Boating in and around Sydney...
Discussion
TAS1981 said:
Well took a houseboat out on the Hawkesbury last weekend with some freinds and had an absolute blast! Weather held out and was gorgeous on Sunday after a very errie looking morning on the river. We took our little Monty boat along and what a difference it made on flat water without the usual chop of the harbour! Lots of knee boarding and do-nut riding the whole weekend. Fab!
I highly recommend doing this with a group of friends!
I'm thinking of doing this, how much did it cost you, where from and which boat did you get?I highly recommend doing this with a group of friends!
Right, probably got about 2weekends left before its time to break out the wetsuits (unless you're heading out to the Hawkesbury and it's rained recently, then it'll be rashees at a minimum).
Here's wifey wife cutting away behind a mates tricked up Sea Ray:
Great kicking stereo too... Best wakeboarding songs seemed to be the more clubby songs like 'super soaker' & 'swagger' by Bombs Away.
In other news I'm loving the jetskis so much I've brought a dealership!!! No kidding, franchise for Sea-Doo, Evenrude, Can-Am and Zodiac kicks off in 4 weeks. Come see me if you fancy any of those brands
Lastly 'Humpback Highway' will be kicking off in around 5 weeks as those big old beasties head North up the East Coast with fat bellies. Should be a few of the too thanks to Sea Shepherd's recent work. Get your offshore gear sorted and bob around waiting for em'. Near the start of this thread I think I got some video of them heading South...
Been a great season hey...
Here's wifey wife cutting away behind a mates tricked up Sea Ray:
Great kicking stereo too... Best wakeboarding songs seemed to be the more clubby songs like 'super soaker' & 'swagger' by Bombs Away.
In other news I'm loving the jetskis so much I've brought a dealership!!! No kidding, franchise for Sea-Doo, Evenrude, Can-Am and Zodiac kicks off in 4 weeks. Come see me if you fancy any of those brands
Lastly 'Humpback Highway' will be kicking off in around 5 weeks as those big old beasties head North up the East Coast with fat bellies. Should be a few of the too thanks to Sea Shepherd's recent work. Get your offshore gear sorted and bob around waiting for em'. Near the start of this thread I think I got some video of them heading South...
Been a great season hey...
Yes up the back blocks can be really great, but Coasters Retreat used to be my favourite, in the old days.
Late 60s, & 70s it was a yacht anchorage, not too many power boats around back then. There would be a hundred or more in there at Easter. Yachties didn't have outboards for their dingies either, so it was quieter.
People rowing in to the kiosk would chat to the others on the boats they passed on the way. Many invites for coffee or a look over a boat would be offered.
One of my best yachting days ended with a bit of worry. We had set off to get some milk, about 10.30 AM. After morning tea & lunch on a couple of different boats, a sail on another, & dinner on yet another, we had real trouble finding ours at about 8.30PM, as we had not set an anchor light when we left.
We must have rowed around for 40 minutes or so before finding it in the pack.
Late 60s, & 70s it was a yacht anchorage, not too many power boats around back then. There would be a hundred or more in there at Easter. Yachties didn't have outboards for their dingies either, so it was quieter.
People rowing in to the kiosk would chat to the others on the boats they passed on the way. Many invites for coffee or a look over a boat would be offered.
One of my best yachting days ended with a bit of worry. We had set off to get some milk, about 10.30 AM. After morning tea & lunch on a couple of different boats, a sail on another, & dinner on yet another, we had real trouble finding ours at about 8.30PM, as we had not set an anchor light when we left.
We must have rowed around for 40 minutes or so before finding it in the pack.
Cool Hasbeen. My Dad also talks of the older days being more social, it's not the same now in Sydney or Pittwater. Tons of moored boats at The Basin or Americas Bay but very little socialising going on.
I'm spending a lot of time camping here recently;
Www.delrioresort.com.au
Not a yachtie place but good vibes during the day and very family orientated..
Also good for us wakeboarders/skiers/jet skiers...
