Hawkesbury River - Pt Stephens

We've just arrived at Nelson Bay in Port Stephens after a pleasant moonlit overnighter from the mouth of the Hawkesbury River. We had such an awesome time in the Hawkesbury/Cowan Creek/Broken Bay area, and felt really lucky to explore it during Winter while it is relatively quiet. Best of all we got to spend lots of time with our new friends from the other side of the world Kathy and Jeff from SV Beatrix. Beatrix has sailed all through the South Pacific on its way from the US - really inspiring. Oh, and we saw Southern Right Whales near Dangar Island - that was a thrill!

On Friday we all hopped on a train back into Sydney to go to the Sydney Boat show - WOW. It made the Adelaide boat show seem like a few tinnies and three guys selling cheap fibreglass polish! We spent the day climbing all over incredible luxury yachts and trying not to feel like we were "cheating" on Bass Voyager. After resisting spending money in the football field-sized trade halls we celebrated by going out for dinner at Darling Harbour with Beatrix and our friends from Adelaide on Wind Warrior (we've discovered that yachties often get called by their boat's name, not their real names, which not for the first time makes me want to change "BV" to something prettier! Sorry BV. We love you just the way you are.)

It was a great way to end a really fun day - watching the sun set over the superyachts and men in striped shirts and boat shoes.

We'll probably hang around Pt Stephens for a week while I finish off my work project, then north to meet my Mum who's flying in to Pt Macquarie.

Here are a few photos from the last week.

Cowan Creek is full of these really beautiful and unusual trees which look like they are growing right out of the rocks. They are called Angophora and grow out of the soil, then spread out onto the rocks before shooting straight up. The next four photos are from our favourite spot in Cowan Creek - Jerusalem Bay. We returned there three times.

  Our friends on SV Beatrix. Not a great shot of Jeff and Kathy, but a good one of Beatrix!

Perving on yachts at the Sydney International Boat Show.

Taken thirty minutes ago, tied to the public berths at Nelson Bay Port Stephens. We're allowed to stay here for free for three days for free. Bargain!