Hawkesbury River Fiords - well they sure look like Fiords - tall rocky escarpments around the bays and river

Hawkesbury River Fiords

Well, never thought that the Hawkesbury River would have Fiord-like creeks and bays.  No way did I  realize what a big system this river is and there are large parts where we cannot sail.

Ian sailed to Jervis Bay with mates and then to the Hawkesbury in April.  I went down to join him on ANZAC day.  ANZAC day is quite a significant day, as one year ago we sailed out of the entrance to Lake Macquarie after being farewelled by the RAAF, on our way to the Whitsundays Islands (over a thousand nautical miles).

I drove to Brooklyn where I met Ian and Warren.  Warren then disembarked and drove my car the hour back to his home.

Refuge Bay - close to Brooklyn.  Very busy on ANZAC night long, long weekend.  Filled with club moorings.  By Sunday there were only about four of us moored in here.  Quiet and peaceful even with all the boats.

A Thursday  public holiday is the best news to persons who can have the Friday off and make it a very long weekend.  I think half of Sydney came out boating on the Hawkesbury as the last hurrah for summer.  We anchored in Empire Bay that night – this bay is called the best anchorage on the East coast of NSW by Allan Lucas.  It is full of club moorings as is Refuge Bay with a few courtesy moorings - if you can pick out the light pink mooring bouys in amongst the yellow and red club moorings.  We anchored in Refuge Bay for the first night which was really lovely and quiet despite the many boat owners enjoying the break.

26 April.  We cleaned up windChalmer both in and out and then motored over to Brooklyn to pick up our friends Jo and Belton for a day on the briny.  These are just wonderful friends of whom we never tire for their great conversation, interests, kindness and great sense of humour.  Had a lovely fresh chicken and Quinoa salad lunch with chocolate tart and coffee.  At about four we motored around a few bays and then back to Brooklyn for a walk around the town, which is easily achieved.  

We decided that we must get running lights on the RIB – dangerous boating back to windChalmer in the dark.  As we were anchored on moorings near the railway line we pondered whether it would be wise to stay put.  However, after a light supper we decided that the trains were not too loud and stayed the night.  Amazing how they didn’t disturb us as all.   Great night’s sleep.

27 April.  I have listed the weather as perfect for the whole week.  Wonderful Autumn weather, warm days and nice cool nights.

Hallets Cove - near Brooklyn has a lovely little waterfall and beach - on low tide.  Lots of families brought their kids here to play.

We found a free mooring in Hallets Cove just down from Refuge Bay and decided to hang on to it for the day and night.  We had a very relaxing day, fishing and watching the boat show.  The mooring next to us had five changes through the day and evening.  We were near a little waterfall and beach so lots of boats with kids came to play. 

A cruiser with a young couple towed their rubber ducky on a long painter.  They put the cruiser in reverse and wound the painter rope around their propeller.  He then spent ages diving under the cruiser trying to free the rope.  Finally a boat from Hobart, Mistraal noticed them and had a airhose to loan.  We had a bit of wake disturbance from boats going up and down the river through the night, otherwise very still and quiet.

28 April.  Sunday.  We spent most of the morning fishing out of Little Patonga.  No Luck.  At Patonga Ian caught a reasonable sized flathead which made a very tasty dinner with fresh salad.  I had caught a small whiting the previous night, but nothing else.  Then no one else was catching anything of a keepable size either including the young sea eagle.  I felt sad for him.

Fishing boats trying their luck just outside of Patonga.  Lion Island in view.  This is the mouth of the Hawkesbury River system.  Great river.  Wonderful holidays here.

Patonga Beach - beautiful.

Patonga Beach where Ian caught a good sized flathead.

Our new sport was counting the boats headed towards Pittwater or Sydney.  Train after train of them, looked like those joined together caterpillars marching onwards.

We easily found a mooring at Refuge Bay – lots of choice.

29 April.  Monday.  More and more boats leaving the Hawkesbury.  We motored from Refuge Bay to Yeoman Creek.  Probably 25 mins of travelling.  A young sea eagle was fishing very close to us – his parents finally turned up and drove him off.  Forcing the teenager to find his own way in life.  

 

Yeoman's Creek Mooring, very picturesque

Huge Rocks on most of the river banks - great art!

Yeoman's creek - viewing the windChalmer from rocks

Most of Cowan Creek or the Hawkesbury River System has this type of banks.

Trees growing out of rocks on most banks

If you look carefully, centre left you can see the young sea eagle, who was trying his luck at fishing in Yeoman's creek - as much luck as us I think.

30 April.  Tuesday.  Woke to spitting rain, however it cleared up.  We took the rubber ducky (RIB) up to the creek head – amazing huge rocks and pools.

Yeoman Creek to Smiths Creek.  Popped into Cottage Point which is a millionaire’s paradise.  We stopped in at the small café for lunch.  Made the mistake of ordering flathead.  Stale.  Smashed potatoes and rocket was nice, but of course overpriced.   Walking was great on very steep grades.  Homes on very long piers.

Cafe at Cottage Point, very pretty little village.  Need large bank account to acquire property in here

Reflections in the river head - Smith's Creek

Loved these pools and reflections.

Just so clear and amazingly huge rocks

1 May Tuesday.  Smiths Creek was again really lovely.  One other yacht on moorings near us.  Tranquility from Sydney.   

Bobbin Head Board Walk

Continuing on from the board walk

Just as on Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, you can hire the Biplane to take you to the Cottage Point Restaurant

Mooring in Smiths Creek

2 May  Wednesday we motored down to Bobbin Head.  Coffee and a good walk.  Lovely area with great board walks.  Surprised to find that we had really good phone service here.  We could get fairly good service in the middle of the creek, but not in the bays where we moored except for Smiths Creek.

