Sandy Hollow, NSW

Ratings: CP *  Surroundings ***

Spring has arrived and light dustings of yellow cover the tops of wattle trees. Sandy Hollow is a rural village with the Giant's Leap sandstone hills providing a dramatic backdrop. It lies in the Upper Hunter Valley which is home to the Wanaruah Aboriginal people, the original custodians of the area.

A view across the valley from the top of Giant's Leap after a strenuous one and a half hour climb!

   Patterns etched into ancient sandstone hills by years of weathering.

The lushness of  the Upper Hunter Valley where thoroughbred mothers and foals play, share time and thrive.

Wooden bench and table discovered among David Mahony's wonderful outdoor sculptures and mosaics in his sculpture park in Sandy Hollow.

Nelson Bay, NSW

Ratings:  CP ***  Surroundings *****

Pirate ship anchored  in Shoal Bay at sunrise!  Notorious, it is a replica fifteenth century Portuguese sailing ship built over ten years by a couple who sail up and down the east coast, surprising locals with their unannounced visits!

Quiet solitude on a perfect spring day waiting for that big bite!

Vast granular landscapes sometimes traversed by the light footprints of humans and animals.... one of the awesome masterpieces of nature. The dunes are 40 metres high and extend for 32 kilometres making them the longest moving sand dunes in the Australia and possibly in the southern hemisphere. These are the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes, part of the Worimi Conservation Lands within the country of the Worimi Aboriginal nation.

Shifting silence.......

A ferry ride across the clear waters of Port Stephens on a sunny day.  Leaving from Nelson Bay, we crossed Port Stephens where we were accompanied by dolphins, travelled up Myall River and reached the quaint village of Tea Gardens where I had lunch before returning during the afternoon. The ferry is 85 years old and has been converted from a war time tug boat to a ferry with chairs taken from an old cinema and benches which were originally pews taken from an old church.

Ancient Aboriginal fish traps in Myall River no longer used for trapping fish but now home to oysters aplenty.

Forster, NSW

Ratings:  CP **  Surroundings ***

View from the one kilometre long bridge which links Forster and Tuncurry situated opposite each other at the entrance to Wallis Lake. The bridge replaced a punt service in 1959. This Great Lakes region consists of a three lake system: Wallis Lake, Smiths Lake and Myall Lakes and the area is home to the Worimi people. Forster used to be called Minimbah meaning 'home of teacher' and Tuncurry means 'plenty fish' or 'good fishing place' in the Worimi Aboriginal language. Forster was renamed after William Forster in 1875.

Yachts and cabin cruisers anchored in the pristine waters of Wallis Lake at Forster boat harbour.

Time to share morning coffee on the banks of a Wallis Lake inlet. Ancient mangroves grow along the banks of Wallis Island providing a never ending food supply for the herons, egrets, varieties of wild duck and white bellied fish eagles....an ever changing vista.

My lavender 'garden' which now accompanies us on our travels! A lone shell is a reminder of Rainbow Beach.

Bonny Hills, NSW

Ratings: CP *****  Surroundings *****

Misty spray along Rainbow Beach seen from rock pools below the caravan park.

Solitary surfer at sunrise.

Looking down on dolphins playing on swells of the Pacific Ocean.....a view from the caravan park.

A graceful surfer in harmony with nature.

The Tacking Point Lighthouse at Port Macquarie is Australia's third oldest lighthouse built in 1879 to warn ships of the rocks near the shore. It was converted to automatic operation in 1919. Tacking Point was so named by Matthew Flinders in 1802. The heritage lighthouse has recently been restored based on its original design and is a popular viewing point during whale migrations .