Morning glory at Avoca Beach

Over the past week I’ve had the good fortune to grab a much-needed holiday in the sleepy town of Avoca Beach with my family. On this particular morning I awoke to head the call of nature and, walking past the window saw the above scene greet me. I quickly took a photo and posted it online and immediately got the “Red sky in morning, sailors warning” response from a few different paddlers around the world.

Over the next day I did a number of fun things with my wife and kids, all the while watching the sea state to see if there was evidence of a storm or front approaching, as per the weather forecast. But as the day progressed, all I could see were calm waters and a regular surf set coming through. Watching my interest, my wife eventually suggested I head out for a paddle.

Paddling out to the breakwater at Terrigal's southern headland

I quickly got the boat ready and launched at the southern end of Terrigal beach, alongside numerous ocean ski paddlers out for their afternoon session. Paddling up to the point, I sat and watched as surf sets rolled through, curling around the breakwater and into the small bay. For a while I rode runners from the breakwater to the beach, before deciding I’d head out to sea and paddle around the point for a better look.

Terrigal Point from the north. Calm and a little lumpy.

As I paddled out to see I was stuck by, well, the boredom of it. Paddling further around the point, I watched the waves rolling against it, breaking into white plumes of froth, but otherwise I wasn’t really finding it too exciting, so decided to head back in for more of a surf.

Small breaking waves.

Paddling back to the point, I enjoyed a few more curling waves as I surfed between the boats moored off the boat ramp. For about another 30 minutes I caught runners and a few breakers, before moving into the breakwater for a closer look at the churning froth washing through it.

Froth and rocks.

And with my paddling fix now achieved, I head into the beach and packed up, ready for a new day and a new paddle adventure. Ideally, something a fraction more exciting! Cheers – FP

Looking from the point back to Avoca.

Tags: avoca beach, Terrigal

Sunset on Avoca Lake from the kayak

Dawn and dusk are two magical times of the day, and there’s nothing better than witnessing either from the water. In this case I’d gone on a family holiday to Avoca beach, on the NSW Central Coast, and had snuck off from the fam for a cheeky kayak before dinner.

The light at this time of the day just never lets you down. The deep purplish hues are fleeting yet too beautiful to lose forever. That’s why (waterproof) cameras were invented!

Purple dusk over Avoca Beach. Magical.

Tags: avoca beach, avoca lake, kayak, Sunset

All the Fat Paddler tribe in one kayak

Bless my wife, she organised a weekend away for Fathers’ Day at Avoca Beach, a sensational spot on the NSW Central Coast.  Apart from an amazing beach, it also has a great set of paddling lakes known, funnily enough, as Avoca Lakes. And there is a kayak hire place on the lake that does a range of boats, including stable bath-tubs for the most unsteady paddler.  Perfect also for taking out my little girls for their first ever paddle.

A bath-tub full of girls (and one fat bloke)

My eldest daughter (Grace, 3 years old) sat with me and marvelled at the pelicans, and jelly-fish, and anything else we saw in the lake system. My youngest daughter (Ella, 1.5 years old) was enjoying dipping her hands in the lake until my wife demanded urgently she remove them, which set Ella to tears for the next 15 minutes.

You see, I had failed to point out to my somewhat paranoid wife that this lake is land-locked and free from noahs, so in her mind Ella was tempting the sharks to rise up and bite her hands off. My wife was so worried in fact that she asked me to let her and Ella out early, leaving Grace and I to paddle for a while longer. It wasn’t until she was out and chatting to the kayak hire man that she realised there weren’t any sharks at all!

Grace and Daddy, now paddling solo

Needless to say we all had a good laugh a bit later. Importantly however, Grace hasn’t stopped talking about how she went paddling with daddy and saw jelly-fish and pelicans, so I’m guessing she can see why I love it. Unlike her mum, she may even go paddling with me again. 

The Engine Room

Tags: avoca, avoca beach, avoca lake, Fathers Day

Glassy perfection on Avoca Lake, looking towards Avoca Beach

I really can’t stop raving about this place. The whole lagoon system is about 6.5km to do a lap, so pretty small in the grand scheme of things, but every part of the lagoon system is different. Look at the glassy expanse of the main lagoon area (above), now checkout the tree’d wetland area of the harder-to-find north west lagoon (below).

Paddling through the trees at Lake Avoca

And then just to be different, the lagoon stretches right up to Avoca Beach itself, with just a sand-bank separating the lake from the sea (below).

Avoca Beach, just over the sand ahead

All in all I just love this area. An interesting paddle amongst the pelicans and herons, skipping fish jumping out the water all around you, and the friendly faces of locals also out enjoying a paddle. If you get the chance to visit, get out there!

Tags: avoca, avoca beach, avoca lake, gosford, nsw central coast, paddle

The beauty of the Avoca Lake lagoon system

Just a quick shout out to the paddlers of Avoca, and the magnificent lake that I had the luck to paddle over Easter. Just sensational!

Tags: avoca, avoca beach, avoca lake