Today I set out on a road trip up to the Central Coast to Lake Macquarrie, just a few miles short of Newcastle. En route I would be stopping at the following places
East Gosforth
The Entrance and Lake Tuggerah
Magenta Beach
Rosetti Look out
Norah Head
Lake Macquarrie
East Gosforth
East Gosford is a suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, located immediately southeast of Gosford's central business district. It is part of the Central Coast Council local government area, and occupies an area previously inhabited by the Guringai (Wanangine) People East Gosford is named after the Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford, with whom New South Wales Governor George Gipps served in Canada.
I enjoyed my walk along the waterfront here, it was a very tranquil place yet boasted plenty of cafes and restaurants.
The Entrance and Lake Tuggerah
The Entrance derives its name from the narrow channel that divides the mainland and connects Tuggerah Lake to the ocean on the Central Coast of NSW.
The Entrance is a popular holiday resort which offers visitors surfing beaches, an enormous lake for watersports or fishing and a central area which has attractive foreshore parkland (Memorial Park), a Boardwalk and a child-friendly open-air mall called The Waterfront which is full of fountains, cafes and other places to eat.
The area around the Tuggerah Lakes was originally inhabited by the local Aborigines known as the Darkinjung people prior to European discovery in 1796. The lake was discovered by the first Governor of Tasmania, Colonel David Collins, who had arrived on the First Fleet. It was found during the search for an escaped convict, Molly Morgan, who was thought to be living with the Aborigines to the north of the Hawkesbury River.
Magenta Beach
Magenta is a coastal location of the Central Coast region of New South Wales. It is part of the Central Coast Council local government area, and contains a significant portion of the Wyrrabalong National Park. It is a relatively new area to be developed for housing, previously it was the location for mining and as the rubbish tip for The Entrance.
The location is traversed south–north by a main road linking The Entrance and Toukley. The Jenny Dixon ghost is said by locals to appear occasionally on the road in this area. Like all good ghost stories the Jenny Dixon Beach Ghost is a mixture actual events and urban legends.
The Jenny Dixon beach itself takes its name from a coal schooner called the Janet Dickson that ran aground in 1870 after she took shelter in Cabbage Tree Harbour from a severe storm just north of Norah head in Australia’s central coast. All souls survived but were severely shaken by the experience. The area later became known as Jenny Dixon beach
Usually the sightings of the “ghost” occur along Wilfred Barrett Drive where a young lady is seen hitchhiking. The story goes If a passerby happens to pick up the phantom hiker she insists on sitting in the back seat where she seems to vanish without a trace upon reaching the Nora Head cemetery where it is believed the girl is buried. Sometimes a lit cigarette is the only thing remaining of the ghostly hitchhiker.
Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club is the only private golf course located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, boasting magnificent ocean views from the front 9 holes with the back 9 holes adjacent to the rainforest and National Parks. Members and their guests have the opportunity to play one of the most unique, challenging and highly ranked courses in Australia here.
Rosetti Lookout
Rosetti Lookout is situated above Norah Head giving outstanding viewing over Cabbage Tree Harbour and out into the South Pacific. After a short stay here I couldn't wait to get down to Norah Head beach below.
Norah Head
Norah Head, originally known as Bungaree Noragh Point, is a headland on the Central Coast, New South Wales, south of Newcastle and north of Sydney. The nearest town is Toukley. The place is home to a lighthouse with scenic views, which is also considered a venue for weddings. The Norah Head tidal rock pool next to the Cabbage Tree harbour is a popular destination for families with young children due to its sheltered location.
Lake Macquarie
My ultimate destination today was Lake Lake Macquarie or Awaba. It is Australia's largest coastal salt water lagoon. Located in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, it covers an area of 42.5 sq miles and is connected to the Tasman Sea by a short channel. Most of the residents of the City of Lake Macquarie live near the shores of the lake.
Lake Macquarie is twice as large as Sydney Harbour and is one of the largest salt water lagoons in the Southern Hemisphere. It is slightly smaller than Port Stephens.
Aboriginal people of the Awabakal nation lived in the area surrounding what is now known as Lake Macquarie for thousands of years. The name Awaba, which means "a plain surface" was used to describe the lake.
Lake Macquarie was first encountered by Europeans in 1800, when Captain William Reid, who had been sent from Sydney to retrieve a load of coal from Newcastle Harbour took a wrong turn and found himself in a lake rather than a river, with no coal to be seen anywhere. The name "Reid's Mistake" was retained until 1826, when it was renamed in honour of Governor Lachlan Macquarie.
No comments:
Post a Comment