Heading Home - New South Wales

Huskisson

 6 - 7 February

We planned a big day's drive from Mallacoota all the way to Huskisson and Booderee National Park, so grabbed a take-away coffee and hit the road. It was drizzling rain when we left and we weren't sure what it would be like when we arrived. We stopped at a roadside rest area for lunch and continued on to Mogo for a break. We walked around this small town and looked in the many shops. It certainly is an interesting and popular stopping point, right on the highway. While there we attempted to call Booderee National Park. You have to book your campsite online and using a mobile phone you can't select the actual spot so we wanted to call to choose our spot. Not possible! A recorded message directs you to the website.

We decided to go on to Huskisson for a night and book once we arrived there. On arrival at Huskisson, we checked into a caravan park on the beach and went for a walk on the shore. We have stayed here before and it is now one of our favourites. The weather didn't look good so we checked the forecast - rain, rain, rain. Regrettably we made the decision to skip Booderee this time. During the evening we were treated to a small, but wild thunderstorm. More rain overnight, and again in the morning confirmed we had made the right decision.

A sooty Oystercatcher is the only bird I photographed on that overcast afternoon in Huskisson.

Norah Head

7 - 11 February 2017

 

We had arranged to meet my sister and her partner in Norah Head on Thursday for a couple of nights. so headed towards the NSW Central Coast, intending to have a couple of days before Bronwyn and John arrived. I find the drive through Sydney a bit stressful, but we managed it without incident. We drove through rain just about the whole way. Going up over the escarpment near Wollongong and through the hills we were driving through low cloud too. 

Once through Sydney we stopped for lunch at the rest area just over the Hawkesbury River at Mooney Mooney. Finally we were starting to see some blue sky. We went to the caravan park at Norah Head, where we already had a cabin booked for later in the week, and set up on a site opposite the cabin. This would be very convenient as the management had allocated that site for us to store the camper trailer while we were in the cabin. We really appreciate how accommodating some caravan park staff are.

A rare visit from a Common Noddy.

I didn't do much birding at Norah Head at all but had a wonderful birding experience nonetheless. It was very windy and stormy on our first night there. The next morning we visited Cabbage Tree Harbour and I immediately noticed a dark bird floating not far off shore. I walked toward it and it flew towards me then up to some thick coastal shrubs at the top of the beach. I was snapping away the whole time but not too successfully. I was able to get closer to the bird once it had landed and  realized it was a Juvenile Common Noddy. It appeared to be quite tired and I assume it was blown in by the powerful winds overnight.

I posted the sighting on Birdline and was surprised to find out it was only the second record for the New South Wales Central Coast. Also, it was a lifer for me!  The next morning, as we swam in the rock pool, the same bird flew low over us. It looked much more energetic this time. Mick.

Juvenile Common Noddy.

The weather looked better, and the forecast was for much nicer days than those predicted for southern parts. We spent a couple of days exploring the area - Soldiers Beach, The Entrance, Budgewoi and discovered a fabulous swimming spot at Cabbage Tree Harbour. There is a rock pool as well as a sheltered swimming beach. We visited quite a few times in the four days at Norah Head.

The camp ground was home to lots of rabbits.

Taken at the popular surf beach.

This pelican caught my eye as we were out buying some fresh fish for dinner.

We spent two days in the camper trailer then two days in a cabin with Bronwyn and John. Swimming at Cabbage Tree Harbour, visiting the lighthouse and generally relaxing filled the time easily. We left on Saturday morning with temperatures forecast in the 40's.

There are always large ships on the horizon close to Newcastle and Sydney.

Norah Head Lighthouse

Great views on the short Lighthouse walk.

Sisters

Port Macquarie

11 - 14 February

What is about us and driving towards Port Macquarie? Last time it was the accident with the camper trailer, this time it was a flat tyre on the M1. Not a huge problem, except the temperature was 40° at the time. We had water, but no shade and Mick did not enjoy having to crawl around on the hot bitumen. Tyre changed, we made our way to Bonny Hills where we had stayed last time we were there having the trailer repaired. We checked into an ensuite site and noted the sea breeze had dropped the temperature to a much more manageable 30°.

