We are currently anchored in Bantry Bay in Middle Harbour. Here, although relatively close to the city, you could be 300 miles away. There are a few courtesy moorings here but they are rated for smaller vessels only, and in any case we feel happiest on our own tackle, which we trust.
This is a quiet and very sheltered bay, a bit snug as it's quite narrow and has shoals along its shores and at the head, but nonetheless roomy enough not to be hassled by other anchored or moored vessels. We explored Castle Cove and Killarney right up to Echo Point yesterday by dinghy, and found it very pretty but full of noisy water-ski and wake-board boats.
Today we had a late start and on a very high tide went ashore for some bushwalking. We took the Bay Track through Garigal National Park and joined onto the Bluff Track which climbs very steeply to Forestville, then along the edge of Garigal NP to join the very steep Timbergetters' Track down to the anchorage. It was a moderately strenuous walk but was worth the effort for the views and the beautiful native wildflowers and occasional fauna such as goannas and frogs.
We had anchored in a good NE breeze and were happy where we lay but a sudden SSE change made the western edge of the bay a lee shore so we upped anchor and dropped in a more central position in deeper water, so we can relax and sleep well tonight.
Have a look at some new pics - click here
Bye for now! And we hope 2014 is everything all our friends want it to be.
Cheers from us.