|
Page 3 of 14
Maitland
Leaving Watagans we make our way to Maitland, just 28km northwest of
Newcastle. Maitland is a historical town, first settled in 1818. The city
has many buildings of historical and architectural significance.
Maitland's High Street has even been registered as a National Trust
conservation area and most of its buildings date to the 1800's. High above
the rooftops of Maitland is the stone spire of St Mary's Anglican Church.
Its bell once hung in Sydney's famous St Andrew cathedral. We have a
lovely all-you-can-eat-buffet dinner at the local Maitland leagues Club -
what a truly Aussie thing to do!
|
Nelsons Bay
An early morning start takes us through Raymond Terrace,
on through Ana Bay to Nelsons Bay. We drive into the Shoal Bay Holiday Park - a short walk to beachside village with cafes, boutiques, restaurants and a pub. The caravan park is very popular so we're lucky to get a site....it's a beautiful afternoon so after a shower to freshen up we buy a six-pack of beer from the local bottle and enjoy the sunset.
Nelsons Bay is part of Port Stephens, a region spread around and beyond the magnificent waterway of ‘Port Stephens'. Port Stephens covers an area of almost 1, 000 square kilometres. Being at the end of the Pacific Freeway from Sydney at the junction of the Pacific and New England Highway from Dubbo, Port Stephens is known as the gateway to the North Coast of NSW.
One of the many reasons Port Stephens is so popular is its resident population of over 140 bottle-nosed dolphins which can be seen on one of the many cruises that depart from Nelson Bay daily, all year round.
|
|
Tea Gardens
The next day we take a leisurely drive around the Port Stephens
waterway, past places like Fingal Bay, Lemon Tree Passage, Tanilba Bay
and Salamander Bay. We then take a shortcut along some dirt road between
Medowie to the Pacific Highway, past Karuah for a break at The Rock
Restaurant, 14 kilometres north of Karuah.
The Rock Restaurant is in the shape of Ayers Rock (it's big!) and was
originally built by the famous Leyland Brothers in the 1980's.
Previously Australia's largest fun park before the Gold Coast Theme
Parks, the Rock is now owned by a charity organisation which runs bush
camps for Australian Youth. The Rock is also home to 'The Pieman' which
is an awarding winning, 24 hour, gourmet pie shop and service station.
From here we head to the village of Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest which lies
on the other side of Myall River's mouth. These two sleepy villages are
joined by the Singing Bridge, so-called because of the whistle that rises
when inshore winds blow against its rails. Interestingly, many people from
Newcastle and Sydney are investing here by purchasing homes either as
holiday getaways or retirement options.
|
|
nocturnal bird that is usually sedentary
during the daytime. If approached it will sit upright with its feathers
pressed
firm against its body.