iluka

The anchorage in the bay is very secure and convenient to the beaches and all the town services including good coffee at Hullabaloo and fresh and good value fish & chips at the Fisherman's Co-Op.

The safe anchorage in the Iluka Bay

Miff performing maintenance in an exotic port

morning coffee & John's Mum's dateloaf Iluka

The well set up dinghy pontoon in the bay in front of the pub

Osprey nest on mobile tower Iluka

Ibis wandering the streets of Iluka

The day before leaving Iluka we drove to Woody Head with Aunty Sue to take in the scenery and share an ice cream. This was also a good place to get an idea of what the sea conditions were like for the next leg to Southport.

Woody Head interpretation sign

John and Aunty Sue at Woody Head

A short walk from the anchorage is the entrance wall, popular with fisherman, and a good viewing platform to survey the state of the barway. Always reassuring to know what to expect before committing.

fishing trawler heading out of the Clarence River mouth for a nights fishing

Monday 4 June
Aunty Sue's Birthday. Weighed anchor at 0645 on a clear blue morning with a light westerly blowing. Passed Moriaty's wall and waved to Aunty Sue as she sent us on our way. Cleared the entrance past a well behaved bar and out onto a gentle SSE swell. As the breeze picked up to 10-20kn WSW we made good time in reaching Cape Byron, 52 nm north by 1530.
 Between The Clarence and Cape Byron we had the thrill of siting at least six separate pods of humpback whales some way in the distance but clear enough to see them breaching and tail slapping with spectacular results. Also to complete the nature display we saw a turtle and had dolphins swimming alongside.

Cape Byron light Australia's most easterly point

distinctive landmark of Mt Warning off the Byron coast

As the sun set the wind increased to 15-25kn W and a brilliant moon rose in the east. By now we had a double reefed main and genoa but were still averaging 5.5kn. Because we wanted to wait until daylight to enter the Southport Seaway we needed to slow somewhat. Unfortunately we didn't have a lot of choice but to slow as we headed more NW from Tweed Heads and the wind also swung to the NW and kicked up a sharp short 2m + sea. We ended up having a pretty uncomfortable 6 hrs before tucking in close to the shore and motorsailing for the last 2 hrs in a dropping wind. The entry into Southport Seaway was very straightforward in an offshore breeze and rising tide. We soon found our way to Bum's Bay and a good anchorage for a well earned rest.

sunset north of Byron Bay

The Gold Coast south of the Seaway

Tuesday 5 June
After a couple of hours recovery nap we woke with the very big surprise of finding our friends from Tas , Tim and Sal, in the carpark opposite our anchorage waving at us. Of course we didn't delay in going ashore and heading to the nearest wine bar for a celebratory drink and catch-up. That evening we found a good value dinner at a Burleigh Heads hotel followed the next day by a very nice lunch at Tim's cafe choice in beautiful Burleigh sunshine.

beachside Tai Chi for the masses at Burleigh Heads

Saturday 9 June
Having sampled the gentler side of Goldcoast life, replenished supplies including a gas refill and the added bonus of seeing our Tassie friends it was time for a farewell coffee with Tim and Sal before continuing north. We anchored at the sheltered Tipplers Passage, South Stradbroke, a couple of hours away, in just enough water amongst the weekend revellers and powerboats.

Crowdy Head to Coffs Harbour

10th May, 2012 (my Mums birthday!)

A sunny, windless, cloudless day saw us leaving Crowdy Head for Camden Haven. Motored all the way on an oily sea for about 4 hours. Entering the Camden Haven bar was very uneventful on a flood tide. We anchored just off the jetty at the Laurieton United Services Club. We met fellow Taswegians Peter and Chris on 'Honey Bee' with fellow travelers Nic and Erica on 'Jepeda IV'.

Perpendicular Point on entry into Camden Haven

Next day we walked for an hour up North Brother Mountain through a beautiful forest of cycads and enormous eucalypts. Out on the top we had a very wide view north and south on a brilliant, cloudless day. A random koala had appeared in this area about 2 months ago all by himself but according to the ranger would probably be leaving soon to find a mate. It was a quick 45 minute walk back down to the boat.

John amongst the giants on North Brother-Laurieton

Track up North Brother

Entrance to Camden Haven(Sorcerer is middle boat in foreground) taken from North Brother Mountain.

A lonely boy who will depart soon from this place to find true love.

A large fig tree-Camden Haven

Aerial roots, fig tree-Camden Haven

We are definitely having one of these in OUR garden!

