Trip to Newcastle

  This blog takes place on Awabakal and Worimi Country

My Wife loves Newcastle, and ever since I've known her, she has been a huge Newcastle Knights (NRL Team) supporter. (We even went on a trip there when we were first dating back in 2015). However, our friend from High School, Alicia, also lives up that way. So, wanting a little holiday, and a get together with our friend Alicia who we had not seen in years, we organised with her and booked our trip to Newcastle.

Myself (Ace Ventura) and Alicia (Edward Elric), Muck-Up Day in High School

Shortly after booking, Alicia realised she had organised to see Hamilton with her Mum (who was now living away in Orange), and so we would only get to see her the first day.

We made plans to see her that day, (and give her, her first experience of an Escape Room), before working out other things to fill in our time (as well as booking in a Newcastle Knights home-game for my wife). One of these, was an attempt to go out for dinner at 'Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant' where my Wife and I had had an awesome experience and date night back in 2015. However, shortly after booking the holiday, like some sort of curse, that restaurant closed down!

We set off early in the morning on Friday the 30th of August, needing to make it to Newcastle before 11am, when the three of us were booked to do 'Journey Through Wonderland' an Alice in Wonderland themed Escape Room at 'Escape Zone' in Broadmeadow.

My Wife took the first leg of the drive, as I drank a coffee from my keep cup, making our way north towards Sydney, all the while I kept thinking about all these walks I saw from the car around Waterfall and Helensburgh I should do. We made our way through the annoying Sydney traffic, finally getting onto the highway and crossing the beautiful Hawkesbury River.
Around this point in the car trip my coffee had made its way through me, and I needed to stop to use a toilet. I had Google mapped the closest toilet, at a rest stop just at the other side of the Hawkesbury River bridge, while I looked out at the magnificent Spectacle Island. The next minute my Wife had driven past the rest stop, much to my frustration. I tried to find another on google maps but couldn't see anything along our route for a long time.
Suddenly I remembered that there had been a bathroom at the Brisbane Water National Park, where I had done the 'Girrakool and Piles Creek loop tracks' when I had travelled up to Gosford earlier in the year for my Nan's funeral, suggesting we stop there.

A short while on an unmarked police car sped past us, eventually we caught up to it as it was sitting behind a motorcyclist, who eventually realised the police car was wanting him to pull over, which he did.

"I'd never pull over for an unmarked police car." My Wife told me, mentioning anyone can buy the lights and fake it to make people pull up, so it wasn't safe.
"So what, you'd just keep driving?" I asked, with a furrowed brow.
"Yep, until I got to a petrol station or somewhere public." She responded adamantly.
"But wouldn't you get in trouble for not pulling over?"
"It's an unmarked car, it could be anyone, it's not safe, I've heard too many true crimes about it, that's what I would tell them."

I pulled a face, thinking to myself what a rough world it is to be a woman, and to constantly live with so much fear, either real or imagined. We soon approached the Australian Reptile Park where we turned off, heading down to the carpark as Brisbane Water National Park.

We pulled up and I raced down to the toilet, when I got back to the car, we decided to eat our breakfast muffins my Wife had made us to eat during our work week (there where two left), as she pulled them out of the bag, she realised that on the bottom they had mould on them. We passed on eating them, begging to feel our stomachs grumble, and I suggested Ourimbah Pie shop, where I had stopped in on the way to my Nan's funeral (but didn't buy anything), as I believed it was on the way. 
We swapped and I took my turn driving taking us to the pie shop. My Wife didn't fancy a pie for breakfast, but I thought I remembered that they sold other things too.

When we arrived, my Wife saw the prices and wasn't interested, I convinced her for us to both just grab a tiny sausage roll (which was just shy of $3). I ate it as I sat in the driver's seat, quickly smashing it. 
"No different to a 711 sausage roll." I said, but my Wife commented that it wasn't very good.

As Google Maps navigated us back to the highway (as it turned out the pie shop was not on the way), it told me to turn off which I did, and my Wife screamed "No!", as it was the next turn, so we were now heading back south.
We quickly found a spot where I was able to turn us around and get us heading North again. 

Soon we were close to Broadmeadow, and Alicia had already gotten a park behind Escape Zone and was waiting for us. We drove around the streets trying to find the parking area, until my Wife was able to navigate and lead us there, as we drove into the parking area Alicia was waiting for us and we both waved excitedly.

When we got out of the car, she instantly asked how I was, as she hadn't seen me since before my cancer diagnosis.
"Yeah, he's fine now." My Wife told her, and we made our way into escape zone, ready for Alicia to experience her first ever escape room.

We placed our things into a locker and set off on our 'Journey Through Wonderland' which was actually a really cool aesthetic. We made pretty good work of the room, able to complete it and told Alicia we would have to do one again with her if we came back up again.

We both got a printed copy of the photo, and you had the option of just taking them or blue tacking them anywhere inside the Escape Zone waiting area. Alicia wanted to stick hers on the roof but was unable to reach, instead deciding to keep it.
"I'll stick ours on the roof." I said, making sure it was ok with my Wife, and she didn't need the physical photo with her friend. I stood up on the couch, sticking out picture to the ceiling right above where people sit and wait to enter their rooms.

We asked if she had time to get coffee and lunch as we know she had to catch a train down to Sydney to meet her Mum who she was going to see the musical 'Hamilton' with.
We had a quick google and made our way to a nearby cafe called 'The Little French Cafe'.
I got a burger (that came with like literally everything on it, and was delicious), as well as a really lovely latte. 
The three of us chatted catching up as it had been so many years with me trying to work out the last time the three of us saw each other.
Alicia missed her first train as we hung around chatting and gossiping until it finally became time for her to leave, we all hugged goodbye, and she raced off to the train station. With my Wife and I having to find something to do, she suggested to me Blackbutt Nature Reserve, and I agreed commenting on when I had worked in Blackbutt Reserve in Shellharbour and tried to tag the location, this Newcastle Blackbutt would always come up instead.

