5 Deserted Beaches

I hadn't been out in the kayak for ages. I had been nervous about longer paddles as I have been having pain in my glutes when sitting in both the kayak and the car. Some exercises and possibly a new car with a better seat seems to have made a difference. 

I put in at Parsley Bay and did a loop around the back of Broken Bay or the mouth of the Hawkesbury River. An 8.5klm route which covers 5 beaches where I could stop if needs be to stretch.

The 1st beach on the north side of the bay opposite Parsley Bay is Croppy Beach.

Some nice rock outliers 

Then also on the north side is Spring Beach (Shown on Google Maps as Rhino Beach?)

Then across the Bay to Eleanor Beach. 

The view out through the Heads. 

Then, my favourite, Gunyah Beach. 

I stopped here for a stretch and a walk out on the rocks, not because I had any pain, but because it was a beautiful day. 

The creek behind Gunyah Beach. 

Then past Little Gunyah on the way home. 

Bouy it was good to be back on the water again pain free. 

Iron Ladder Beach

A perfect Autumn morning for a paddle. 

Starting at Ettalong Beach

I crossed to Half Tide Rocks on Wagstaffe Point and Lobster Beach. 

The channel between the Ettalong Bar and Little Box Head is narrow and I tucked into the rocks and waited while it passed. 

Little Box Head 

At Lobster Beach the NPWS were attempting to remove a large tractor tyre from the beach. Half buried in the sand it was too heavy for this boat to drag it out. 

A landslide/rockfall at the end of the beach had been cordoned off. 

I went on a bit further towards Box Head and just sat and took in the views for a while. A lovely glassy swell. 

Box Head where the swell was breaking over the lower rock platform in a big way. 

An unnamed creek near Iron Ladder Beach. 

Lobster Beach 

Then I paddled around to Wagstaffe

For a coffee and hot chips with a few new friends. 

A small breeze came up and allowed me to sail all the back to Ettalong.

Just under 10klm and  3hrs all up 

Gunyah Beach

Had planned to paddle to, and camp at Hungry Beach, but a late start after 2 night shifts meant I wasn't on the water at Parsley Bay until 6pm. Paddling into a strong breeze I knew I wasn't going to make it to Hungry Beach until after dark, so I settled for Gunyah Beach instead.

Last light at Gunyah Beach

An airbed under the tarp tonight and a wobbly bench to cook and eat on. Sausages and eggs with onions, mushrooms and snow peas. 

Night photos before the moon rose. 

Moonrise 

Night photos that look like day under a near full moon. 

Morning after a cool night. 

Gunyah Beach in the morning sun. 

Beach Jelly 

Morning all 

On the way back, on the opposite shore at Croppy Beach 

Twisted Sydney Red Gum(Angophra)

Crossing to Dangar Island.

Sunrise(or at least when it showed from behind the clouds)