MEMBERS of the “Thursday Walkers” from Tea Gardens, Hawks Nest and surrounds covered trails all over the region last month, pushing back against inclement weather to get out and see the sights.
Beginning the month of trekking on 3 April, the walkers re-acquainted themselves with the Pindimar foreshore, dodging puddles at low tide until the boardwalk, repaired in recent years, took them relatively dryly across the mangroves of Duckhole Creek to North Pindimar.
“A contingent of walkers got together for a ‘special outing’ on Sunday the 6th: a cruise to, and a walk around, Broughton Island,” Ray Hughes told News Of The Area.
“Ideal weather, subdued seas and good company made for a great day… some even went for a swim.”
Stockton was the first stop on Thursday 10 April, to catch the ferry across to Queen’s Wharf and follow the “Bather’s Way” to Merewether, passing Nobbys Beach, the old Ocean Baths, Newcastle Beach and following the new extension to the Shortland Esplanade walkway to the Bogey Hole and up to King Edward Park for morning tea.
“It is a spectacular walk with the forever restless sea to the left hosting groups of surfers, including one with a large pod of dolphins among them, beachgoers, and a line-up of empty coal carrier ships waiting to get into port.”
Onward past the Shepherds Hill Fort complex to the famous Strzelecki Lookout, the walkers took full advantage of the Newcastle Memorial Walk, heading down to Bar Beach and Dixon Park to Merewether.
“The bridge provides a striking connection between the city’s Eastern CBD and the continuation down the coast with some stunning 360-degree views.
“April rains cancelled the next walk, planned to explore the Myall Lakes system, as well as the next, which was to cover Fingal Bay to Fingal Island via the Spit on the 24th.
“Also, huge swells over the Easter weekend shifted more sand away from the proposed crossing point making it too dangerous to contemplate.”
Luckily, a substitute walk, from Eleebana to Speers Point along the Lake Macquarie foreshore, filled the spot, as the walkers started at the northern end of Lake Macquarie near the Red Bluff Boardwalk, a 400m structure built over the water with three viewing platforms along its length.
Their path wound through Warners Bay and on to Speers Point Park, and was a welcome return to flatter, sealed surfaces, made all the better by the panoramic water views and some interesting sculptures along the way.
May’s schedule will see some contrasting walks: Hagan’s Lane (Viney Creek Rd West), Piper’s Creek to Robinson’s Flat, Columbey National Park near Clarence Town, Mungo Brush to Tamboi and Brambles Green, and a Newcastle Harbour loop.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