We headed out, finding the reserve and going for a walk, where I stopped to read a sign about Black Duck Creek.

"Black Duck Creek
A natural creek in the heart of the city
Black Duck Creek is one of the few remaining natural headwaters in the Throsby Creek Catchment. Everything Black Duck Creek collects on its way to the Ocean affects our environment. If we all prevent litter, sediment and pollution from entering our creeks we will help protect our fisheries, marine life and beaches, Black Duck Creek is too special to spoil.

This creek flows from Blackbutt Reserve, through the drains of Kotara, New Lambton, and Hamilton North. It joins Throsby Creek in Islington then flows into Newcastle Harbour, the Hunter Estuary and beaches."

We located a nearby bathroom, applied some sunscreen, and found a map to navigate our way towards the Wildlife Centre.

We made our way along the boardwalk, past an area with a brush turkey eating food out of a tray, past an area for wombats, none of which could be seen, as they were asleep in an enclosure we would pass through at the end to watch them sleep.

We passed through a double gated section, and I couldn't help thinking of my childhood favourite films, Jurassic Park.

As we passed through the gates, we turned on our left to a steep hillside, now keeping an eye out for wallabies, where we spotted two laying down and resting in the shade, to avoid the intense heat of sun.

We soon approached another enclosure, this one with a little green button that sensed when your hand was near to it to unlock its door, entering into a small middle section and swiping on a second door to now enter into a large aviary. 
We stared around as all sorts of different birds' fluttering around us and in their enclosure before us, filled with trees and a water feature.

As we made our way around the curved path that was up above the ground of the enclosure, I took note of the signs on the walls providing information about Blackbutt Forest and all the birds within the enclosure.

"How Did Blackbutt Reserve Get Its Name?
The story passed down claims that a large blackbutt tree wasn't logged because of its precarious position within the reserve. This led to the naming of the park.

However, it is most likely that it was named after the Blackbutt trees which were common in the area and logged until the reserve was eventually put in a trusteeship to Newcastle City Council in 1938.

Blackbutts are named after the buttress of the tree which is often blackened from bush fires. The tree can retain the markings for many years after the fire has passed. The Blackbutt is a 'half bark', meaning it has a smooth bark on the upper branches and a rough fibrous bark at the base of the trunk. They can grow as high as 70 metres with a trunk diameter up to 4 metres.

Blackbutts were a popular tree for logging as the hardwood timber was a favourite for railway sleepers, farm fencing, bridge building and even flooring due to its durability and its fire-resistant properties. Parliament House in Canberra even uses Blackbutt as flooring.

Foliage from Blackbutt trees are food for many of the animals at Blackbutt Reserve including our koalas, along with possums, gliders and more. This eucalypt can be found along the east coast of Australia and is abundant along the Pacific Highway from Taree to Coffs Harbour."

As we continued around, we divided our time between looking for all the different animals listed on the information signs as being within the enclosure with trying to spot them. With a long list of animals including Koala, Bar-shouldered Dove, Pied heron, Eastern whipbird, Brown cuckoo pigeon, Common bronzewing, Rainbow lorikeet, Little pied cormorant, Glossy ibis, Wonga pigeon, Scaly-breasted lorikeet, Emerald ground dove, White-headed pigeon, Topknot pigeon, Torres strait pigeon, White-browed woodswallow, Satin bowerbird and the Bush-stone Curlew (which we saw for the first time on our Trip to Brisbane).

We kept an eye out for the koala, but did not have any luck spotting any, eventually continuing on exiting the aviary (where near the exit door was a diamond python in an enclosure behind glass) and continuing around the walk. We passed a Goanna, or 'Monitor Lizard' (which reminded me of a debate I had with my Wife whether the two were the one and the same) as the information sign called it, tucked away in a little shelter trying to get a close as possible to what I assumed were heating lamps.

We continued to pass more enclosures. Such as an adorable sleeping Barking owl, some frogs and toads, before coming to another two distinct sections with even more beautiful birds.

"I should really get a book on local birds." I said to my Wife. "And tick off the ones I see when I'm out on hikes until I have seen them all."

Apostlebird 'Strythidea cinerea'

We continued through a nighttime enclosure where we watched a Long-nosed potoroo hop around while Tawny frogmouths sat asleep up in their nests. There were also meant to be sugar gliders inside, but we did not see them.

We continued towards the exit, passing through the enclosure that held the wombats, laying upside down on their backs fast asleep.

As we reached the exit to our walk, we were going to go and explore the rest of the reserve, when a Peacock that was just wandering about began making its way through the bush towards me. I took out my phone for a picture, but when I noticed it was going to keep coming toward me, I decided to take a video instead, as it walked right by me with no obvious interest or fear in me.

We made our way across Black Duck Creek, where we noticed a sign saying there was another enclosure up the way we were headed, filled with Kangaroo and Emu. We wandered up the hill past an Emu standing near the edge of the enclosure making a loud low rumbling sound that was pretty creepy. 
I commented to my Wife that I had watched a Dinosaur documentary that believed T-Rex rather than roaring, like when portrayed in media, would instead have a low frequency bass-like sound (though from a much larger beast), similar to this emu, and how ominous that would be to hear when in a jungle (and I would love to see in portrayed that way in a film or tv show one day as that would be creepy!). 

As we reached the top of the hill, there was a signpost denoting some bushwalks.

We decided to continue along to our right, and do the Main Ridge loop walk, as this also continued alongside the edge of the enclosure.

As we followed it along looking down at the emu and kangaroo, the trail to our right along the enclosure led back down to the carpark, and we instead followed the bushwalk trail on our left, heading uphill along the Main Ridge Walk.

We continued along as the trail bent around to our left as we passed another signpost.

As we continued along the trail my Wife commented about the heat as a running group ran past us, followed later on by two older gentlemen on a bushwalk.

