Watson’s Bay, At Last

Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March 11.  Back from the Hunter, we decide to do some sightseeing around the Sydney area.  Because we’ve already had two failed attempts to get to Watson’s Bay, both foiled by significant health setbacks, we have become a little superstitious about openly planning a trip there.  So Debbie and Chris begin talking in code about their plans to take us there on Sunday.  They say things like “If we were going to Watson’s Bay, which we’re not, we would…” or “If we were going to Watson’s Bay, which we’re not, when would we be leaving?”  Eventually, this is so successful that I am completely confused about whether or not we are going to see Watson’s Bay and when.

In the end, our always undaunted hosts took us on two scenic hikes – one, on Saturday, along a trail that runs between Long Reef Beach and the Long Reef Golf Course and the other, on Sunday, to Watson’s Bay.  We’ll let the photos that Ralph and Debbie took tell the story.

Long Reef, the Newport Arms and Watson’s Bay

Fisherman’s Beach with Long Reef in the background

A magpie sits on the fence and looks out over the golf course

A view of the Long Reef Golf Course from the walking path

Part of the Long Reef Golf Course along the beach

View of Long Reef Beach from near the tiop of Long Reef

Part of the trail with the Long Reef beach in the background

A cricket match with the Long Reef Golf Course in the background

A pelican perched high on a light pole at Long Reef

Deb, Chris, Cathy and Ralph at the tip of Long Reef

Cathy and Ralph with the Long Reef Gold Course in the background

Cathy and Ralph among the trees on a forested part of the Long Reef trail

Cathy, Chris and Ralph at the Newport Arms for Fish and Chips

Cathy, Ralph and a seagull at the Newport Arms overlooking the Pittwater

The Pittwater from the deck of the Newport Arms

Monument to the wreck of the “Dunbar”

Sandstone cliffs with sailboats and North Head in the background

Chris, Debbie, Cathy and Ralph near the top of Jacob’s Ladder

Cathy and Ralph with the Sydney skyline and the Harbour Bridge in the background

The Gap Bluff from Jacob’s Ladder

One of the high performance yachts that compete in the Americas Cup, sailing on the ocean side of Watson’s Bay

Looking south from the Gap Bluff to Jacob’s Ladder

Debbie and Chris with the city and bridge in the background

Sydneys skyline and Harbour Bridge from the Bluff at Watson’s Bay

The surf in “The Gap” at Watson’s Bay. This area is known locally as the “suicide capital” of Sydney.

The pounding Pacific surf on the ocean side of Watson’s Bay

Looking back towards the city from ground level at Watson’s Bay

Watson’s Bay