A close inspection of Redhead Bluff (not too close, there’s rocks falling off – like in Billy the Mountain) shows a Tubular Section in it, recent rain has done some corrosive damage and has hollowed out a literally tubular gnarly slab.
Redhead Cliff with wave June 2010
A solid swell pumped through on the last Sunday of May 2010 and the wind held them up. Unknown surfer behind the Redhead Shark Tower.
Unknown Surfer Redhead left May 2010
An email from Julie and Shayne advised me of surfing footage from the 70’s taken from the movie Fantasea, of Col Smith and also Steve Butterworth on Youtube site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38YzceIQAtE
Not somewhere in Europe – Hunter Valley Gardens in Cessnock’s wine country, a lot of very nice different types of gardens, very well put together.
Hunter Valley Gardens 2009
The Redhead Crew celebrate Gilly’s Graduation around 1978
The Redhead surf crew at Gilly's Graduation celebration around 1978
Catherine Hill Bay in 1975. Catho hasn’t changed much in 35 years – lets hope it stays that way.
Catherine Hill Bay Township 1975
Lou Reed at the Majestic Newcastle Civic Theatre around 1978. Lou had a great band and played great guitar and had the crowd on their feet.
Lou Reed Civic Theatre Newcastle 1978
Justin Lee, one of the most consistant long term surfers from the Lake Macquarie Beaches on a VERY solid day at Dudley September 2009. Photo by Geoff Connors.
Justin Lee surfing at Dudley September 2009
On Surfari around southern NSW near Bega 1977 getting close to susnset, we went through this water way and then went back and did it again for the camera.
On surfari near Bega 1977
Redhead Beach from the Bluff 1977
Redhead beach 1978
Ray Lunn stalls hard and then later gets a nice tube from behind the Redhead Shark Tower 1977.
Ray Lunn Redhead Beach 1977
Not a bad surf for no one out. Redhead Little Beach 1978.
Redhead Little Beach no one out 1977
Redhead Beach by moonlight 1977. Even looks good in black & white. A 30 second time exposure.
Redhead Beach by moonlight 1977
Newcastle area surf carnival Chariot Race 1978
Toddler Taming Sam & Ellen 1990
Blower & Dad's Band Belmont Yatch Club 1978
Arrawarra 1977
Bee on flowering thistle 1978
Father Nature feeling a bit frisky? A rock formation between Redhead and Dudley has been weathered into an unusual shape, or is it some fertility rites statue carved by a long forgotten tribe?
Rock formation below Redhead Bluff
Bush fire at Marks Point 1980s
A dazzling Lake Macquarie sunset. The sun surrounded by clouds powers though in a blaze of colour just before dropping into the hills behind the lake. Taken at Mark Point around 1980.
Firey sunset Marks Point 1980's
I’m just heading out into the brisk late arvo Sou-Wester for a chop hop run across to Swansea from Naru near Marks Point. My wife Sandy took this one. The sun was beaming in between the building clouds.
Crow sailboarding Marks Point
The winners of the Newcastle beach girl contest 1985 pose in front of the Redhead Shark Tower rocks.
Beauty Contest Winners 1985
The Hunter River passes through the rolling hills of the Hunter Valley at Pepper Trees near Muswellbrook.
Pepper Tree Mountains Hunter Valley
The water moving through reeds make a pattern in this typical sunny Australian bush river scene. Taken somewhere not far inland from Coffs Harbour around 1976.
Reeds in a pattern near Coffs Harbour 1976
Newcastle has a few favourite sons – MR, The Chief, Joey, Hoyo etc, but everybody’s favourite Newcastle identity is this bloke – Super Hubert. Internationally acclaimed magician, super hero, entertainer, comic and all round nice bloke, who still finds time to make kids and adults laugh and amaze them with his tricks and antics. Super puts on a show for my son’s 6th birthday party 1994.
Super Hubert performs at Sams 6th birthday party in 1994
A peaceful scene – an elderly couple take in the view overlooking Terrigal Haven around 1983.
An elderly couple take in the view at Terrigal Haven 1983
A big swell overnight cleaned up and swung in early morning at Redhead
Big left behind Redhead Shark Tower 1979
In the pouring rain this pelican just opened up his beak and got a free drink of fresh cool water at North Haven.
A pelican takes a drink of rainwater at North Haven around 1988
A flight in a friends Cessna over Lake Macquarie was an absolute eye opener. Looking over Swansea Channel around 1979.
Swansea Channel from the air 1978.
A trip out in the Newcastle Shark Boat got 3 hammerheads out of the water this day around 1978.
Hammer Head Shark pulled out of the shark nets around 1978
A country coastal dirt road may lead you to an uncrowded wave. If it didnt, it was nice to look around anyway and maybe just have a swim. Somewhere up the coast around Coffs Harbour 1978.
Country Road North Coast around Coffs Harbour 1978
Bali was just being discovered as a surfing/holiday destination and it didnt take long to catch on.
The Sunsets at Bali are beautiful.
Fishing Boat at Sunset inside Kuta Reef
Surfing at Uluwatu
Unknown Surfer Uluwatu 1977
Uluwatu Line up.
Ulwatu Line Up 1977
The Balinese men were very serious about their Cockfighting.
