Newcastle, AU

Newcastle is just a few hours north of Sydney or about 70 km by boat. We arrived early in the morning and were off the boat by 8:00 a.m. for our tour. We decided to have a little fun today and booked a 4WD sand dune vehicle trip.

We took a bus about 45 minutes from the dock, to Stockton Bight Sand Dunes. We transferred to a 4WD vehicle and started off into the sand. We drove through the dunes and enjoyed the hills and bumps. We went out to the beach and drove along the water. We stopped and walked along the beach and got our feet wet. The tour guide hunted for some ‘pippies’ to show us what there are (kind of like a clam, it has a tongue that helps it dig). These are protected animals and there are large fines for digging them up and trying to take them off the beach.

Then it was back to the dunes and off to find a good “hill”. We stopped at a large hill and out of the vehicle for all. The driver opened the back and handed out boards; it was time for a little sand surfing. They show you how to sit and where to go and you’re off. This was pretty fun! Unfortunately, once you go down, you have to climb back up. The sand is very soft and the climb is a hike. We took two ‘rides’, took some photos, and just watched the tour group. There were people of all ages…10 to 60, and everyone was taking a turn.

Along the drive back, they stopped at Tin City. It’s a grouping of about 8 ‘tin’ (corrugated metal) houses out in the middle of the dunes. These are ‘vacation’ homes that have been passed down through generations. They have diesel power, fresh water wells, and great access to the beach. To give you a feel for the buildings…one of them was used as the bar in the Mad Max movie. Here’s a photo of Todd and I in front of a few of the houses.

It was another warm day in Australia, but some fog came in…so this provided a little ‘shade’ from the intensity of the sun. By late afternoon, the fog had faded and we were back at sea with the sun shining bright. We left the harbor with tugboat escorts, tons of locals lining the shores, and a few end of the jetty, lighthouse photos. Tomorrow is a day at sea and some rest.