Soon a ute was approaching from behind and my Wife and I stood off to the side as Newcastle Council ute drove by, with two young ladies inside.

"Probably the Newcastle bush regeneration team". I suggested, commenting that this would be a cool place to be able to work.

We followed the walk around until we came to what looked like an enclosure, or some sort of fence-line with the trail now leading downhill. However off to our right, by another road I spotted a sign, indicating further walks. 

As we approached the sign my Wife asked if I wanted to do them (of course I did!), so I suggested the follow the Sensory Trail, as it wasn't meant to be too long (and I knew my Wife was struggling in the heat).

We continued along this trail (which the sign had said was 0.5km return), however after what felt like that distance the track split in two, with a trail leading uphill slightly, but continuing the same direction. We stayed on the track we were on, which was just down slightly from the other track, which was just through the trees uphill a little and they both joined at the end, so we never lost sight of it.

After we reached the end of the section above with the small retaining wall, I heard all this chirping and assumed above us would be a bunch of birds. However, as I looked up, I noticed the trees above us were full of flying foxes.

I made the comment that it was even more similar to the blackbutt of Shellharbour now, as that forest is also home to flying foxes. My Wife wanted to walk through quickly as to not get pooed on. 
She pointed out that the area didn't smell, referring to a past conversation we'd had. Because I was part of a tree planting day at Croome Road in Albion Park, Shellharbour to create environments for our local flying foxes (a keystone species), and some of the comments about it when put on the news on Facebook were boomers complaining that it would make the area "stink".

Soon the two trails I had spoken about earlier joined up, and the train continued one well over the 0.5km. It soon linked onto another road (the track if we had not taken the sensory detour), and we followed that road downhill where my Wife took an awkward fall on some loose gravel. I helped her up and we continued on past a well and a little creek, and soon ended up back at the carpark, where we decided to head to our accommodation and check-in. We were staying at the Ibis Newcastle, not far from the Hunter River. We chilled in our room with some air conditioning on, while having a look online at what was around, wanting someplace along the river to get some dinner.

We decided to head to The Dockyard along Honeysuckle. We walked along the river, getting a spot with a view of the water (while the rest of our view was blocked by a building where they did wine tastings).

We decided to share some cocktails jugs, starting with the Jack Sparrow: Captain Morgan, pomegranate liqueur, apple juice, mint & lime topped with Brookvale Union ginger beer.

We also decided to share a braised lamb pizza and a spicy meatlovers.

The sun began to set as we ate, with a nice cool wind blowing, as I suggested we get a second jug to help wash down our pizzas (which were incredibly filling). We decided to get the Dementia: peach liqueur, mango liqueur, triple sec, passion fruit liqueur with guava & pineapple juice. Both jugs were delicious, but we didn't find either particularly alcoholic, considering how pricey they were (the Jack Sparrow being $36).

After we had finished, and the sun had fully set, I asked my Wife is she wanted to walk the entire way along the river towards Nobbys Lighthouse (a 40-minute walk/2.9km according to Google Maps).

Together we walked along the water, with the cool breeze we enjoyed with dinner now gone, we were left with only the still and humid air.

We passed Scratchleys, where the last time we had come to Newcastle we had sat eating salt and pepper squid by the river. However, tonight, across the road, Harry's Café de Wheels seemed to be having some sort of motorbike convention as loud motorbike after loud motorbike rocked up. 

As we neared the lighthouse there was an indigenous information sign which I stopped to read.

"Whibayganba
Whibayganba is a place of cultural significance within the local landscape of Mulubinba.

Whibayganba was an island. Its beginnings and traditions a complex cultural narrative. Stories originating from a past where ancestral beings created Country, and shaped the law and relations between all living things. Their memories are retained, etched, and spoken of in Country, a legacy that links the Dreamtime with the present.

Local lore tells of a great kangaroo concealed in the island who would thump his tail causing earthquakes.

The island was originally a closed off site, surrounded by rocks and turbulent waters. The strong gale force of the winds that batter the island enabled this place to be a suitable refuge to confine a giant kangaroo. The kangaroo remained hidden in Whibayganba.

in 1855 the top of the island was lopped off by the English, and in 1846 they had completed the construction of a breakwater that was started in 1818. The breakwater attached the island to the mainland creating open access to Whibayganba, access that had been denied for thousands of years.

The alterations are against Aboriginal principles of respecting country, maintaining balance and equilibrium and ensuring protections and conservation of sacred places."

'That's a sad story.' I thought, surely one of many very familiar ones around the country.

As we continued along onto Macquarie pier past Nobbys Beach, my Wife mentioned the Pasha Bulker. When I told her I had no idea what she was talking about she was completely shocked.

"The Pasha Bulker!" She said, like saying the name more was going to make me suddenly know about it. 
"It was all over the news in 2007!" She said excitedly at me. Filling me in on how the ship had become grounded just of Nobbys Beach.
"How did they get rid of it then?" I asked. "Did they just tow it out?"
She began to google it as we continued, with now Horseshoe Beach appearing over on our left.

The lighthouse doesn't photograph well at night, with a phone camera

As we approached a road up to the lighthouse, the gate was closed revealing it only opened at certain times, so we would not be allowed up to it. We decided to continue along in the pitch-black night until we reached the breakwater.

"Are you ok if we don't walk out on it?" My Wife asked, surely expecting me to want to walk to the very end. But as it was complete darkness, and I was aware of how wild the waves could me, I assured her that the safe thing to do would be to head back.

We began walking back, looking at all the shining lights of Newcastle City.

Out further to my right I could see a bridge in the distance, and I loaded up google maps to work out what bridge it was, with the only nearby bridge in the vicinity of where I was looking being 'Stockton Bridge'.

We decided we were tired and didn't want to do such a long walk back to our accommodation. Instead, we walked up behind Fort Scratchley, through the streets towards Pacific Park, where we hopped on Newcastle's Light Rail at its 'Newcastle Beach' stop, riding it through to the Honeysuckle stop, a short distance from our hotel.

