Mt Royal

Mt Royal National Park is an hours drive north of Singleton and joins the western end of Barrington Tops. 

Had planned to walk Mt Royal from the more gentle north ridge, but again, road closure meant a change of plan and made the steep southern ridge my only option.

Looking east over Mt Carrow. 

Looking south down the ridge towards Pieries Peak.

Looking over Pieries Peak and Lake St Clair. Feels like the top of the world with the only sound the pounding of your heart from the steep climb.

Didn't quite summit Mt Royal. Couldnt see a way to the top apart from climbing out along the spine of these rocks. Made it about half way before chickening out. Very narrow and exposed with big drops on both sides.. At this point a Little Eagle circled me 2  or 3 times from about 10 metres away. Too busy hanging on for photos though.

Looking down the ridge with Pieries Peak on the left and ,I think, The Fal on the right.

Back over Lake St Clair towards Singleton.

A Tale of Two Rivers

Early morning Kangaroo River at Bendeela.

 The ShoalhavenRiver (Lake Yurrunga) at Tallowa Dam

Drowned trees along the submerged river bank in the Shoalhaven Gorge.

Into the Gorge

 

 

Days end.

 Dinner companion.

 Early morning calm. 

Newnes Plateau

Through the Glow Worm Tunnel and into the Wolgan Valley
. 

 

 

Dusk at Lurline Jack lookout.

 

 

 

Port Stephens

Looking over Port Stephens from Gan Gan Lookout behind Nelson Bay.
Boonelabah Island from Tomaree with Broughton Island in the background.

Fingal Island and the spit from Tomaree. Had planned to walk across to the island and the lighthouse at low tide, but the spit was still covered at low tide .

Looking across to Yacaaba  from Tomaree

Wreck, Zenith and Box Beach with Fingal Spit behind.

Shoal Bay

Port Stephens from Tomaree

Shoal Bay and Wreck Beach

Fingal Bay from Fingal Head

 Sunset at Big Rocky

Big Rocky at dusk

 

Mooney Mooney Falls

An afternoon walk 5 minutes from home to the rock bar and falls on Mooney Mooney Creek.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upper Colo

Upper Colo Reserve. A nice but busy camping area run by the local council.
Came here with my daughter years ago and the river was just over ankle deep then. Deep pools and a strong flow this time round.