Passage To Australia

Amédée Lighthouse
Sailing Past Amédée Lighthouse

While we were disappointed to leave New Caledonia ahead of schedule, our consolation prize was a great sail to Australia and the promise of new adventure.

Dolphins!
Dolphins!

We estimated that it would take 8 days to sail the 990 nm from Nouméa to Newcastle, Australia, but we ‘flew’ here in 6 days, close reaching most of the way.  While it was a bit uncomfortable to live at a 15° angle due to boat heel, it was well worth a fast passage.

We could have made it in 5 days if it weren’t for an unfavorable current and no wind 350 miles out which had us motoring under 4 knots for 20 hours.

But then the current turned, the winds kicked back in, and before we knew it, we were tying up at the lovely Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club

Nobbys Head Light  (Newcastle Australia)
Nobbys Head Light  (Newcastle Australia)

As very satisfied participants in the Down Under Rally,  we benefited from the Rally team’s support before, during and after our passage. were treated to a week’s berth in the marina and received VIP Customs, AQIS and Immigration clearance upon our arrival.

Newcastle Street Art By Adnate
Newcastle Street Art By Adnate

Howard Keegan, the marina manager, personally welcomed us on the dock and provided incredibly helpful local knowledge (including where to find the good street art).  The officials were courteous and efficient.  We felt very welcome!

Newcastle City Hall Clock Tower
Newcastle City Hall Clock Tower

After catching up on some much needed sleep, we enjoyed access to ample, affordable provisions at nearby stores, a few meals out in delicious restaurants, and some magnificent street art by both local and world renowned artists –  check out my gallery of it here!.

Norah Head Light
Norah Head Light

We’d hoped to stay longer as there is much to do in Newcastle, but a weather window once again presented itself, and so we sailed southward toward Sydney.

Barrenjoey Lighthouse
Barrenjoey Lighthouse

Our first anchorage was in Coasters Retreat where we picked up a mooring buoy and were immediately invited over for sundowners by Effie and Alan, the friendly crew of SV Kai Rani.  They introduced us to a number of members of the Coastal Cruising Club of Australia and suddenly we were surrounded by new friends.

Sundown Coasters Retreat
Sundown Coasters Retreat

The next day, our new friends invited to join them on shore for a Club BBQ and introduced me to a few local species including my first wallabies.

Mother With Joey
Mother With Joey

I felt like a kid again.

Meat Eating Kookabura
Watch Out For The Meat Eating Kookabura

The next day, we sailed onward with our friend Stefano of SY Novae up Smith’s Creek and discovered heaven on earth.

Amandla in Smith's Creek
Amandla in Smith’s Creek

We’ve toured about by dinghy, rested, and enjoyed a few dinners with our new friends, the crew from SY Mistyrell, a local boating family that is preparing for their own extended cruising adventure.

Aboriginal Handprints on Rock
Aboriginal Handprints On Smith Creek Rock

We will continue to relax here until the 28th and then sail onward to Port Jackson, also known as the famous Sydney Harbor.  So excited!

Sunrise Smith's Creek
Sunrise Smith’s Creek

Checking This One Into Lucile de Godoy’s Welcoming Photo 101 Rehab – The Clinic For Passionate Photographers

**Updated 7 December 2015 ** Delighted to have portions of this post included in the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club Summer 2015 Newsletter **

79 comments Passage To Australia

I love the name they give to lighthouses such as Nobby’s head and Norah head.
Glad you had a fast passage and you look as if you have found some wonderful places. The street art is amazing and thank you for your wonderful photographs.

?You totally crack me up. Didn’t even think about the Lighthouse names until you mentioned it. Thank you for the laugh and for your very kind compliments as well Mark! I hope the crew of Cygnus III make its way here someday. So far, this place really is heaven on earth!

very nice picture of dolphins!

? It is always a treat to be greeted by dolphins on passage ?

it is!!! 🙂

How beautiful it all looks. Great to have such wonderful conditions for sailing. Adnate had some street art in Christchurch recently. I am not sure if you had time to visit Christchurch when you travelled south a while back . Christchurch has some amazing street art.

Thank you so much Ann. My photos fail to truly communicate just how beautiful it is here!

And I did spend time in Christchurch in February 2015 and was absolutely moved by the place. My biggest disappointment was the I didn’t reach out to you and meet you in person. I had only just started following your blog at the time and was so new to blogging that I thought it presumptuous to ask you for coffee. Kicking myself now that I know you better and am also not as shy in introducing myself to fellow bloggers anymore.

Never mind, next time you float into town, we will meet. 🙂 Or maybe it will be on another continent. Life is full of surprises and unexpected adventures.

