newport

I looked at the map one day. .....
Whilst out on the boat on the Hawksbury river, I�d often see all these places on the shore, and wondered where exactly they were by road.
One of the places (Cottage Point) was in a National Park, so I thought I�d take a drive over there one day and have a look from the dry side of things.
The route (Pronounced �ROOT� not �Rowt�) to get to this park, revealed more National Park roads, and seemingly more to see. I thought that maybe, I may be able to incorporate it into a motorbike ride one day.

Filed away in the back of my mind for a month or three, I decided it was time to get it together.
I put out the word to see if anyone was interested.

The end result was a motor bike ride with Jimmy and Jenny, Steve2 and Carol, Steve3 and Caroline, David and Fiona (in their car).
Four bikes, one car, ten people, just enough.

To make matters a little more interesting, I devised a series of questions, that people had to answer on the way. Some were observation questions, some were general knowledge. Every person got a question sheet at the beginning of the ride ( at McDonalds) and a pencil.
There were little bits of historic information on the question sheet to keep people interested, and everyone had a good time.

All in all it was a successful ride and we even dished out prizes at the end to the couples with the best answers.

NEWPORT ARMS FOR LUNCH
VIA
THE NATIONAL PARK.

It was a bit chilly on the day.

Steve3 at the coffee stop.

Caroline.

Ku-Ring-Gai National Park. West Head Lookout, Commodore Heights.

Lion Island.

Cottage Point Kiosk and Boat Hire, was built around 1918, and is situated at Cottage Point. This is at the entrance to Coal and Candle Creek. It's a great place to stop for a burger, if you are out fishing for the day and catching nothing (which is usual for me). You can get a sea plane from Sydney to here, and eat in an (expensive) restaurnat to the left of this jetty.

The Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park is the second oldest national park in NSW. The park covers 15,000 ha of sandstone bushland and is only 24 km from the centre of Sydney. It's rich in Aboriginal sites, European history and native flora and fauna. The park's steep-sided drowned river valleys give it a spectacular and rugged beauty.
The National Park was created in 1894. This was largely the work of one man - Eccleston du Faur (actually English born).
Disgusted at the destruction of local native plants, particularly by Sydney's flower sellers, he lobbied for a public reserve. When the national park was gazetted, Du Faur became its managing trustee. He held this position for 10 years, and was involved in the Ku-ring-gai Chase Trust until his death in 1915.
It is said it probably gets its name from the aboriginal people found there of the Guringai tribe (before white settlers wiped them out with smallpox I bet !!!).

Barrenjoey lighthouse can be seen on Barrenjoey point across the water. Its construction is Nepean sandstone and was built in 1881. It has a 120V, 1,000 Watt, Quartz Halogen Lamp. George Mulhall was the first official lighthouse keeper (together with his son) George fell off his perch on 25th June 1885 aged 71 years. He is buried at the point. His gravestone states:-

All ye that come to my grave to see,
prepare in time to follow me,
repent at once without delay,
for I, in haste, was called away.

Its height is 29.75mtrs (lighthouse only). and its range of light is 19 Nautical miles

Trying to find the answers to the questions on the sheet.....

Back in 1788, six weeks after settling in Sydney Harbour, Governor Arthur Phillip (with extensive global experience), declared of Pittwater....
"... the finest piece of water I ever saw and which I honoured with the name of Pittwater. Named after William Pitt, the Younger. Son of William Pitt the Elder, and the Earl of Chatham? "
The young Pitt went on to be the Prime Minister of England. Total time as PM: 18 years, 343 days

PITTWATER.

Looking across to Palm Beach. On the sea side of the spit (that's the Tasman Sea not an Ocean), and on the right, is where they filmed the internationally famous soap'y 'Home And Away'. Which; I am very proud to say... I havent watched a single bloody episode!!!
Take note of the beach, you'll see it again further down the page.

Church Point. Our coffee stop. Anther nice spot.