The jetty is a wonderful place to fish from – although not on this particular day because of the gale-force winds.
Monthly Archives: October 2010
Patonga – Part 1
Ah, Patonga. This place has got to be one of the sleepiest places on the entire Central Coast. Even though it’s a mere 6km from Umina Beach it’s a very winding 6km through the Brisbane Waters National Park. Being surrounded by bush and water (West Head in Kuringai National Park sits opposite it) it feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere, making it a paradise for bushwalkers and fisher-people.
I like the dinghies parked on the beach. It looks terribly quaint.
I also like the fishing nets strewn on the ground. If it wasn’t for the very distinctive bushland, I could be somewhere on the Mediterranean.
Mt Ettalong Lookout Revisited – Part 3
At the end of the track we come to another lookout – this time overlooking Umina Beach.
The view was quite impressive that day. You can see along the length of Ocean Beach Road to Woy Woy, Brisbane Waters, and Gosford at the foot of the hills beyond.
Mt Ettalong Lookout Revisited – Part 2
Being mid-spring, there were a few flowers around. The most striking however were small and purple.
This one was from a type of grass.
This one was a little violet of some kind.
Mt Ettalong Lookout Revisited – Part 1
Today we’ll begin a wander along Mt Ettalong lookout. We’ve been there once before but this time the weather was much brighter. First stop was the outlook over peaceful Pearl Beach, with Lions Head and Palm Beach in the distance.
Canine Interlude – Despondent
One thing about beagles – they’re extreme attention seekers. If you’re not showering attention on them 24/7 they become rather despondent. Below, little princess wasn’t happy that we haven’t given her a pat… in the last two minutes.
Sleepy Hollows – Part 8
We end our wander with a typical sight on the North Island coast – manuka flowers. How delicate they are!
Sleepy Hollows – Part 7
Like Ninety Mile Beach further north, this stretch of coastline around the Hokianga is also wild and desolate. Unlike Ninety Mile beach, it is remote and quite inaccessible. No 4wd buggies around there. Access is only via tiny (and unsealed) country roads. I only caught a glimpse of that coast from the more civilised side of the harbour, but I want to visit it if I’m ever in the area again.
Sleepy Hollows – Part 6
The following day I venture out to the other side of the harbour, all the way to the Hokianga harbour heads. While the south side was lightly developed with two small fishing villages the north side featured giant sand dunes. In contrast to Kohukohu, a mere 10km away, the heads was wild and woolly.
Sleepy Hollows – Part 5
The village church was also made of weatherboard and wonderfully white in the Northland sun. I like the terracotta coloured roof against the blue sky.
Static and Silence 