30d30m#24: Port Coogee, Western Australia

Visiting family in Fremantle and had to take the opportunity of continuing the 30d30m project with a photo of the sun setting on the ocean – something I don’t get to see on the east coast. The sun seems to set quicker when watching it disappear into the ocean.

Sunset at Port Coogee, Western Australia
Sunset at Port Coogee, Western Australia (HDR Photo)

Last year I spent a few months in Fremantle. It was a very unique situation with a few very good mates. It was my first time in Western Australia and I loved the Fremantle area. It was good to be back.

30d30m#11/12/13: Sawtell Beach at sunset and Muttonbird Island, Coffs Harbour

Weekday’s are always hectic: work; yoga; gym; personal projects; special events; and visiting a beach for 30 minutes every day. 30 minutes is only 2.5% of a day, and I’m glad each day that I’ve made the effort to take some time out and visit…

Sawtell Beach Surf Lifesaving Guard Tower at Sunset
#11: Lifesaving Guard Tower on Sawtell Beach at sunset (HDR Photo)
Rocks at the southern end of Sawtell Beach during sunset (HDR Photo)
#12: Rocks at the southern end of Sawtell Beach during sunset (HDR Photo)
More rocks at Sawtell Beach (HDR Photo)
#12: More rocks at Sawtell Beach (HDR Photo)

Muttonbird Island is accessed via the jetty at Coffs Harbour. Not exactly a beach visit. Just behind where I took this photo is the tiny (150m long) Gallow’s Beach and then the north end of Boambee Beach. I still need to visit Boambee Beach…

Muttonbird Island, Coffs Harbour
#13: Muttonbird Island, Coffs Harbour

30d30m#10: Urunga Boardwalk/ Breakwater and Mylestom Spit

Being the weekend, I had time to explore beaches a little further from the usual. On Sunday I took a 15 minute drive south to Urunga. A boardwalk follows the breakwater from the caravan park in town all the way to the beach.

Urunga breakwater and Myelstom Spit
Urunga breakwater. Mylestom Spit is on the right. (HDR Panorama)
Fiddler crab on the mud flat next to Urunga Boardwalk
Male fiddler crab on the mud flat next to the boardwalk.

It was a warm day, but the sand on the beach was clogged with piles of driftwood – probably from the recent weeks of storms – and didn’t look very swimmer friendly.

30d30m#9: Digger’s Beach, Coffs Harbour, NSW

Accessed via the highway directly opposite the Big Banana is the small Digger’s Beach. It’s in the resort area to the north of Coffs Harbour and is a very picturesque little beach.

This photo was taken from a lookout installed by Rotary along the pathway that extends along most of the beaches in the Coffs Harbour area.

Digger's Beach (HDR Photo)
From the Rotary lookout at Digger’s Beach

I spotted an interesting headland to the north and went for a walk to try and climb it. After climbing some rocks to the north of Digger’s Beach, I realised I was now on a nudist beach (lots of oldies with their junk out) so promptly turned around and headed back to Digger’s Beach.

30d30m#7: Murray’s Beach, Sawtell (Panorama and motion photos)

Seagull and waves at Murray's Beach, Sawtell NSW

Today’s beach visit was later than usual. This meant I was in time for the sunset and some colourful clouds.

Click on the photos below to view the hi-res versions on Flickr. I really like the first one, capturing the motion of the waves breaking and the seagull strolling along.

Seagull and waves at Murray's Beach, Sawtell NSW
Capturing motion at Murray’s Beach

I’m not happy with the result of this panorama, but it gives you a glimpse of the effect the sunset had on the sky late this afternoon…

Murray's Beach at Sawtell NSW (Panorama)
Murray’s Beach (Panorama)

30d30m#6: Sawtell Beach at the Sawtell Surf Lifesaving Club

Sawtell Beach from the Sawtell Surf Lifesaving Club

Today the clouds were still a mess and so was the ocean. From Sawtell Surf Lifesaving Club I walked up towards Murray’s Beach (where I was yesterday).

I love the sound of the waves washing over the pebbles strewn across the shoreline. Adds to the meditative state that spending 2.5% of my day at the beach brings.

Sawtell Beach from the Sawtell Surf Lifesaving Club
Looking north up Sawtell Beach from the Sawtell Surf Lifesaving Club

30d30m#2: South Park Beach, Coffs Harbour

Rain, heavy at times. That was the forecast for today and that was what we got.

Today I drove towards North Boambee Beach which is accessed via the jetty area, but the Coffs Triathlon was on and the roads at the jetty were diverted.

South Park Beach Panorama600w 30d30m#2: South Park Beach, Coffs Harbour

South Park Beach TeePee600w 30d30m#2: South Park Beach, Coffs Harbour

So that’s day 2 of the 30 days / 30 minutes at the beach project.

30d30m#1: Sawtell Island at Bonville Head

The weather has been grim lately.

This is 5th week of grey skies and there is only more to come. It started with 3 days of torrential downpour on Australia day long weekend, with multiple severe weather occurrences since.

Sawtell NSW - Sawtell Island at Bonville Head

Sawtell Island at Bonville Head.

Headed to the south end of Sawtell Beach, to the start of the coral outcrop area known as Sawtell Island. The rain made a comeback at 7PM… time to head home.