A few weeks ago it was a steaming hot day and we were ready to cool off somewhere but didn't want to go to the beach in the middle of the day. Instead we headed to Somersby Falls, which is on the Central Coast. It was the perfect choice - a place to splash around but still shaded so we were able to cool off. It also was a lot of fun.
Along the way we stopped and picked up rhubarb, avocados and oranges from roadside stalls selling fresh produce. Once at the car park (where you will need to pay - so take change) it's about a five-minute walk to the top waterfall area. You need to walk down a series of steps and the actual rocks in the waterfall area are quite slippery. There were falls aplenty - and there was a fatal accident a few weeks after we visited. While I think this was a one-off event, it would be remiss not to mention it.
The sound of the main waterfall is surprisingly loud, and creates immense pressure when you stand underneath. There are a few "holes" that the children enjoyed sitting inside too.
We walked down to a lower waterfall and this was initially reached by a wooden staircase but to get to the actual water you do need to traverse more slippery rocks. Worth it, though.
images the indigo crew
An appeal of moving to our current location is that we are still only about 20 minutes from the coastline. As it turns out, given Sydney traffic, this is no different to when we were living in the city. On Sunday we set out to explore Umina Beach. The primary reason we chose this location was because of the surf conditions. Our son was keen to get on a board again, and the southern end of the beach has some swell but is generally protected enough that none of the waves are too big - perfect for beginners.
When we first arrived there were many dogs roaming around, and while I can see the appeal of this to dog owners, I was initially put off. However, after watching the eldest two surf and boogie board for a while, the littlest and I went for a walk along the nearby rocks. It turned out to be a good decision.
She enjoyed walking barefoot along the rock ledge, splashing in the little pools and picking up shells. We also spied crabs and a few small fish. Later the older children joined us, and they enjoyed talking about the sandstone ledge and the patterns we could find.
There were a few people about, but mainly young children, and families. While it is perhaps one of the busier beaches in the area, it still doesn't compare with the crowds in Sydney. And the opportunity to explore the coastline meant that we all had a great day. Our budding young surfers too!
PS The littlest is wearing a great beach dress from Printebebe.
images the indigo crew
One of our favourite places to visit pre-kids used to be Hardy's Bay on Sydney's Central Coast. We would often drive up there to have lunch and just relax while watching the boats bob on the bay. I realised that I had yet to take all three children there and thought it might be a fun day trip (while more work was being done on the house). However, as we had a late start to our trip, which takes about 1.5 hours, lunch time was beckoning and I decided to stop at Woy Woy. I've been there quite a few times too. However, I've never had fish 'n' chips at The Fisherman's Wharf, and thought that might be fun with the children.
As it turns out, we didn't end up leaving this laid-back town on the Central Coast. It's one of the bigger towns in the area but not huge, and is located on a beautiful section of Brisbane Water. It's all quite flat and has several good-quality bike and walking tracks that hug the coastline. There's also a fair amount of wildlife too - from pelicans to ducks and marine life.
While we stayed in the area near The Fisherman's Wharf, it's a place you could spend the whole day - or longer - exploring. It's a popular place to take kayaks out onto the water, as well as boats, as the waters are calm and protected. You can also catch the train there from the city, and it is quite a beautiful journey in itself.
A local told me that if you hang around at The Fisherman's Wharf at about 3pm you get to see the pelicans being fed. I think they were getting ready for their treats when we were there.
images the indigo crew
