North Rosedale Part 4 - Rocky Beach

Above: approaching from North Rosedale down the track

Above: The magnificent spotted gums

Above: From the bottom of the track at North Rosedale, looking towards the beach

Above: Across the rock platform - beach at the left

Above: Approaching the beach


Above and Below: Heading off for a spot of morning snorkelling




There are only a couple of ways to get to this beach, known to locals as Rocky Beach - round the headlnad and past the "Pirate Cave" from Boatshed Beach, or down the track at the end of Yowani Rd in North Rosedale (or via direct access from properties that edge the beach.

It's one of the numerous hidden beaches and coves that make this part of the coast so attractive, particularly with the trees reaching the shoreline.

North Rosedale Part 3 - seams of quartz

North Rosedale Part 2 - the "Pirate's Cave"

As you round the headland between Boatshed Beach and North Rosedale, a large fiisure in the rock platform looms. We always call it the "Pirate Cave". You can walk around it, carefully. One day it may break through onto Boatshed Beach ceating an arch, or the rocks may cave in from above and block passage along the rocks.

About here is where it would break through:

28 December 2008. North Rosedale Part One - Rounding the Headland.

Photos above: The point between Boatshed Beach part of Rosedale Beach, and North Rosedale.

Drove down yesterday; one of the longest trips ever - Saturday after Boxing Day. Saturday is also traditional "changeover day" for holiday lettings, which makes things busier. Drove through hot sultry temps (and the aircon in our car is kaput), then driving rain and thunderstorm, and finally pulled over when hail set in!

Still, got here safely, and this morning dawned bright. Up at 7 for a walk and photography session. This morning I concentrated on the North Rosedale Beach, around the headland from Boatshed Beach.

The next few entries are dedicated to North Rosedale.

Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden

A really nice, free garden. Features Australian natives, and is awealth of information (an dplant sales) for locals wanting to plant local species in their won gardens. More information.

Spiderweb, Nun's Beach

Late afternoon, 23 April 2008

Rosedale Beach. Late afternoon 23 April 2008

Nelligan

Nelligan, 0n the Clyde River, 10 kms upsteam from Batemans Bay was a thriving metropolis in its heyday in the mid 19th century and early 20th centuries. It was a port servicing the hinterland, where timber-getting and gold mining were the main activities.

These days it's a very sleepy hamlet which attracts fisher-folk, day cruisers from Batemans Bay and the odd passing motorist looking for a cup of tea.

Clyde River & Batemans Bay from Holmes Lookout

23 April 2008, 1:48pm

Batemans Bay - the Clyde River and bridge

Nathaniel Bateman was the commander of the Northumberland, and as a young naval officer, Captain James Cook sailed as master under Bateman's command, charting the St Lawrence River in Canada.

In 1770, Cook sailed along this coast, past tall cliffs broken by inlets lined with white, or golden sandy beaches. In places the trees almost reached (and some still do) the waters edge. Then this bay, its entrance guarded by two small islands, and the mouth of a large river. Cook remembered his commader on the Northumberland, and named the bay after him - Bateman Bay. In time it became Batemans (no apostrophe these days, though it once did!)

The river was named the Clyde (probably after the Scottish river of that name) by another explorer, Robert Johnston, in 1821. The bridge, which opens to allow taller vessels through, was built in 1956. Before that you had to wait for a ferry to cross the river.

After a history of timber-cutting and milling, and fishing, and a small, isolated population through much of the 20th century, Batemans Bay became a popular tourist and holiday resort, at first mainly for Canberrans - it's sometimes called "The Capital Coast" in reference to the number of Canberrans and ACT number plates; and latterly more Sydney-siders (though at 4+ hours drive, it is a bit more than a weekend destination for Sydney-siders). The permanent population is 16 000, and the summer and easter hordes many times that. Yet, it's still a pretty calm and tranquil place, the crowds in the shopping centre on an overcast January day (stopping them going to one of the fabulous beaches in the area) notwithstanding.

Mossy Point - the catch