A long drive followed by a few tonics is a grand recipe for a great nights sleep, and we werent disappointed
We woke up to a glorious cloudless day. There was no excess kid noises about which is good, and it was warm with a nice light sea breeze.
Breakfast for one out on the sundeck
We all went for a wander around the park and surrounds to get our bearings. The caravan park sits under the light house at Nelson Head. The caravan park has direct beach access on two boundaries, on both sides of the headland
… the safe Little Beach protected by, and to west of the headland,
…. and Shoal Beach to the east if the headland that faces the entrance to Port Stephens
….. and smack in the middle is a coffee/fish and chip shop
….. and we are the blue dot
Fish and chips always seem like a great idea ….. until after youve eaten them, then you feel sick and fat. But we will have to have fish and chips on the beach we think, at least once.
The estuary beach has a boat ramp and judging by the amount of cars and empty trailers parked in every and any available space, the entire NSW boat population must have launched here this morning.
Ross can walk his kayak to the water from our site … hopefully tomorrow
The view walking down the path onto Shoal Beach is straight off a postcard
Theres a lot of rabbits hopping around in the caravan park early in the morning and late at night. Theyre relatively bold for rabbits and unfussed by the humans …. and its pleasant to see animals around that Ross doesnt want to eat.
Daniel made the call to head to Shoal Beach, the dumping beach waves. Ross decided to grab himself a coffee and catch them up … a well deserved coffee because he’s a ….. good bloke, or something.
Daniel was waiting patiently with Barb on the beach. But unfortunately when Ross got down there the steep drop off and pounding beach dumpers made it too unsafe for Daniel. The dump zone was short, but out the back the depth dropped away to fast. Ross and Daniel played in the wash for a while.
The temperture peaked at 35deg today, but the water is not the balmy 26deg QLD water …. its a brisk take you breath away 21deg.
We headed over to the safe beach via the camp to grab our snorkeling gear. We all went snorkeling, but Barb and Daniel were feeling the cool water. Ross headed back a grabbed their wetsuits …. but it didnt help. It was a contrast of temperture, stinking hot on the beach, cold in the water.
There were heaps of fish swiming about very close to the people swimming about including decent sized Whiting, Flathead, DatKindaFish, DisKindaFish and DatUdderFish …. plus some wierd fish Ross couldnt identify.
A German packpacker floating about snorkeling told Ross about the big sand colored stingray he had just seen. This very respectable Flathead, which worried Gunter so much, was not fussed about Ross swimming about near it …. but it would have been very much fussed if Ross could figure out how he could catch it and eat it.
We found the perfect camping accessory ….. and you can pick up school kids for some travel income
Lobster used to be a delicacy … that you would get directly from the boat or a reputable or recommended fishmonger. Now is comes in a box from the supermarket. It does seem right
Barb and Ross were thoroughly enjoying the Australian Open outside, under the awning, enjoying a nice well earned tonic and taking in the light sea breeze, when Daniel decided to watch a movie.
Now we’re all thoroughly enjoying The Croods cartoon outside, under the awning ….. but still have that tonic flowing. Who cares whats on tv anyway.
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