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NSW Camping Trip Day 22

March 13, 2016  •  Leave a Comment

9 March 2016

Many showers during the night and the tent was quite wet. At least there was no check-out time like a caravan park and we could wait for the sun to dry the tent. I hadn't planned taking any photos this morning, but when I saw the light and clouds I couldn't resist.

Morning near Boorkoom Campground, Yuraygir National ParkMorning near Boorkoom Campground, Yuraygir National Park

Morning near Boorkoom Campground, Yuraygir National ParkMorning near Boorkoom Campground, Yuraygir National Park

Packing up was a hot and sweaty job as the showers had cleared and there was no breeze. At least the sun dried the tent.

We had arranged to visit Bev's cousin Estelle  at Bogangar on the way home. It was good to catch up with her, although her husband Ian was playing bowls, and we were provided with a very nice lunch.

And finally home at last with unpacking and a lot of washing to be done.


NSW Camping Trip Day 20 and 21

March 13, 2016  •  Leave a Comment

7 March 2016

We had a few showers during the night but the morning was fine, although the tent was quite wet. We packed up fairly quickly and were on the road by 9:15 (NSW time).

Our destination is Boorkoom campground in Yuraygir National Park, near Diggers Camp just north of Wooli. We had missed this during our walk last year so I wanted to check it out and get some photos of white-breasted sea eagles, which we had seen frequently during the walk.

It's a small campground with not much shade and not much flat ground, but we found a spot with a bit of shade. Hoping to see a sea eagle we drove the sort distance to the Wilsons Headland picnic area and walked out to the lookout. Although we sat there for ages, we saw no eagles. We did see a Spangled Drongo and a Little Wattlebird on the walk out.

Spangled Drongo, possibly juvenileSpangled Drongo, possibly juvenile Little WattlebirdLittle WattlebirdWilsons Headland

The choice of campground wasn't the best for Bev as it's at the top of a cliff and, although there are stairs down to the sea there isn't really any beach. It has some sand but is mostly rock and large pebbles.

8 March 2016

Up before sunrise and down to the 'beach' for some photos.

Morning near Boorkoom Campground, Yuraygir National ParkMorning near Boorkoom Campground, Yuraygir National ParkJust before sunrise

Morning near Boorkoom Campground, Yuraygir National ParkMorning near Boorkoom Campground, Yuraygir National ParkSunrise. More rocks than beach.

Morning near Boorkoom Campground, Yuraygir National ParkMorning near Boorkoom Campground, Yuraygir National Park

Later in the morning we drove the few hundred metres to Diggers Camp for a swim - it was quite hot again. Conditions looked a bit dangerous with a biggish swell, a strong set along the beach and a drop-off a few metres in. We went in but stayed near the edge, however we got out fairly quickly after Bev was knocked over a couple of times by the waves. It looked safer a bit further along the beach, but when we got there we could see the fins of sharks swimming around. We had a cold shower under one of the pipes set up that diverted water from streams on the hill.

After lunch we drove to Minnie Water for a walk on the beach and coffee and cake at the shop. We should have come here for our swim as it looked quite safe. it was now overcast with showers so at least it was cooler.

Later in the afternoon, I sat around for an hour at the cliff edge waiting for a sea eagle to fly past, but no luck. But as the sun was setting, we walked down to the cliff edge and had a sea eagle and a couple of kites fly past within five minutes of each other. Of course I had packed up the camera for the night.


NSW Camping Trip Day 19

March 13, 2016  •  Leave a Comment

We are back home now and I haven't had time to post these because of housekeeping and building a new computer.

6 March 2016

I left Bev sleeping in the tent and went for an early walk along the beach and took a few photos. I tried to find the dunes we had visited in about 1983 but didn't find them. Perhaps I didn't walk far enough. This is looking north to Smoky Cape.

South Smoky Beach, Hat Head National ParkSouth Smoky Beach, Hat Head National ParkSmoky Cape in the distance

The next two are looking back to Hat Head.

Hat Head from South Smoky BeachHat Head from South Smoky BeachHat Head National Park

Hat Head SunriseHat Head SunriseHat Head National Park

Catching up on the washing and having a swim occupied the next part of the day. After hanging up the washing we had a look at the Smoky Cape Lighthouse. We had been here in 1976 but I don't think the lighthouse itself was accessible then.

Smoky Cape LighthouseSmoky Cape Lighthouse

The view from beside the lighthouse is excellent.

View from Smoky Cape LighthouseView from Smoky Cape Lighthouse

Bev seemed confident she would be OK for a short walk so we decided to try the Connors Track not far from the caravan park. The walk to the first beach, shown below, was easy, but the track to the next beach was quite rough and Bev was struggling a bit so we turned back. On hearing noise, I turned around and Bev had fallen and was lying between two rocks. She had bruised two fingers and her arm but wasn't badly hurt. No more walking on anything but smooth paths.

Connors Beach, Hat Head National ParkConnors Beach, Hat Head National Park