 12th May we motored out of Camden Haven around 1pm on a rising tide heading north to Coffs Harbour. We took about 18 hours due to very light wind so motorsailed most of the way. We dropped anchor at 7am between the old jetty and the harbour wall in company with Trevor and Gail on 'Newtsville' who we met in Port Stephens.

We greet the dawn nearing Coffs Harbour

Arriving Coffs Harbour

Miff at lookout on Muttonbird Island, Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour Marina from Muttonbird Island

The following morning after receiving sad news from home we tucked Sorcerer into the marina and we were on a train to Sydney to collect our kids Martyn and Lindsay from New Zealand to return home for my Dad's funeral. A week later we returned to be presented with a large fresh King fish fillet caught that day by Liz and John from 'Blue Marlin'. We briefly met Liz and John just before heading to Tasmania the week before. The gesture was beautiful and very welcome. We managed three meals from their gift.

Looking south from Muttonbird Island across the harbour

Info about Solitary Islands which lie off the coast north of Coffs Harbour

Muttonbird Island is associated with a dreamtime story of the Moon Guardian who tendered the muttonbirds on the island as food for the local Gumbayngirr people and they named it Gittain Mirera.

Alarm set for 1230am we headed out into the darkness around 1am. With the South Solitary Island light winking at us and only a 5-10kn SSW breeze we motorsailed for the first few hours. As the breeze increased to 10-20kn, along with a following sea, we enjoyed a modest 5.2 kn average for the leg to the Clarence despite the East Australian Current which runs predominately south at between 1- 4 kn.  If you hug the coast it can help a lot but this is not a good idea at night. Crossing the Clarence River bar was uneventful and we dropped anchor in the Iluka Bay at 2pm.

The EAC-good for heading south!(not a good photo but you get the idea)

 

Newcastle to Crowdy Head

 25th April, Anzac Day. Beautiful, cool, clear morning. Up at 0600, away by 0710. Great sail to Newcastle in 20-30kn WNW, 50 nautical miles in 8 hours. So far since leaving Tassie we have traveled 1089 nautical miles. We tied up at the public jetty next to Glenshiel and shared dinner with Jed and Jude on Sorcerer. The public jetty was very civilised and everything was easily accessible from this area. Our first priority when we arrived in Newcastle was to get the computer fixed. Everything was slowing down and then the night we arrived in Newcastle it just gave up all together and would not even turn on. We found a Mac shop and after a full investigation the computer was found to have had a dead hard-drive. We had a week to fill in while it was being brought back to life.

We had to wait off the entrance for this one to come through before entering

 Glenshiel and Sorcerer tied up at the public jetty

 Team Temperley

One of the highlights of coming to Newcastle was to catch up with our great friends, the Temperleys. The children have all grown like weeds since we last saw them and John and I spent a great few days with the family and having lots of laughs with the three very talented (each scored a goal at their respective soccer matches!) Temperley children. The few days also included two lovely meals at the Temperley household with Jed and Jude. A good time was had by all.

Merewether walkway

Merewether Cafe

Merewether Baths-hard to tell where the baths begin and the ocean finishes

Paddleboarding at Blacksmiths Beach, Newcastle

John on his way to New Zealand!

The house in Collaroy Street, Newcastle that my Dad grew up in

I couldn't believe this...mummy boot camp...run up the hill...

...and leave all the babies crying in the car park!!

Newcastle Cathedral (my Dad sang in the choir here when he was very young)

Gallipolli Flag

This flag was presented to the 13th Battalion Australian Imperial Forces by the Ulster Association of NSW.  It was used to mark the position of Battalion Headquarters at Liverpool NSW, Broadmeadows Victoria, on HMAS Ulysses, at Gaza, near Cairo, Egypt and at Gallipolli from the landing to the evacuation. To the memory of the 15 officers and 385 soldiers of the 13th Battalion AIF who gave their lives at Gallipolli. It hangs in the Cathedral.

Now there's a good idea!

Sea-run mullet caught by locals on the full moon just off the beach at Shoal Bay-Port Stephens

View south from Tomaree Head, Port Stephens

View North from Tomaree Head

Evening coming into Seal Rocks (had a very disturbed night here with lots of swell in the anchorage)

Sugarloaf Bay, Seal Rocks

Bridge joining Tuncurry and Forster. We were tied up on a couple of poles.

Historic Crowdy Head lighthouse

Crowdy Head Harbour (Sorcerer tucked up at the fishermans wharf at left in photo)

Crowdy Head (there were about 8 lights on the jetty and there was a pelican sitting on every one!)

...and on to Camden Haven...