The following morning we awoke, with another escape room, this time in central Newcastle at Escape Reality, where we had booked the 'Tortuga Pirates' room (which we originally had wanted to book with Alicia, but we left booking it too late and all sessions the day she was free booked out!). We decided to head out for breakfast and a coffee in the morning before attempting the room.

We headed out to the café 'One Penny Black', grabbing some breakfast and a coffee, before beginning the walk down towards the escape room. 
On our way to the escape room we based a place called 'The Book Grocer', selling second hand books out the front for a cheap price. We had time for a look, and so perusing through I found a copy of 'Poison for Breakfast' by Lemony Snicket for $6. Seeing as I had just finished reading 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' for the first time (as everyone I knew in primary school read them so I felt and obligation, and my Wife wanted to watch the Netflix adaptation and I wanted to read the books before watching it), so we picked that up, while I kept any eye out for an other authors I enjoy, such as Darren Shan, Michael Crichton and Jack Kerouac, or just classic books I would love to read, like translations of the works by Homer or Julius Caesar (such as Commentarii de Bello Gallico, translated).

We soon wandered inside for a peruse, shocked at how cheap all the books were. There were many that sounded interesting but nothing I was specifically looking for, however my Wife ended up buying the cookbook 'Showstopping Cakes' by Rahul Mandal, as she loves baking, and is a huge Great British Bake-Off fan.

We continued on, reaching the escape room a few minutes early, just as a large group of young men were arriving. I suggested we walk a bit further up the road for an explore, allowing these people to enter and get sorted before we wandered in.

As we walked further up I noticed a Brewery. 'Foghorn Brewery' having a look at their drinks list and noticing two dark beers (a dark ale and a stout). My Wife suggested we go there for dinner, and I agreed, when we realised right next door was MEET, a Brazilian restaurant, the one place we had actually booked to eat at the following night.

We finally walked down and entered the Escape Room, which was absolutely packed full of these rambunctious young men, apparently three groups of them doing the remaining three rooms.
The man booking us in asked us to come up with a team name, and I suggested to my Wife 'Captain Blubber' the pirate character from the beach level 'Treasure Trove Cove' in the Nintendo 4 game: Banjo Kazooie.

We had a group announcement to go through ground rules of escape rooms, as all the teams were led away to enter their rooms until our time arrived.

The lady who came to walk us to our room asked if we had done any rooms before, and I mentioned that this room would be our 27th (with 3 more booked with our friends Stuart and Megan in Sydney 2 weeks later taking us to 30).

We then began discussing escape rooms with her, and she asked if we had any favourites, where we mentioned some of the standouts we did in Bali, mentioning the lack of OH&S precautions. She suggested Escape Zone in Broadmeadow and we laughed, letting her know we had done the Alice in Wonderland themed room just the day before. (They way she talked about their own room was almost in a negative light, like she was worried it wouldn't live up to our expectations which made me worry).

Soon she did the spiel about our room, before pausing after calling us by our team name with a curious look on her face (I quickly explained it origins). We then entered the room and our timer started.

Which, I wont walk through the room, as I don't believe in spoilers! However, the aesthetic was really cool, it had good logical puzzles, and started with a slight physical activity which reminded me of a section of the 'Wild West' themed escape room we had done in Brisbane.

We escaped with about 10 minutes left, with the man working their congratulating us and offering us a lolly from a jar. He then talked about their other rooms, and that there was an Escape Reality down in the Central Coast (Tuggerah), which he seemed to suggest was 'better than theirs' once more putting their rooms down (which was shocking to us, as we loved the room).

We posed for a team photo.

We began heading back to the Ibis to collect our car, to head out to Hunter Wetlands National Park for some bushwalks, looking at the Escape Reality rooms in the Central Coast to see if we should book any to do on the drive home (no times suited, but maybe in the the future!).

We headed out to Hunter Wetland National Park, crossing over the single traffic Ash island bridge.

*pic if Jennai has it*

We pulled up at the carpark just by where the 'Welcome Walk' which we had planned to do, began.

"Of course it's closed." I sighed. However, literally across the other side of the road was the 'Crabhole Creek' walk, so we set of down that way, stopping shortly in the shade to read the information signs.

"You have arrived at a very special place in the Hunter River estuary
Ash Island's name comes from the ash trees that were once abundant here.

The diversity of Ash Island's native wildlife was once a source of wonder to naturalists who both lived here and visited the island in the mid 1800s prior to it being cleared for agriculture.

The natural abundance of the Hunter River estuary has provided physical, social and spiritual sustenance for the Worimi and Awabakal people for thousands of years.
The Hunter River marked the boundary between the Worimi and Awabakal nations and the islands in the river estuary were a shared place for ceremony, hunting, gathering and trade."

"European Settlement
Hard on the heels of explorers came the surveyors with their maps dividing up the country for distribution of the new settlers.
This- (A section of the sign had been scratched out and was illegible)- for both traditional Aboriginal lifestyles and many of the native species and habitats that had sustained them.

Today we are fortunate to have a good record of the original wonder that was Ash Island thanks to the work of its first European inhabitants - Alexander Walker Scott and his two daughters, Harriet and Helena.

Scott was already a well known naturalist when he arrived here in 1829. This saw his new home become a natural stop point for other scientists including Ludwig Leichhardt in 1842.

When his artistically gifted daughters joined him here in 1846 after spending their childhood years in Sydney, the stage was set for the natural beauty of Ash Island to be recorded and shared with a wider audience.

The departure of the Scott family from Ash Island in 1866 paved the way for a dramatic increase in the island's population to occur as new families moved in to establish dairy farms.
This process commenced the widespread clearing of the island's vegetation in a process that was further hastened by its subdivision into allotments in 1889.

At its peak in the early 1900s, the island supported 17 dairies, 55 families and a school.