It was even cooler overnight, but the forecast for Sunday was 45°! It was like this all over New South Wales so there was no way to escape it. We awoke to a not unpleasant morning and decided to go to the movies after lunch to escape the anticipated heat. Already it was warming up, and the sky was smoky from bushfires not too far away.

In the morning about twenty Fork-tailed (Pacific) Swifts were seen over the campground.

We headed off to the small cinema in Laurieton along with a heap of other people no doubt doing the same as us. After enjoying a movie we exited the theatre to a whopping 46°. There was no cooling sea breeze back at the caravan park - just a hot wind. There was nothing else for it - we headed for the pool. Early in the evening the predicted cool change arrived, blowing leaves and small branches off the trees, but it was a welcome relief.

On Monday we returned to the caravan repairer to collect our replacement fridge, and sorted the tyre problem by buying a new one.  More swims in the afternoon and we were ready to head north again in the morning.


Hat Head National Park - Smoky Cape Campground

14 - 16 February

With a relatively short drive ahead of us, we took our time and called into Kempsey for fuel, and South West Rocks for a  look around. We found the campground and set up in a nice looking spot behind the sand dunes. Mick's knee was giving him trouble again so we didn't venture too far from camp. We spent our time walking on the beach and around the campground. Mick took some photos of birds and the visiting Lace Monitors.

Smoky Cape Lighthouse.

South Smoky Beach is a popular fishing spot.

Leaden or Satin Flycatcher female.

Lace Monitor

This is a National Park, with a self-registration kiosk at the entrance. You have to make sure you have the correct money to put in the envelope. At $6 per person, per night plus $8 park entry fee (a total of $20 per night) we think it was good value. There are a number of "long drop" toilets but no other facilities - just the beautiful beach and the bush. Everything we need really.


We had rain overnight on the first night, but once the sky cleared we enjoyed a beautiful clear sky. We packed up and headed off for Ballina on Thursday morning.


Flat Rock - Ballina

16 - 19 February

We packed a picnic lunch and set off up the highway. About mid-morning, Mick suggested a detour off the highway for a coffee so we took the next turn to Red Rock. What a find! We had never heard of it, but found a fabulous little spot. There is shop selling good coffee, and a caravan park. On the banks of the Corindi River, north of Coffs Harbour, there were people snorkling, swimming and picnicking. We stayed quite a while and had our picnic lunch in the park by the river. We will come back and stay one day.

On to Ballina, and to the campground at Flat Rock. Ballina has become a regular stop as the birdwatching is great and Mick has a friend who always points him in the right direction. I also discovered I have a cousin living there so we had plenty of catching up to do.

Nice coffee and some records to look at.

Mick spent a great deal of time down on the beach and out on Flat Rock itself chasing photos of shorebirds. We ventured into town for some shopping, went visiting and enjoyed another few days in a beautiful spot. The campground is described as a Tent Park. Caravans are not allowed, but camper trailers are. There are no powered sites and the weekend saw an influx of families and young beachgoers. Despite the presence of many young folk, there was no rowdy Saturday night shenanigans. Most were up very early on Sunday morning to hit the beach again.

Common Tern

Double-banded Plover

Common Noddy

Ruddy Turnstone

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Sooty Oystercatcher

Wandering Tattler

We set off towards Queensland with storms forecast, but no sign of real rain. We took a short detour into Mullumbimby as neither of us had been there before, but being a Sunday morning nothing much was open. We stopped back at the turnoff on the highway for a cuppa and a nice pie instead.


Tweed Heads

19 - 20 February

As we moved closer to Queensland and the Gold Coast we figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to stop in Tweed Heads and get a cabin for the night. We didn't fancy staying on the Gold Coast and didn't want to get caught out camping in one of the ferocious storms for which South East Queensland is well known. We kept off the main highway and stumbled upon markets at Pottsville so that made a nice stop, and then had lunch at a park on the river, just before reaching Tweed Heads.

We checked into the cabin and plugged in all our devices and batteries. After 5 nights with only 12 volt power we made the most of the 240volt while we could. We watched rain approach during the afternoon but there was no big storm in the end. Oh well, we enjoyed the cabin anyway.

Up early for the next leg of the journey - into Queensland and home.