A Stop-Over in Port Stephens

A Stop-Over in Port Stephens

5th April 2014

Here we go again; off to another stop-over with the rain following.
This is my view as ALANA ROSE approaches the entrance to Port Stephens.

Port Stephens Lighthouse stands tall and elegant on Fingal Island with a view over the rocks of Fingal Bay. Built in 1862, Point Stephens Lighthouse features a swept tower base and first floor entrance that give a flared appearance. This construction, along with the terrace of Lighthouse Keepers’ quarters within the lighthouse precinct makes Point Stephens unique among Australian lighthouses.

the swell ponds the shore of Fingal Island

a power boat ploughs through the swell to get out of the port

immediately inside Port Stephens is Shoal Bay

Shoal Bay is named after the numerous sand shoals which are scattered around the area. 

Port Stephens offer a wonderful water playground for the sailing enthusiast 

oour first night in we took up a public mooring in Nelson's Bay, the courtesy moorings in Port Stephens are labelled with a 24hour limit although I have been told that some people stay on them for as long as three days

MrJ says cheers to some great sunsets

6th April 2014

the numbers of bird life has definitely increased since coming into Port Stephens

and so did the rain - we had moved around to a public mooring in Salamander Bay
to be able to meet good friends Cath and Tim Deverell for lunch,

Cath worked with MrJ in the NSWRFS many years ago

in between showers MrJ though he might take a ride in to see where we would be meeting
the rain came down and drenched him 

the rain finally went and we were able to get ashore
Salamander Bay has a lovely sandy beach that shoals out a fare way
when the tide is out you will need to drag your dinghy a long way

so close to people and the bird life was prolific

MrJ has the job of pushing the dinghy back into the water while I take the photos ;o)))

second evening glorious sunset

7th April 2014

Port Stephen is also known for its dolphin watch tours

MrJ had been contacted by another couple of friends Don and Carol Luscombe;

he had made arrangements to meet them for coffee at Nelsons Bay

ALANA ROSE was back on the public mooring at Nelson's Bay 

Public jetty inside the Nelsons Bay boat harbour is used by the ferry that travels between Nelsons Bay and Tea Gardens; tying up here is not allowed. There are three or four free pens but these are far too small for our ALANA ROSE

d'Albora Marinas  owns the Nelsons bay Marina – no wonder they are so expensive to berth in

That afternoon finds MrJ and me back in Salamander Bay

We were in luck again as the single mooring was vacant so we picked it up again.

A friend Barbara from the WWSA FB site and her hubby Jim had invited us to dinner. Barbara and Jim were couple of Americans who work here; they are sailors themselves and have a yacht moored in the next bay. After a great meal and a lovely evening Barbara and Jim waded in the water to assist us getting the dinghy back in the water. Wonderful people!

The sea bird seem to love this little sand bank right out front of Barbara's house.

Kookaburras in the garden

feeding the Rainbow Lorikeets 

8th April 2014

ALANA ROSE moored in Fame Cove, a beautiful small sheltered cove that has five public moorings.

Public moorings are very popular in Port Stephens (I think they are great) as there is a lot of sea grass in the waterway. In NSW you can be fined if you anchor in the sea grass.

MrJ and I spent a quiet day in Fame Cove,

we did take the dinghy up the creek but the water runs out of depth only a short distance in.

 Up the creek there is plenty of mangrove swamp to be infested with mossies and sandflies in the warmer weather.

Can you see the big bird?

From a long way off using a zoom lens I think it could be either an eagle or an Osprey;

has the head and beak of a bird-of-prey.

MrJ and I love exploring a new waterway

Fame Cove is home for many other sea birds.

the sun begins to set

the sun has just dropped under the horizon and a pelican floats by

the night is beginning with a great show of colours

Thought I would throw this one in just to show that the colours are real..............!

9th April 2014

as the sun rose it splashed golden colour across Fame Cove

MrJ released the mooring line
we were on the move again, this time heading for Shoal Bay
last stop before we leave 

on the way out we stopped to say G'day to another boatie, John on Love of Gia
he was a friend of Barbara and Jims

passed a couple of early morning kayakers paddling around the waters

passed a dolphin watch vessel on its way in to pick up its passengers for the day

western end of Shoal Bay with the VMR station up on the point

the anchorage in Shoal bay
we were lucky once more to be able to pick up another public mooring

Shoal Bay is also home to a lot of sea birds

once tied to the mooring MrJ and I went ashore
Shoal Bay has always been a favourite with me, it has a smaller community than Nelsons Bay
there is a great long sandy beach and plenty of wonderful walking trails

not to mention a fabulous cafe on the waterfront

The Sandy Foot Cafe is one of my favourites

but you have a variety of cafe along the waterfront at Shoal Bay

the weather stayed sunny and warm all day

the sun was beginning to settle in the sky
it was time for MrJ and I to sail ALANA ROSE away from the idyllic place
we were going to sail overnight through to the Iluka on the Clarence River

Australia at War

As MrJ and I motor sail out of Port Stephens we pass the old WWII gun emplacement; part of Fort Tomaree on Tomaree Head or what is left of it. In the early 1940s Port Stephens was a large natural harbour close to the vulnerable, yet essential steelworks of Newcastle. Australia was at war with Japan. An unguarded Port Stephens could have provided an easy landing place for any hostile force. The guns at Newcastle were too far away to provide protection for Port Stephens. By the end of 1942 Fort Tomaree was constructed and ready, with two "six inch" (152mm) guns, torpedo tubes, mortars, machine guns, rifle pits, search lights, command posts, observation posts, barbed wire entanglements and accommodation. The guns were never fired in anger. Their installation did however provide peace of mind and the facilities for artillery training. Fort Tomaree included search light stations, a radar tower, torpedo tubes and barracks, where around 500 army, navy and air force personnel served. Most of the Fort’s buildings and guns have been removed; however the historic gun emplacements remain, a visual reminder of Australia’s military history.

Boondelbah Island, also known as the Boondelbah Nature Reserve, is an uninhabited 14-hectare island lying 2 km off the mouth of Port Stephens 

the sun began to set over the land  as we sailed further away from Port Stephens

the night slowly took over the sky and little was seen of the land behind
MrJ and I sail on into the night
anticipating our next adventures that the morrow would bring