This community was further swollen in the depression years of the 1930s when a homeless persons camp set up here in an environment where people could at least look to the river and its environs for a feed of fish, rock oysters and rabbits to help eke out their existence.

Regular floods were a feature of life on the island then, however the 1955 flood was a 1 in 200 year event that was particularly significant.

In its wake, the island became state owned and was leased back to farmers.

The following decade of the 1960s brought further change here with the commencement of the Kooragang Island Development Scheme.

This reclaimed a large area of land and united Ash, Moscheto (also known as Mosquito) and Dempsey Islands, and well as Walsh Island, which was created in the late 1800s by filling between the Spectacle Islands and sandbars."

The sign finally had some good news about conservation, revealing in 1971 Australia became one of the first countries to sign the 'Convention on Wetlands of International Importance' at the small Iranian town of Ramsar.

"The Ramsar Convention was established to halt the worldwide loss of wetlands and to conserve those that remain through wise use and management."

Ludwig Leichhardt one scientist mention previously, stated in 1842 that the island "... is a remarkably fine place, not only to enjoy the beauty of nature, a broad shining river, a luxuriant vegetation, a tasteful comfortable cottage with a plantation of orange trees but to collect a great number of plants which I had never seen before … It’s a romantic place, which I like well enough to think that – perhaps – I’d be content to live and die there..."

It was a very short walk (it didn't even feel like 15min return, but then I wasn't timing).

The walk took us to the road, where we crossed over, looking up and down the road.

"Did you want to walk back on the road or just back the way we came?" I asked giving my Wife the option.
"Just the way we came." She responded. "Why did you want to walk down the road?"
"No." I answered. "We'll drive down this way anyway and see where it goes.

We followed the trail back to our car, following that road down, until the car could proceed no further. We pulled up, where there was a walks sign, letting us know we could continue straight to Scotts Point (20min return), or continue on past that, to Riverside Park  (2km, 30min one way).

We instead decided to walk to 'The Silos' via the rainforest walk, heading right into the bush, but not before once more reading a nearby information sign.

"Ash Island's name comes from the ash trees (Native Ash or Hard Quandong - Elaeocarpus obovatus) that were once abundant here.
Only a handful of the island's original ash trees remain, as like other local softwood timbers, including red cedar, ash trees were a valuable resource harvested for their timber."

We began down the walk. I found myself walking along with a smile. It was a warm sunny day, there was ample shade, and I was exploring somewhere new. 'This is the life.' I thought, wishing that every day could be filled with new and wonderful adventures, not just when I could get time off from work, making me further hate our capitalistic society.

*Insert 'Fly with the Black Swan' lyrics by Sonata Arctica*

My Wife commented that this was a lovely walk while I made a joke about Anaconda's being in the water. My Wife then started on about how this would be a great walk for Dogs (referencing the fact we struggle to take Orla on good dog walks).
I mentioned that the area was a National Park and that no Dogs were allowed on walks within National Parks.

Just as we had crossed over this section of wetlands, and were heading down the constructed walkway onto a grass track, there was a couple walking towards us with a big fluffy Dog.
My Wife immediately began complaining about them bringing a Dog.
"You literally were just saying you wanted people to be able to bring in Dogs, and it's on lead." I said bemused, poking out the hypocrisy. 
"Yeah, but I'd never do it while it's not allowed." She retorted, justifying her statements.

"Hey, just letting you know that there was a snake a short way down there, right on the track." One of them said to us as they approached.
"Just a red belly?" I asked, not feeling too worried, knowing they were pretty passive encountering them numerous times on walks.
"No I think it was a brown snake. A baby one though." They responded.
"Oh, thanks." I replied, while commenting that their Dog was a 'fluffy boy', even though I totally just assumed its gender.

My Wife was on edge now, stressed about encountering a brown snake, as they are much more aggressive then your more mellow red belly black snake (and more venomous). Not to say red belly's aren't dangerous, you should always be cautious went bushwalking in Australia!

W reached a short picnic area called 'Fallen Ash Grove' which would have been a nice spot to stop and have lunch, but we hadn't packed anything so continued down the trail.

A few seconds down the trail past this point I saw the tail slither off to my left into the grass, and recognised it as the tail of a eastern brown (it was definitely a juvenile though).

My Wife was stressed and on edge the entire walk, the mere mention of the brown snake had put her so on edge that she couldn't simply relax and enjoy the walk.

"We've already passed the snake now!" I tried to comfort her, but she was worried that we could encounter another, asking me to keep an eye out as I led the way.

There were little markers along the way, denoting the different types of trees and vegetation, but my Wife didn't want me stopping, so I only stopped when there were larger more detailed information signs along the walk for me to read.

"Wildlife Corridors
'...in the midst of bush where nature appeared in all her luxuriance. The immense parasites twining round the trees... heard the bell bird with its incessant ting ting, the coachbird etc...'
So wrote Elizabeth Gould of her visit to the Hunter River islands in 1839. Figbirds, White headed Pigeons, White's Thrushes, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, Wonga Pigeons and Swamp Wallaby abounded. Regent Bower Birds were even considered pests!

After Ash Island was subdivided in 1866 most native vegetation was cleared for crops and grazing. By the mid-1990s, only a few isolated patches of coastal rainforest remained.

The 3000 trees around you, planted in 1997, for a corridor of the species that once grew here (as recorded in the 1860s by Helena Scott). By extending and replanting rainforests, the pressure on remnants is reduced and the chances of survival; of the endangered vine White Cynanchum (Cynanchum elegans) and other indigenous plants, and animals, dependent on this habitat are greatly improved."

"Where are you walking?" My Wife asked me, as the ground was very wet here, and she didn't want to sink and get mud in her shoes.
I simply responded to walk where I walk, where she immediately followed behind me not in my exact spots and got water in her shoes, causing her to get annoyed and moody with me.
"I said to walk where I did!" I defended, where she said I could have directed her more.
I rolled my eyes, trying not to sour the day, as we continued progressing slowly through this very wet section of the walk.

