Trying to work out a good spot to camp around the Pacific Palms area. Got to be family friendly, as I'll have the wife and two kids, and gotta be near the lake so I can sail with ease.
Planning on sailing spring nor-easters. Any recommendations? Anyone taken the family to Tiona Tourist Park? I'd ideally like to camp right beside the water.
Cheers for any info.
Depends on your view of "Family Friendly" ?
I've stayed at both these places - with Kids, they are both pretty basic.
Tiona Park is not great -Its a looong walk out to a sailable area from the Caravan park. Its also cut in half by main road. We spent a lot of time driving away from there and spending the day elswhere. I wouldn't stay there again.
Sandbar Caravan Park - much better than Tiona Park. If Smiths lake is realatively full (of water) Sandbar Caravan Park is also a better sailors option (from the Park) and You and the kids can at least ride bicycles there too. I'd stay here again.
A weed fin would be a good option up there as Wallis has weed and Smiths can be shallow.
Thanks DavMen,
Ended up finding a few reviews on Tiona park and they weren't too flattering... And not too keen on walking 500 meters to get to water also, so it sounds like Sandbar is a better option. Done a bit of Googling and it looks like there's some nice camping sites- we'll be taking a camper trailer- and would like to be close to the lake, not sure if thats possible- anyone camped there can shed some light on camping sites, and right near the lake??
I like the layout, and (assuming there's water!) looks like you'd get plenty of wind in a nor-east, or south easter over that sandbar
Looks like fun. That beach looks sweet for wave sailing in a n-easter I'd imagine. Any info from the wave crew would be sweet.
Cheers
Phil,
As long as you book well ahead or out of school hol's then I would recommend Sandbar. You are obviously right on the edge of Smith's lake and it can get tidal and shallow. In theory you could walk out and sail from the camp area. I've always sailed from the main boat ramp area in a NE'r.
The surf can get excellent at Ciletos/Stiletto, which you can walk to, especially as it is protected from the NE'r by a big headland.
Pacific Palms area is great anyway (assuming you didn't know that?) with lakes and surf beaches and the "Recie" all a short drive away.
Hey, Tomp.
I've never sailed at Wallis or Smiths before, drove past both a few times and though they looked the goods for a family holiday and sail.
I'd time my visit outside school hols, can't stand holiday crowds...lol
I assume the main ramp you mentioned is that little concrete one just off The Lakes Way near Tarbuck?
I have no idea what the "Recie" is
...
What sort of facilities do you need? If its pretty basic, ie perhaps just a long drop dunny, then camping at the Myall Lakes National Park is a good option, though probably an hour or so more to drive than around Pacific Palms. I went windsurfing on Bombah Broadwater and in January in a big southerly wind. It was pretty good. There is a campground right on the waters edge. Even in the middle of the school holidays it wasn't that busy there. However I think you need to be pretty self sufficient in regards to camping there.
A little further down in Hawks Nest and Jimmy's Beach. That is a great spot to windsurf and Jimmy's Beach Caravan Park has been renovated. I haven't stayed there since the renovation so can't comment on it. However its in a good position, close to the water.
Phil
Smiths is great esprcially if you have the family with you. It is open to the sea at the moment so sailing is not good.
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Jimmy's when its nor-east is a sweet spot to sail. The wind is offshore but comes across the sand spit and you can do long runs from Winda Woppa up to the sand spit if you want. water is crystal clear too. beautiful spot to rig and launch from near the C/P too.
In a southerly its pretty onshore and very lumpy but great for bump & jump.
Hawks Nest is just a minute or so down the road with everything you would need for staying at the caravan park.
Put Jimmy's Beach on the list for next summer. It can't be as bad as last summer.
hey Phil,
there have been earlier posts re Great Lakes area although in Spring time it might be the odd NE'r you may get a ripping westerly or a southerly.
I pretty much sail in the surf unless it's huge surf or onshore and as Pacific Palms is off the freeway I seek other spots to sail on my trips north. I think you are about intermediate level from your other posts so I imagine the lakes are what you're after?
Wallis lake is good for all but prob a SE although you will need a weed fin. Smiths good in NE from the boat ramp/main road part of the lake. As said above it's always worth checking Jimmy's beach (Hawk's Nest side of Port Stephens) and it can charge in a SE as well.
FYI the 'recie' is the Recreation Club which is on the edge of the lake when you pass Elizabeth beach. Everyone knows that place as it is the equivalent of an RSL.
Thanks Tom.
With 4 months history of windsurfing I'll happily take the intermediate title, though L plater is probably more apt.
My aim is wave sailing (due to a surfing background) though I love the speed on flatwater, so either is good for me. I've sailed at a few surfing spots, caught a few waves, even pulled off the a few floaters and lazy top turns, so I'm prepaired to hit the suds if it's chest high and not barrels. So if Cellito beach is a rolling kinda wave, I'll happily head out.
Wallis Lake, Smiths or even down at Hawksnest, all good to me as there appears to be some good camping parks and quite a range of wind options. If the wife and kids are happy, then I'm happy. But plenty of southerly fronts to sail through this winter first.
Cheers for the info.