I look forward to meeting you wherever it might happen. Someday …..,

Hard to PCs at favourite here! The dolphins? The mother and joey? The handprints? Or the reflection at the end. Not sure! Enjoyed your street art gallery too.

Of course, that should be pick a favourite! So busy recorrecting autocorrection of joey to Joel that I didn’t notice that one.

?No worries, I knew what you meant. The autocorrect happens to me a bit too often!

?You’ve put a smile on my face with your lovely compliments Anabel! I am so pleased that you liked the images. Australia is a magical place!

Isn’t Australia just beautiful!?

OMG, so beautiful Olivia. My pictures do not do it justice. And I have only scratched the surface of this place. So much more to see. So inviting! So excited.

Looks gorgeous! Those wallabies are a riot. I didn’t realize that they just hang out every where. For some reason I thought they were more timid. I am going to go over and check out he street art gallery. Yay!!!

The wallabies were seemingly so tame! I was surprised by how close they let me get to them as well. But they were also smart enough to steer clear of the toddlers around that wanted to give them a hug. I can’t wait to see more!

margo says:

What a trip and such wonderful stopovers. Good for you guys! Have a ball. You deserve it.

? The Captain and I were just scheming yesterday to figure out how we could convince you and Steve to come for a visit

Sounds and looks like a delightful time- Hubble is torn between riding the Dolphins or with the kangaroo, though he thinks chasing a kookaburra might be quite fun! As always we wish you smooth sailing and safe travels Lisa!

Master Hubble would have been in puppy heaven on this passage Meg! I wish he was part of our crew!

I think he does too Lisa- your *backyard*has infinitely more possibilities!?

I look forward to reading your posts, as I know I will sit down, and won’t need to fasten seat belts to travel. Instead, I close my eyes, dream about the places you visited, and savor the beautiful images you just shared. Your life adventures are enticing and inspiring, Lisa. Thank you!
And safe travels!

⛵️ That may be the kindest thing anyone has ever said about my blog Lucile. I am delighted to dream with you here and on your pages. I am honored that you featured my photo in this week’s wrap up, and with such a thoughtful narrative. Thank you as always for providing respite for the photo blogging community in your Clinic ? ? ? ?

I just said the honest truth, Lisa.
Both about your blog and photos. Featuring your photo is more than deserved.
Thank you and all the super talented photobloggers for supporting my blog and the Photo Rehab. Without you it couldn’t exist, and I owe that to all of you.
Heartfelt thanks! ❤️

?

I have to agree with Lucile here, you have captured Australia so beautifully with your stunning images! What I wouldn’t give to really see these places. Your trip sounded lovely and the spontaneous invitation from the yacht club for a sundowner party sounds exciting. That’s what we windsurfers get sometimes at the end of a great and windy day on the water–the spontaneous gatherings after! That is what it is all about! How long will you stay in Sydney?

Well we are just a plane ride away Terri. You are always welcome. The current plan is to stay in Sydney until May, but could be longer or shorter. Who knows what the future holds. I do know that I will make my way to Melbourne for a visit (but not with the boat) to go visit some friends and to take in that cool place. And perhaps I will make my way to Brisbane and up to the Great Barrier Reef later during my stay here. It sounds like the windsurfing community is quite like the sailing community. I guess that cool “leisure activities’ draw cool people. Thank you for your kind compliments!

[…] Dorenfest from One Ocean at a Time is back after leaving New Caledonia en route to Australia. And what an inspiring and stunning set […]

Michele says:

Hi Lisa, Lovely photos as always, I especially love the light houses, I kind of have a thing for light houses. We did a weeks’s lighthouse sail in Maine once. I also like to read books about living on light house islands and about light house keepers- a small and strange little genre but one I like.

Australia is quite an adventure and it sounds like you are making the most of it. Have fun and I hope Sydney is as amazing as the rest of it!

Lighthouses have been calling out to me long before I set sail! I love them as much as you do! And Maine is my favorite sailing ground in the whole world (and I have sailed in many places). Actually, one of the reasons that I am enjoying myself so much here is that the landscape somehow reminds me of Maine…with less fog and warmer temps ?. Thank you so much for your lovely compliment Michele.

Such a great adventure, so much to see!

?It is indeed! Have only just scratched the surface since arriving here on the 13th. So much more to enjoy ?

Oh for sure!

Can’t wait to read more!

?