"I just had a tick on me!" My Wife yelled at me.
"Where?" I asked.
"I flicked it away, it was either a tick or a tick shaped bug. I think it was a tick."
I told her there was nothing we could do, and we'd just look over each other back at the hotel (neither of us had ticks so I wont mention it again later).

Me made it through this wet section which passed right by a road, and soon we had approached the ruins of the old silos.

My Wife was still complaining about her wet feet. I pointed to the road just off to the side, telling her she could wait there while I grabbed the car (only myself walking back through along the trail), and I would drive and collect her.

"I'm not standing on a road in the middle of nowhere by myself!" She exclaimed, immediately beginning on about all the true crime podcasts and documentaries she'd watched.

We began the walk back through the muddy trail, with me telling her to actually follow where I stepped this time.

At one point I stopped, as I had stepped in a spot that was a little too deep and so I was calculating where to step next, and my Wife yelled at me for stopping as she had had to stop behind me, and stopping and caused her to sink in a bit, resulting in further wet socks.

"They'll dry." I told her, now getting a little annoyed by her attitude. "It's a hot and sunny day."

We soon made it back to the car, and even my own socks had gotten a little wet but had already dried. We had a drink of water, before heading back to the original carpark where we had done the Crabhole Creek walk, continuing down that road, taking in all the views of this beautiful place as we headed towards the areas of the World War 2 Radar Station and Milhams Farm Historic Site.

The gate where you could park in front of Milhams Farm entry gate had cars already parked there, and the gate in front of the WW2 Radar, forbid parking saying you could be towed, so we drove further down the road until we found parking, and walked back up the road towards the WW2 Radar Station.

"The concrete igloos situated here are relics of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 131 Radar Station Ash Island, which was active during World War II. The radar station was linked with two others - one to the north on Tomaree Head (near Nelson Bay) and another to the south near Catherine Hill Bay. The three stations formed part of a system designed to detect enemy aircraft.
They were also capable of detecting ships, including submarines on the surface and they helped protect Newcastle from enemy attack.

Japan recognised Newcastle, its steel works and the coal wealth of the Hunter Valley as an important support to the Allied forces and in the 1920s set up an espionage operation to determine targets and best invasion approaches in the event of war.

In the mid-1930s, Essington Lewis, managing director of the BHP steel works on Kooragang Island, visited Japan. He predicted that Japan was preparing for war in the pacific and on his return began expanding BHP's operations so that they could respond to Allied artillery needs.

When World War II broke out in 1939, Novocastrians did not consider the threat of a Pacific invasion. It was not until the bombing of Pearl Harbour on the 7th December 1941, that authorities began to increase Australian coastline defence.

In the early hours of 8th June 1942, a Japanese submarine fired at Newcastle, purportedly targeting the steel works.
Newcastle's Fort Scratchley retaliated, firing four rounds.

The 131 Radar Station Ash Island was installed in August 1942. In addition to providing enemy detection for the Newcastle region, it became the testing and training site for mobile GCI (Ground Controlled Interception) radar units which were being deployed to the Allies' main battle zones and are crediting with assisting the Allies in overthrowing the Axis powers.

By January 1945, 131 Radar Ash Island was in care and maintenance mode and it was permanently disbanded in January 1946."

I wandered around the outside of this igloo bunker, looking at another smaller one a short way away. When I came around the other side looking towards the smaller one I was started by a man who seemed like he was sneaking about by the smaller one with no shirt on. (Whether or not my Wife had got me paranoid with all her true crime talk I cannot say, but he gave me suss vibes).

When I came back to the front where my Wife was standing, I looked down towards the other and could no longer see the man. I thought her might have left so we made our way down to the smaller igloo.

There was a little trail leading up to the road, and I thought it might take us through to the road where we could just walk across to the entry to begin the walk to the historic farm site.

However we soon realised this walk didn't link up to the road, and we began to head back to the original entry. I suddenly stopped my Wife. As the shirtless guy had reappeared, making his way along the smaller igloo towards the larger one.
There was something about the way that he was walking, and I didn't want to go out in to the open around him. My Wife was on edge now too, also getting suspicious vibes from this individual (who could have just been a harmless, shirtless man). We eventually found a track through, leading us to a section of walk that had been fenced off by the road, just across from the farmhouse track, we just walked around it back onto the main road and crossed the road to head down the farmhouse track, saying it would be the final walk we would do before we left to grab some lunch.

You could really see the difference over here that the area had been converted for dairy farms, as there was wide open grasslands all the way along, providing no shade as we began to sweat in the heat.

We passed few sections with trees and little bridges over bits of water reminding us we were actually on wetlands.

After passing over these we were once more along open grass fields, as we approached Milhams Farm historic site, which we founded gated off, with a small little swing gate you could walk through to enter the site.

"I wonder if this fence and gate are from the original site or if they were just put here afterwards." I questioned out loud, not actually expecting an answer.

"Look at all the nasturtiums." My Wife said, pointing out them growing all along the front.
"Must be the remains of their garden." I suggested, also noticing some plastic plant pots tipped over and wondering if they were also part of the ruins, and if they had originally held the nasturtiums.

We did a loop around the ruins, and noticed some older ladies sitting on a bench nearby starring at us. My Wife pointed out the pretty flowers of two nearby trees, commenting that they had a strong smell. I gave the more beautiful ones a sniff.

"No it's not those ones." I said, now sniffing one below it with a white petal, with little splotches of pink through it.
"Yep that's the one." I said.

Selfie or it didn't happen

We wandered over to what looked liked the ruins of a brick silo.
"Or a large well." My Wife said as we walked towards it.
"Well's aren't usually that big." I said, as we approached it with no information signs around this area.

"Maybe information was in the little brochures." My Wife said, referring to little mailbox type things at the first carpark that were meant to hold information brochures (all of which were empty).
"Yeah, degenerates probably took them out or burned them." I commented.

