Another big June storm hit just north of Newcastle  and we got the tail end of it’s fury.

Merewether Baths coping a flogging 14th June  2011.

Merewether in storm 14-6-11

Redhead in storm 14-6-11

 2 Days before the storm was just  building, Redhead Beach the surf is starting to get bumpy.

Redhead Beach 12-6-11

Newcastle Foreshore. A lot of  country towns have a big thing like a big banana or a big  pineapple, Newcastle just has a big thingy.

Newcastle Ferry Wharf 14-6-11

Redhead 2nd Creek walkway between rain squalls.

Redhead 2nd Creek Walkway 11-6-11

A walk along the Redhead 2nd Creek walkway between rain  storms, and I found the fairies had been busy in their Dell.

Another look at this wave… I found 2  hell men deep inside trying to get out through the lip.

Redhead Heavy wave 4-6-11

Newcastle Beach mid week mid day.

Newcastle surfer 3-6-11

Redhead Bluff showing off it colour  on sunset.

Redhead Bluff 9-6-11

This gnarled Banksia tree above the bright red  soil has been doing it tough for a while.

Redhead Bluff 13-6-11

Going for a paddle around  Swansea Channel, you see some nice sights.

Pelicans Swansea Channel 4-6-11

The swell kept getting bigger and meaner this week.

A big one coming past Newcastle Baths lunchtime 12/7/11

Newcastle Baths in big surf 12-7-11

Another big  wave Newcastle point 12/7/11

Newcastle Beach big wave 12-7-11

Late arvo Merewether Point 13/7/11

Merewether Point 13-7-11

Merewether Point late on 13/7/11

Merewether 13-7-11

As the light fades a big set comes through at Merewether point  13/7/11

Merewether Point late 13-7-11

To get a feel for how heavy it was at Newcastle I got in for an eye level  view – 14/7/11

Rough surf Newcastle 14-7-11

Big wave at Newcastle 14/7/11

Newcastle Beach big wave 14-7-11

Another big one Newcastle 14/7/11 with bonus bird.

Newcastle big wave 14-7-11 10 with Bonus bird

Some old stuff –

Girls watching Grant Kenny compete – Surf Carnival Redhead beach 1978

Girls watching Surf Carnival Redhead 1978

Redhead SLSC 75th Reunion 1977 – some long standing members.

Redhead SLSC 75th Reunion 1977

The days are getting warmer and it’s starting to look like summer already. Late afternoon Redhead 25/8/11. A few different peaks showing up. Redhead surfer surfing the right across the back of the Shark Tower.

Redhead- surfer1 25-08-11

25/8/2011 Redhead Surfer on the right on the big Beach. Redhead surfer 25-08-11 2

Redhead surfer 25-08-11

Redhead surfer on the left just past the Shark Tower Redhead surfer 25-08-11 3

Redhead surfer3 25-08-11

Redhead surf Club 25/8/11

Redhead Surf club 25-08-11

The statue overlooking Newcastle Beach. James Fletcher 1834-1891. A  Newcastle man worthy of the view, a mine manager that valued his workers, a politician that fought for workers rights and owner of the Newcastle Morning  Herald and Miners Advocate. James Fletcher Statue Newcastle 22-08-11

James Fletcher Statue Newcastle

Belmont 16 Footers Sailing Race Sunday 21/8/11. The wind was strong from the east, doing someone some good.

Belmont 16s Race 21-08-11

Redhead Shark Tower Rocks 22/08/11

Shark Tower Rocks 22-08-11

Pigs grazing in the front garden NZ 1977.

NZ Pigs 1977

Steve Butterworth 1980 at Redhead Beach showing his tube riding skill with smooth style.

Steve Butterworth Redhead 1980

The top end of Newcastle. Looking down Watt Street, over the Hunter River to  Stockton Beach – 2 water views. Watt St Newcastle 22-08-11

Watt St Newcastle 22-08-11

Sunday morning, cold wet and windy. Didn’t get out of the car. Redhead Beach  wet and windy Sunday 25/9/11.Redhead Rainy day 25-09-11

Redhead Rainy day 25-09-11

Redhead Beach 20/9/11 The wind was gale force from the West/South West

Redhead windy 20-09-11

Redhead Little Beach surfer 27/9/11

Redhead surfer 27-09-11

Redhead Little Beach Body Boarder 27/9/11

Redhead Body Boarder 27-09-11

Blacksmiths Surfer 27/9/11

Blacksmiths surfer 27-09-11

Marks Point  2011 Boxing Day drew a large crowd of picnicers,  boaters and fishermen on a day made for it.

Pelican Boating Jan2 2011

Fishing at Pelican Boxing Day 2011

Pelican Fishing Jan2 2011

Moth Sailing Championships at Belmont 16 Footers club January 2011. The  Moth sailing boats have a winged keel that lifts it out of the water as it  gathers speed, so they just glide though the water with no drag.

Moth Racing Lake Mac Jan 2011

Moth sailing Lake Macquarie 3 Jan 2011

Moth sailing Lake Mac Jan 2011

Mayfield Pool 1988 at 6AM Arnold’s swim squad early morning training. If you  want to be a champion swimmer you have to do the hard yards.  A young Justin Norris was in amongst this squad of young swimmers. Mayfield Pool 1998 Arnold’s swim team

Mayfield Pool 1998 Arnolds swim team

Dudley Beach 25/6/11

Dudley Beach 25-6-11

Newcastle Big winter swell 13/7/11

Newcastle 13-7-11

Newcastle Harbour Tug 14/6/11

Newcastle Tug 14-6-11

Blacksmiths Surfer 4/6/11

Blacksmiths 4-6-11

Redhead surfer on a solid swell 4/6/11

Redhead surfer9 4-6-11

Redhead  Surfer 2 4/6/11

Redhead surfer13 4-6-11

Newcastle Beach Big surf close up 14/7/11

Newcastle Beach big surf 14-7-11

Redhead Bluff up close 10/6/2011

Redhead Bluff 10-6-11

Redhead Beach early morning right hander 14/10/11

Redhead right 14-10-11

Saturday morning 22/10/11 around 7:30 am.

The surf was very ordinary at 2 foot with a light onshore starting up, but it was the best place to be to watch the local dolphins throw  a party. Dozens of dolphins gathered just outside the break in what appeared to  be an introduction of the new young calves to the extended dolphin clan. The young ones were accompanied by adults as they cruised around and around, meanwhile the young adults cavorted further out getting some  serious air. They threw some awsome stale fish moves but without grabbing a  rail. They stayed for almost an hour in the same area while the few surfers out watched in awe a few metres away. Sorry no pictures I was just out in the surf amazed.

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

Redhead Cliff with wave 14-06-10

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.

Redhead surfer May-201

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

Hunter Valley Gardens 2010

Catherine Hill Bay 1975

Lou Reed Civic Theatre

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

Justin Lee at Dudley Sept 2009

Gillys Graduation

Redhead Beach 22/1/2012

Redhead Beach 4-2-12

Redhead Body Boarder 4/2/2012

Redhead Body Boarder 4-2-12

Redhead Beach 22/1/2012. The Pig Face leaves are turning red.

Redhead Beach1 22-1-12

Redhead first Creek wind on the water 22/1/2012

Redhead 1st Creek1 22-1-12

Redhead Shark Tower 21/1/2012

Redhead Shark Tower 21-1-12

Redhead First Creek 22/2/2012

Redhead 1st Creek2 22-1-12

The following Photos are by Jo and Geoff from their New Zealand South Island hiking
trip last week. Some beautiful landscapes, a very beautful place.