Stayed in Empire Bay with one other boat.  Perfect night, very cool.

3 May Thursday – back to Brooklyn where Robyn was offloaded and Warren and Dave C joined Ian for the evening and then they motor/sailed back home.  Managed to sail up to Bateau Bay, then the winds died and they motored home to Lake Macquarie on the Friday, catching the 2 pm Swansea Bridge opening. 

HAWKESBURY -  recommend to anyone who wants a lovely, quiet stress-free holiday. 

We are Home - Last entry for this trip

Well, we are home and feeling very alien.

Been away from 25 April to 5 October!  Six plus months!

Been a great adventure.  Sometimes a little too adventurous.

Inland waterway between Brisbane and Southport.  Quite hairy, as was very shallow in spots and some of the markers were in the incorrect spots.  We had to constantly watch the depth sounder.  We found lots of aggressive boat captains in here and down to Southport.  Usually boats back off and give you space but not here.

Just arrived down the Inland Waterway into Southport - you can see the Southport skyline at the right hand side of this photo.

I promised Ian that I would try and stick with it until Southport.  So Tin Can Bay (near Fraser Island) via Wide Bar Bay to Mooloolooba was the last really long day at sea for me.  9 am to 8 pm.

Luckily, Ian's great mate Dave arrived in Southport on 28 October which was the same day as Ryan, Nerrine and family came up to take me home.  I spent a few days with them at Cotton Beach before coming home on the Tuesday.


Ian and Dave managed to sail from Southport to Balina.  They stayed here for a night waiting and hoping for a northly - however the southerly lessened so they motored for Iluka and then partly motored and sometimes sailed all the way home non-stop.

Some people are beggars for punishment.

Well, right back where we started, well almost.  Dave and Ian anchored outside the RSL Swansea near the bridge.  The blue lights in the photo is the RSL club and the lights to the right are on the Swansea bridge!

 

 

Ian and Dave sailed right to home and back on the mooring on the Friday morning.

BACK HOME - trying to adjust to life ashore, while we think up the next project.

Brisbane to Southport

We traveled down the internal creeks and waterways to Southport.  This was pretty tricky as this had lots of shallow areas so we had to really concentrate.

The first night we anchored in a ditch or creek and then we really got a little crowded as a wind warning was announced.  Boats were coming in to get away from a storm which was approaching too.

The storm was pretty close and noisy but, not much rain or wind.  However, then we got a strong northerly which wasn't  predicted.

The next morning the strong south easterly which was predicted was still going strong, so we decided we may as well move on rather than roll around in the anchorage.

We anchored near Jacob's Well for a cuppa and lunch and for the tide to rise as some very shallow areas were coming up.

What we noticed that even though it felt that we were in the country, no boats backed off or even followed the navigation rules at times.  Most boat drivers were pushy - not much fun.

Pretty quiet here in Bum's Bay, Southport at night.  During the day, we have lots of boats everywhere, especially as it is school holidays.  

Photos of Brisbane - meeting up with classmates

We booked into the Dockside Marina for a week as we wanted to see Brisbane and meet up with friends.

We took our  own local guide LOL!!  Lyn sailed down from Scarborough with us and stayed a couple of nights with us.  We left Scarborough at 7 am and were tied up by 12.30 I think in the Brisbane River.

Lyn then suggested we go up the river in one of the red city hoppers - free little ferries.  They were amazing, came every half hour and we certainly saw lots of Brisbane.  Lyn was a wonderful tourist guide and took us on the free red buses, the free Springhill loop and then drove us to the Botanical Gardens out of town.

Met up with Shazz, Al, Tilden and Ken from our school class.  Was great to catch up and see that they were doing great.

Our visit coincided with the Redcliff Festival first - spent a great day there watching very fast motor boat racing, jazz bands and bought some wonderful farm fresh vegetables, especially huge avocados and strawberries.

Then in Brisbane, their festival was in full progress.  Ian took some great photos of the laser show which we caught the free red ferry twice to southbank.  

Industry -mouth of Brisbane River

Dockside near the Marina

Coming into the mouth of the river

For Lyn =  Charity Duck and Holy Cow the charter yacht.

Lantern Show at Southbanki

The Laser show was amazing - lights came from the high rise buildings and a very creatively setup barge in the middle of the river, near southbank.

How did the do the curly lights?

A coloured sphere from which music played all day.

The windChalmer in the Dockside Marina.  We rolled around when the City Cat ferries roared past from 7 am to 9 pm.  However, more comfortable than tied up to pile berths near the Botanic Gardens.

Free Red Ferries plough up and down the Brisbane River every half hour from 7 am to 12 pm!  Was just great.  We used it for shopping, to go to the movies, to south bank for the laser show and to visit with friends.

Views of Brisbane from some mountain near the outer Botanical Gardens.

Great Views

Ginger has such amazing flowers

Whatever this flower is - it is spectacular!!

Glasshouse Mountains - three views

We really saw wonderful views of the Glasshouse Mountains - firstly from sea at sunset, then sailing past the next day.

 A few days later we hired a car and drove up to meet our friend Kevin and his wife Thelma at Landsborough.  They took us up a lookout to see the mountains.

Another yacht sailing down the channels past the glasshouse mountains.  This area and then the inland waterway to Southport would have to be the trickiest sailing as so many shoals - shallow areas which we had to avoid or be working past them on a rising tide. We sure spent a lot of time watching the depth sounder.

Amazing  views - James Cook named these the glasshouse mountains as they reminded him of the brick kilns which the glassmakers used in England.