"Why are people so destructive?"
"The lead that used to be in petrol." I joked.

We wandered back to the car, going for a final drive through the wetlands as we headed back into the city to grab some lunch.
"I can just grab Hungry Jack's if you want." My Wife said, suggesting something easy.
"I'm not that hungry, and it's not long until dinner now." I said. "I just feel like something light, like sushi."
My Wife seemed to get annoyed that I was being difficult food wise, making an under her breath comment that 'no sushi places would probably be open.'

She asked if I was ok to stop over at the shops and just buy something from a bakery for the Knights footy game tomorrow, so we parked up at the Ibis, and walked to the nearby centre where Coles and Baker's Delight were, where I pointed out a sushi place, both grabbing a spicy Korean pork nori-maki roll as well as a plum duck.

We grabbed some cheese and bacon rolls from Coles for the Knights game, and some iced finger buns from Baker's Delight, before making our way back to the hotel to shower and change before heading out to Foghorn Brewery for dinner.

We headed out to the Brewery, arriving to find in bustling with activity.

"Do you have a reservation?" The man asked, after I asked for a table for two.
We said we didn't an almost thought we would be turned away. He turned around pointing to a table directly behind him, saying it was the only one. 

We took it, glad to get a seat, as I went up and ordered dinner as well as a dark ale for myself and a cider for my Wife.

"This place isn't sticky." My Wife commented, as she usually hates breweries for their sticky, and sometimes unpleasant atmospheres.

We enjoyed out dinner, and after finishing our drinks I ordered my Wife another cider, with me ending on the stout. As we enjoyed our drinks, talking and enjoying the nice vives of the brewery we saw people coming looking to come in but being turned away for lack of seats.

We finished our drink, read to head back to the light rail (which we had caught to come out to the brewery), and my Wife suggested instead that we go for a night stroll through the city back to our hotel and I agreed.

The following morning we awoke, and needed some coffee and breakfast before trying to get to McDonald Jones Stadium to watch the Women's Knights team play the Women's Tigers team at 11.30am.

We headed to Outdo Espresso just for a morning coffee, walking by the little canals that passed through Newcastle, making me miss Copenhagen. 

As we were walking past the Mercure Hotel, just next to this there were a bunch of women standing out the front, and when I was looking at them I realised they were the womens Tigers team.

We  headed over to Woolies to grab something small to eat (as the café only had sweet or sandwiches and I wasn't super hungry). Before heading back to the hotel, to change into our Knight's attire before catching the bus out towards the stadium.

As I hopped on the bus I was hit up by a man asking me about who the Knights were playing. I froze and stared at him a little as my mind said 'Tigers' but knew he was probably referring to the men's game afterwards, and had to think for a little before I answered with "The Titans."

He started saying it was a good day for it, and how he didn't realised they were playing today, and the way he talked reminded me instantly of a fellow I used to work with.

As our bus approached our stop and we hopped off this man began asking us again if the Knights could make the top 8.
"Maybe." I answered. With my Wife giving him a more detailed answer about winning the next two games, and the score, and how other teams did, all the while we were just wanting to hop off the bus.

"Great timing." My Wife joked, as we finally got off the bus and it drove away.

As we began the walk to the stadium there was a brewery on the other side of the road called the 'Thirsty Messiah' and I began googling the menu. "Ooh a tropical stout, that sound interesting." I said.

However it didn't open until later, and my Wife was worried about being late to our reservation at MEET restaurant after the game, saying we could come back up to Newcastle and go there next time.

As we waited outside the stadium to enter, we could feel the burn of the sun, and my feet began getting sore from just standing. Finally we were allowed in and we took our seats, right in front of the goalposts where the Knights women's team was scoring first-half.

The team warming up

It was a dominant first half with the Knights scoring right in front of us numerous times (including some ruled no try). It was a great game and we were glad for a good seat for it, especially given they got most their tries in front of us first half, winning the game 34-6.
"Watch the men lose now." I joked.

I had grabbed us a frozen slushie during the women's half time, and while we waiting for the men's game to start my Wife headed off to the toilet while the sun and heat intensified and even my phone was not working due to the intense heat.

While my Wife was gone the seat next to her (which had been vacant during the women's game) was soon occupied by an oversized Titans fan. I knew my Wife would be annoyed and as soon as she returned she asked if we could swap seats as she was 'uncomfortable'. I didn't want her being rude to a guy, just because of his weight, and I thought swapping might upset or hurt his feelings (I don't need people feeling like shit about themselves on my conscience, unless I deem them assholes).

However, he kept encroaching on her face, her was loud and leaning forward, standing up and scratching his ass in front of everyone, as well as generally being a little creepy when the cheerleaders came around. With even the woman next to me asking if we had enough room, insisting she could move down and we could squeeze over. "That's ok, thank you." I told her.

After the first half finished the man got up to go get a drink.
"Swap now." I told my Wife. "If he comes back with a beer and keep waving his arms around and slapping his thigh like he's been doing I don't want it to spill on you, and if it spills on me I'll fucking say something to him."
"So you wont say something if he spills it on me?" She asked, almost wanting me to 'defend her honour'.
"Just swap." I insisted. But she didn't want to, saying it was 'too late now'. 
The man soon came back with a bottle of sprite rather then a beer.
"Well at least he should have a lid on it while he's waving his arms around." I said. But as soon as his fat thigh shoved my Wife she looked at me and said demandingly "Let swap."
And we immediately stood up, swapping places, where I could tell the Titans fan was aware of what had occurred and tried his best not not let it affect his day. I felt bad for him, but knew my Wife was annoyed with me for putting 'a stranger' before her. I had no issues sitting next to him second half, and he didn't encroach on my space, he was only loud and a little obnoxious as some footy fans are but they're just excited to see a game they love. Some call it 'passion'. I'm very passively passionate.

