Inland from the beaches of the New South Wales Central Coast, the land rises into a country of sandstone ridges and deep, shadowed gullies. Here, in the hinterland beyond Wollombi, grey-barked angophoras twist from the rock. Creeks run tea-dark over sandstone beds, and in the early morning a thin mist lies in the valleys like…
Fishing Out of Swansea Heads: Marks 23 to 30 The southern end of the run, and the last of the marks within reach of a fishing day trip out of Swansea. Everything here sits off Norah Head and the coast running north from it — eight marks between 20 and 27 kilometres from the bar,…
Fishing Out of Swansea Heads: Marks 19 to 22 This part goes north. Everything so far has worked the coast between Redhead and Norah Head, but the run up past Merewether toward the Hunter River mouth opens up a different kind of fishing — a tight reef complex off Merewether, two genuinely wide grounds out…
Part 1 covered everything inside 11 km. This lot runs from 11.6 to 19.1 km, and the character of the fishing changes with it. The close-in gravel gives way to two very different things: a run of terraced reef north toward Dudley that holds mulloway, and a set of deeper, harder grounds south toward Norah…
Every trailer boat that clears Swansea Heads faces the same question: how far do I have to run before I’m on fish? The answer, more often than most people admit, is “not very.” Every fishing mark in this article sits within 11 km of the entrance, and several are productive grounds that get run straight…
This is one of the most significant Dreamtime stories of the Dharawal people, explaining how they came to the Illawarra region of New South Wales and why whales spout water as they swim along the coast. It’s a story about survival, cleverness, greed, and the eternal search that continues to this day. The Old Country:…
Looking for short term accommodation around Lake Macquarie or the Central Coast? Good call. These are some of the most beautiful spots in New South Wales – we’re talking perfect lakeside views, proper beaches you can walk on for hours, and that relaxed coastal vibe that makes you forget about city life. But here’s the…
The Living Legacy of the Awabakal Coal Dreaming In the red sandstone cliffs of Redhead Bluff, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Central Coast of New South Wales, the ancient Awabakal Dreamtime Story is etched into the very earth itself. This place, known traditionally as Kintirrabin – “earth fire was here” – holds one of the most…
Last year, Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie performed 594 search and rescue missions. Not all of them ended well so are you prepared If Your Boat Sinks? The difference between those who made it home and those who didn’t often came down to what they did in the first few minutes after things went wrong. I’ve…
I’ve seen too many good boats go down over the years. Just last month, a mate watched his pride and joy slip beneath the surface at Swansea Channel—all because of a $2 drain plug he forgot to put back in. The thing is, learning how to prevent your boat sinking isn’t rocket science. Most boats that end…