I'm spending a lot of time camping here recently;
Www.delrioresort.com.au
Not a yachtie place but good vibes during the day and very family orientated..
Also good for us wakeboarders/skiers/jet skiers...
Yes, a beautiful spot. We used to tow a sky boat up there a few times a year. The Morgan Owners Club used to go skying there as a club run a couple of times most years.
The only problem was the number of boats at peak season. It used to get choppier than Sydney harbour near the popular launching sites.
Have you tried Port Stephens, & the Myall river & lakes? Some of that area is still primeval. I got to know the ranger at Tea Gardens, & he showed us right to the top. He pointed out the original stage coast rout from Sydney to Brisbane. The coaches stopped at Port Stephens, & boats ran up through the lakes. With a short portage or 2 they got to Foster, where they picked up a coach again. The whole place is fascinating.
Sydney & the rest of that mid south coast really is a boating paradise.
The only problem was the number of boats at peak season. It used to get choppier than Sydney harbour near the popular launching sites.
Have you tried Port Stephens, & the Myall river & lakes? Some of that area is still primeval. I got to know the ranger at Tea Gardens, & he showed us right to the top. He pointed out the original stage coast rout from Sydney to Brisbane. The coaches stopped at Port Stephens, & boats ran up through the lakes. With a short portage or 2 they got to Foster, where they picked up a coach again. The whole place is fascinating.
Sydney & the rest of that mid south coast really is a boating paradise.
Edited by Hasbeen on Friday 12th April 15:28
Well 2013/14 season is into full swing again...
Been out heaps the last few weeks, here's some photos:
Kicked off with some fishing. We go offshore to Newport Reef usually but also found a brilliant reef about 1km offshore outside an area on the Central Coast called Maitland Bay. Caught a couple of kingfish too (good fighting fish) and saw a decent sized shark fin but no idea what it was. Boat was my buddy's 22ft Sea Ray.
Here's Maitland Bay, it's a great place but you need to head offshore to get here:
Bayview has finally got a fish cleaning stand too (note Pelican waiting for the offcuts):
Next trip was a wakeboarding session up the Hawkesbury.
Loading up the gear, I've now got board holders on the side of the Jetskis
We put in at Taylor's Point near Palm Beach and head up towards the Hawkesbury from the Northern most tip of Sydney. It's much quicker for us as we live near here. Pretty lovely in its own right:
But when we got up to the Hawkesbury....what a surprise. It was soooo flat!!!
Absolutely perfect for wakeboarding:
Today we took the kids to the Basin:
For those with families this is a great day out. The lagoon is shallow and netted so really great for the young ones. These limited amenities so bring a picnic.
If you don't have a boat, don't worry as the ferry runs every hour from Palm Beach (opposite Barrenjoey House).
Can't recommend this place enough if you have kids, it beats the city beaches hands down!
Anyhow that's it for now but doing loads more trips coming up over next few weeks....
Look forward to seeing other peoples photos too so post them up.
Been out heaps the last few weeks, here's some photos:
Kicked off with some fishing. We go offshore to Newport Reef usually but also found a brilliant reef about 1km offshore outside an area on the Central Coast called Maitland Bay. Caught a couple of kingfish too (good fighting fish) and saw a decent sized shark fin but no idea what it was. Boat was my buddy's 22ft Sea Ray.
Here's Maitland Bay, it's a great place but you need to head offshore to get here:
Bayview has finally got a fish cleaning stand too (note Pelican waiting for the offcuts):
Next trip was a wakeboarding session up the Hawkesbury.
Loading up the gear, I've now got board holders on the side of the Jetskis
We put in at Taylor's Point near Palm Beach and head up towards the Hawkesbury from the Northern most tip of Sydney. It's much quicker for us as we live near here. Pretty lovely in its own right:
But when we got up to the Hawkesbury....what a surprise. It was soooo flat!!!
Absolutely perfect for wakeboarding:
Today we took the kids to the Basin:
For those with families this is a great day out. The lagoon is shallow and netted so really great for the young ones. These limited amenities so bring a picnic.