Debbie says:

HI Lisa, I recognised your name from badfish’s blog, and saw you featured on Lucille’s blog – so glad I made my way here! wow – one ocean at a time indeed. I love all your photos but especially of course the dolphin photos. really love the kookaburra pic – we grew up tossing out meat scraps to the kookaburras which used to hang out on our washing line. I miss their morning wake up call.Two of my uncles used to be lighthouse keepers – one at Fraser Island – largest sandy island in the world in Queensland , and one up near Cairns.
Where are you know?
I really LOVED seeing all these beautiful pictures of the ocean from home, THANK YOU 🙂

?Wonderful to meet you Debbie! We run in good circles ?. How totally cool is it that your uncles used to be lighthouse keepers. I am gaga for lighthouses. And thank goodness the kookaburras didn’t steal any meat from us while we were eating (I was warned :-). I am currently in the Pittwater area and heading into Sydney Harbor tomorrow. Are you in Sydney? I will have to check out your blog! ?

This is incredible and I love the, the Newcastle street art, the dolphins, and your first anchoring in Coasters Retreat.

Thank you Marty! Australia is absolutely magical so far!

Yeah Smith’s Creek really looks like heaven on earth, amazing view so tempting too… 🙂

All excellent captures here, enjoyed the view so much… 🙂

You are very kind as always Drake! Always a pleasure to see you here!

Wonderful photos, Lisa. I especially love the last one. I also adore the lighthouse names. I have a thing for lighthouses, having lived close to one in South Africa for the past fifteen years. What a asuper adventure you’re having. I envy you,,,,in the nicest possible way. 🙂

You are wonderful to stay so! I am a lucky girl. I just had a look at your Umhlanga Lighthouse and it is beautiful!

Thank you for checking out my lighthouse. I do miss it very much. ?

A thousand thumbs up! The writing awesome as always, but the photos are phenomenal. Love the birdie most of all. Amazing, amazing!

?I’m just glad he didn’t nab any meat off our table. I heard one story where a kookaburra took meet off someones fork as they were putting the food in their mouth. Thank you for your visit and kind compliment!

I can not imagine a Kookaburra snatching food off my fork…lol. great photos never the less.

Aditix says:

Lovely photos.

Well thank you so much! Glad you liked them ?

I just love all your photos. They truly draw me in.

? Thank you Eva. I am so glad you liked them ?

lexklein says:

Oh, I’m so behind on blog reading and now you are already leaving this lovely area and setting sail for Sydney! I would love the companionship of other sailors in the ports. I like the combination of days of solitude and peace with nice sociable drinks thrown in there every so often! Having that all take place in gorgeous surroundings is a bonus!

It really was a nice combination of solitude and socializing in a tranquil surrounding. I like it that way too ?. We’ve just sailed into Sydney (awesome) and picked up a mooring in our new backyard. Tomorrow, we move to a berth ⚓️

lexklein says:

So exciting! Any more news on the contract job?

? It is looking promising! Fingers crossed.

What an amazing adventure you are on Lisa. When you get to Sydney will you stay there for the months ahead. I recall you saying that is where you would be when we visit Australia.

?We sailed into Sydney Harbor today (awesome!). Current plan is to be in Sydney for six months.

Have a wonderful stay!

If I get lucky, I will land a contract position in Sydney to replenish the cruising kitty. And if I get lucky, I won’t land a position will spend six months traveling and photographing Australia. Either way, Australia offers great promise ⛵️

Now that is the perfect attitude!

Woah, that street art is amazing. So much better than the “Boz woz here!” you usually get.

? I am glad you liked the gallery

It was great. 🙂

??

You totally don’t need a photo rehab, Lisa! Your photos are beautiful 🙂 And what an amazing time you’ve had just getting there! Onwards to Sydney 🙂

You have made my day Jo. Thank you for your lovely compliment. I am glad that you have been part of the adventure. I have very much enjoyed traveling with you virtually since discovering your pages in January of this year.

Thanks, darlin’. I love to have your company. 🙂

themofman says:

What an incredible mural! So much soul in those eyes, and that overall facial expression.

Adnate’s mural was the perfect introduction to street art in this country. It just screamed Australia. And the eyes followed me as I walked by.

Kally says:

This is lovely. Love your creativity. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Hi Kally! Thank you so much for your visit and kind compliment. Nice to meet you here.

Aquileana says:

Stunning landscapes and natural surroundings… Sending best wishes. Aquileana ☀️

? Thank you! Australia is delightful ?

Was it this long ago? Good luck with the next part of the journey.

How ’bout it. Time has just flown. I am not ready to leave!!! Sydney is too much fun.

I guess there is a lot to do here. I decided last night to go to Cockatoo Island today. Would you believe I’ve never been? 😉

So cool! In glad you finally made it. I bet you got lots of great photos there!!!

[…] or offer him a pint of Australian Pale Ale to make him feel like he is back in his native Australia. […]

Leave a Reply to Lisa DorenfestCancel reply