Man with his Rooster
The Sunrises were also beautiful, looking back from the beach at Legion.
Sunrise at Legion
Heavy wave Uluwatu 1977
The friends I was staying with at Legion decided we should go for a day trip to climb up the mountains to the top of this Volcano.
Active Volcano near Batur
The trip started early in the morning and took about 5 hours, it was hot and dry and a bit daunting. I was amazed that about halfway up we met a young boy with a bucket of cold drinks. I think he sold out that day. This is what the inside of an active volcano looks like, and its a long, hot, way down.
Inside the Volcano at Butur
The Surf was good most of the time at Legion, here I managed to get in front of the camera for a change.
Crow surfing at Legian 1977
The hillsides in Bali are well utilised with these Rice Paddy’s.
Bali Rice Fields
I am not sure what these Graffiti artists were thinking, probably not much.
Bali Burial Site
Balinese Ceremony
Balinese Religious Ceremony
The Elephant Cave Ubud
Elephant Cave Ubud
Balinese women in beautiful coloured clothing preparing Rice Dishes.
Balinese women preparing food
A poor blind woman in a small mountain village trying to make a living.
Blind Balinese Woman
I visited New Zealand’s North Island in Summer of 1978. The weather was warm and pleasant and the scenery there is awsome. I hitched around for a week and was picked up by many friendly people and I have always appreciated their kindness. I had a lift with 2 retired farmers who stopped at some wonderful places and they waited till I took photos and they shared their sandwiches and thermos of tea with me. I got a lift with a milkman who stopped and opened up the fridge and gave me a carton of milk. I got a lift with a farmer who when he dropped me off told me to visit his brother who would put me up. I walked down quiet county town streets and people stopped and said hello. I wonder if its still the same there now.
New Zealand Waikato Stream 1978
This lake was completeley deserted, no one around for miles, no houses no shops.
New Zealand North Island inland Lake
A waterfall beside a quiet country road.
New Zealand North Island Waterfall
Rotarua has hot springs and geysers that were something I had never imagined. Here mud bubbles away making Op Art patterns.
Rotarua Mud Bubbles 1978
This Geyser was so cool it was actually blowing smoke rings.
New Zealang Geyser Rotarua blowing smoke rings
The coast was quiet and peacfull and the beaches beautifull and unspoilt. We sure could learn from them.
New Zealand Coastline Raglan 1978
New Zealand’s North Island in January 1978 had excellent surf and good weather as the following photos show. The NZ people were friendly and helpful and made my short stay there a memorable one. Locals picked me up if I was hitching, took me surfing, to the pub and put me up. The beaches were unspoilt and beautiful.
Driving down the road to this point you are welcomed by a view of one of the best set ups you could imagine.
New Zealand 1978 Whale Bay
And it just seemed to get better and better…
New Zealand 1978 Raglan Indicators
Manu Bay had most of the crowd on it but this view was hard to pass.
New Zealand 1978 Manu Bay
The mid week afternoon sessions were popular with the locals but crowds were thin during the day then.
New Zealand 1978 Evening Surf Raglan
A beautiful summers day 1978 at Manu Bay with a local surfer enjoying the conditions.
Surfer New Zealand Manu Bay 1978
And another scenic point break photo with only 3 guys in the water…
New Zealand Raglan 1978
Here are some scenery shots I have taken from around the Redhead area.
Cloud Wave at Redhead Beach – A southerly buster on the way around 1984. I took this and then headed for cover. The cloud looked like an enormous right hander.
Cloud Wave - Storm approaching Redhead Beach 1984
Rehead to Dudley Coastline 1980's
- Redhead Beach by Moonlight 1984
Another photo from the same night as above – The rocks in front of the Redhead Shark Tower. The movement of the water over time has made it appear like clouds.
Redhead Beach in the 1940’s – Details of photo unknown.
Time exposure overlooking Redhead beach with a full moon rising in 1976.
Redhead Beach by Moonlight 1976
Redhead 2nd Creek – June 2007 Storm.
The Pascha Bulker grounded at Nobbys and Redhead’s Second Creek finally got enough water to break its banks and flow again. A rare thing since the 3rd Creek was created and diverted the water flow.
Redhead Beach 2nd Creek June 2007 Storm
Here’s a collection of bits and pieces of surfing related stuff.
Mark Richards, 4 times world surfing champion taking time out to surf a local break.
Martin Littlewood and Roy Lee making boards in the old Chicken Shed down along the Redhead Road around 1976. Both are now established respected board makers. Martin as Delta Designs in Margaret River and Roy as Pacific Dreams in Newcastle.
Windsurfing was big in the 70’s and Jim Wiley was one of the best shown here at Blacksmiths.
This was a big day at Redhead in 2001, the waves were huge and some of the local guys were ripping. Unknown surfer.
Unknown surfer Redhead Beach July 2001
A classic line up at Byron Bay in the late 70’s
Bells Beach Surfing Competion in 1977. The surf was good and big for the finals. Sorry I can’t remember who it was.
Another good line up – Newcastle Cowrie Hole in 1978.
Out of control storm in June 2007 making a mess of Redhead beach. The storm grounded the Pascha Bulker at Nobby’s the day before.