If you don't have a boat, don't worry as the ferry runs every hour from Palm Beach (opposite Barrenjoey House).
Can't recommend this place enough if you have kids, it beats the city beaches hands down!
Anyhow that's it for now but doing loads more trips coming up over next few weeks....
Look forward to seeing other peoples photos too so post them up.
Another big day out on the harbour yesterday. This time we had three boats along...
One mate has his boat in dry storage in a rack, downside is he has to fill up waterside (about $1 a litre more expensive).
Clontarf beach was packed out but always space to land a boat.
The Harbour was surprisingly empty considering it's the holiday period (can you spot the kayaker here? This sport is becoming more and more popular but damn these guys do themselves no favors when it comes to visibility. It's only a matter of time before an accident ensues)
Inflatables are always fun:
And good for chilling out on:
At the end of the day I taught the kids to fish
Next up is New Year's Eve.... It's probably the best and worst time boating. Last year I witnessed a punch up at the boat ramp!! I'll keep the camera ready for this year.
One mate has his boat in dry storage in a rack, downside is he has to fill up waterside (about $1 a litre more expensive).
Clontarf beach was packed out but always space to land a boat.
The Harbour was surprisingly empty considering it's the holiday period (can you spot the kayaker here? This sport is becoming more and more popular but damn these guys do themselves no favors when it comes to visibility. It's only a matter of time before an accident ensues)
Inflatables are always fun:
And good for chilling out on:
At the end of the day I taught the kids to fish
Next up is New Year's Eve.... It's probably the best and worst time boating. Last year I witnessed a punch up at the boat ramp!! I'll keep the camera ready for this year.
Edited by robm3 on Wednesday 1st January 08:22
That looks epic!
Am currently in Sydney for the final test of the ashes (balls!). First time I've been here but was commenting to my mate that it's be a perfect place to spend some time on the water!
Massively cheeky, but I don't suppose you have 2 spare seats for NYE tonight and ensuing fireworks can bring food/drink/whatever else you need - 2 relatively experienced boaty people!
Looks idyllic out here I must be honest.
Am currently in Sydney for the final test of the ashes (balls!). First time I've been here but was commenting to my mate that it's be a perfect place to spend some time on the water!
Massively cheeky, but I don't suppose you have 2 spare seats for NYE tonight and ensuing fireworks
can bring food/drink/whatever else you need - 2 relatively experienced boaty people!Looks idyllic out here I must be honest.
Some random shots from New Years Eve, just an awesome day/evening out.
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basically awesome. Sadly my phone ran out of batteries so I couldn't take photos of the stupidity at Roseville Boat Ramp at the end of the night but rest assured it was there as normal.
Next up... we're off camping and taking both the Jetskis and Boat up to Lower Portland.
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basically awesome. Sadly my phone ran out of batteries so I couldn't take photos of the stupidity at Roseville Boat Ramp at the end of the night but rest assured it was there as normal.
Next up... we're off camping and taking both the Jetskis and Boat up to Lower Portland.
Camping for a few days with a couple of families. We stay at Del Rio which is great for kids.
Took the jetskis and boat
Taught all the younge kids on a fixed waterski board
Plus inflatables
Como river has some great places to do this kind of thing:
But really it's about the wakeboarding:
Sadly my jetski trailer's bearings gave up on the trip home AND I sheared the bolts off the hub, oh well it's a small price to pay for awesome fun:
Took the jetskis and boat
Taught all the younge kids on a fixed waterski board
Plus inflatables
Como river has some great places to do this kind of thing:
But really it's about the wakeboarding:
Sadly my jetski trailer's bearings gave up on the trip home AND I sheared the bolts off the hub, oh well it's a small price to pay for awesome fun:
Might be selling our boat soon-ish, take advantage of the Summer prices. Its not expensive to run but I have a kid on the way and its a little small for the harbour with having a young child aboard. Probably get another in the not too distant future but a bit bigger prob with a toilet and higher sides etc...22ft ish I think.
Still a bit undecided..... :\
Still a bit undecided..... :\
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