Jerusalem Bay and beyond

April 19-23.

The last 5 days we have been exploring the beautiful waterways here around the lower reaches of the Hawksbury/ Pittwater area and it is devine! We have left Nauti Kitty in Jerusalem bay as our home base and taken Little Puss out exploring. These beautiful sandstone cliffs with their majestic gum trees cling to them as they reach up toward the numerous peaks surrounding us provide such colorful back drops and their intriguing shapes set off the imagination. Some look like waves frozen in time and others like an ice cream cone, or honeycomb with rosey pinks, Sandy cream, reds white and greys. An artists delight.

As you venture to the end of each small cove the beautiful rich smell of lush vegetation envelopes you and the sound of a small moss covered waterfall can be heard. In a few coves there are small Sandy beaches where you can get off the boat and explore but the rugged terrain and growth inhibits exploration beyond these tiny oasis’s although an occasional rock scramble up the side of a waterfall can be fun although a bit treacherous on the slippery dismount!

We also found a quaint little cafe at Cottage point for a couple of meals and some basic supplies and ventured down to Akuna Bay marina for an ice cream and brought Nauti Kitty down here to refuel today before taking her into Refuge cove for our last night.

Here we have discovered the largest waterfall in these waters cascading some 50 feet straight down to the waters edge. It was breathtaking and absolutely freezing so no waterfall shower today just a paddle along the small sandy base. The rain this afternoon made an awesome intense full arc rainbow across the end or the bay. It was spectacular.

So tomorrow we head off for Swansea which is the entrance to Lake Macquarie where we plan to reprovision and head to Port Stephens the following day. Winds are predicted to be light and seas gentle so we shall see if we get this right?

Refuge Bay Pittwater to Lake Macquarie

Port Hacking to Pittwater