The men were more dominate their second half, which unfortunately for us meant they were scoring tries up the other end, so I enjoyed the women's game more but both teams secured a win, with the men beating the Titans 36-14.

As soon as the game was over we were eager to leave, it was a scorching hot day and I was feeling a little heat stroke, and even with reapplying sunscreen we had both gotten burnt.

We headed back to our accommodation, to shower, rehydrate and blast the aircon, before getting dressed up to head out to our Brazilian BBQ.

As we walked to the light rail at Honeysuckle my Wife commented that she 'had a bad feeling' about the night. When we arrived we were greeted and explained how the Churrasco menu worked, saying you were brought bits and pieces over the night of all the things from that menu and we could have as little, as much or non of the ones offered around as we wanted for our 2 hour seating. $69 each.

We both ordered a cocktail, with my first cocktail of choice not being available. When we got our drinks they were delicious, very flavourful and an actual strong alcoholic taste, unlike the jugs at the Dockyard. We were served our starters, a salad, fries, garlic rice and some slaw, each in a bowl to eat along side our tastings of the night. We were then offered a small piece of garlic bread, and a Pao de queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread). Soon our first piece of meat came out, all on metal skewers where the man explained he would slice and then to pick it off and put it on out plates with our tongs. he informed us that it was the Pork Neck with Fennel & Mustard. We only had a small piece but the flavour was amazing, and I wasn't worried, because I thought that if they were coming around for 2 hours you would get plenty. Soon  we were offered a fried cassava chip (we only got 1), and my Wife seemed a little annoyed at only getting 1. 
"They come around all night." I told her. "Don't worry you'll get plenty."
I had finished my drink and was soon asked if I would like another, opting to try a pisco sour, having never tried the South American spirit 'Pisco'.

A while passed and a man soon came around and offered us a cutting of lamb leg, again a tiny slither of meat, but still tasty. I finished my drink, and the people came around offering food to all the tables around us, but not to us. The couple to the right of my Wife had had their 'sweets' that were to finish the mains, and then were reoffered more meat as we sat there waiting while me Wife grew more and more annoyed, ruining my night. However, soon it was becoming justified, and we were just ignored, and I sat in the restaurant hungry, as an hour had now gone by and we had only had two tiny slithers of meat. 
My Wife was frustrated as it was the one place we had booked and an hour of our sitting time was over, barely having tried anything and sitting feeling hungry.
"If they come back over we'll say something." I told her.
Eventually the lady who had been serving us, asked my Wife is she would like another drink. (I was facing the other way an had not heard her approach in the noisy restaurant.
"We'd like some food." My Wife told her, informing her that we 'hadn't eaten' yet. Probably coming across a little rude, but it was very frustrating. 
The lady immediately apologised and said she would go see what was going on and that she'd 'make sure we got all the food we wanted'.
Soon the people were coming around, "a piece of this?", "a piece of this?" they would ask, in quick succession, sometimes when we still had things on the plate sometimes just after finishing a plate.

We made our way through the menu and all the food was excellent and I was excited to try the chicken hearts (I love trying new foods and cuisines).
The waitress checked on us again, to make sure we were getting food and I thanked her profusely telling her I greatly appreciated it, while my Wife was trying to hold back tears, feeling uncomfortable about having to say something, feeling like it had tainted the night and that she 'did want to come across as a bitch.' She was also annoyed because we could have been sampling this food over the hour prior instead getting it all loaded upon us in this last hour.
We quickly began filling up, soon having tried samples of all the meats on the menu, the waitress let us know and asked if there was anything else we wanted to sample before the sweets, but we were stuffed full by this point (it would have been a perfect experience had it all come out at consistent times over the 2 hours).

For the sweets we were given friend banana fritters (which I enjoyed, even as someone not huge on banana), and the BBQ pineapple with cinnamon sugar which tasted amazing (and I usually hate hot pineapple on pizza or burgers), but the sweetness of the cinnamon sugar with the light smoky taste, my Wife also saying it was just succulent and she's like to make it at home.

After our dessert we got up to pay, thoroughly enjoying the food, if not a little tainted by the experience, which if they could get running like a well oiled machine would make it a sensational restaurant.

We headed back to the hotel, tired and feeling drained from our long day in the sun, ready to check out and begin the drive home the next day.

The following morning were were awoken to knocking on our door, the housekeeper had been told we had already checked out and my Wife had to open the door in her pajamas to let her know we were still here.

We eventually got ourselves out of bed, packing our belonging where we decided to check out and drive to Mereweather Beach to get breakfast and coffee. We got bacon and egg rolls and I got a coffee, and my Wife got a strawberry iced matcha latte from Sunnyboy Kiosk there, and we sat over looking the ocean while we ate. 
My Wife began to get upset that she had to leave Newcastle, wishing we could move there.

We began the drive home with three planned stopped on the way. 

Our first, Oldfields Cellar in Gosford. My favourite bottle shop and anytime I'm in the region, including when I was in Gosford for my Nan's funeral I stopped in to try new stouts.

When we arrived I purchased 4 (though I could have spent an entire pay-check there!)
I got:
Hawkers Neapolitan Bonaparte Strawberry Ice Cream Edition
Ol' Smokey The Camp Cook Whiskey Barrel Aged Smoked Porter
Samuel Smith Old Brewery Oatmeal Stout
Samuel Smith Old Brewery Taddy Porter.

We then headed to Umina, where I was going to Bremen's Patisserie to purchase the 'Flaming Ron', apparently the 'Hottest Natural Chilli Pie in the World', which a quick stop on our way there at 'Staples Lookout'.

Finally we arrived in Umina, before heading to purchase my pie I suggested we find a toilet, googling that there was one as a local library. We walked up to it, and there was a man simply standing outside, (I dunno what he was doing. He was just standing there)

I went in and came out and asked my Wife is she was going to go. But she refused because there was a man standing outside so she 'didn't feel safe'. I told her it was the middle of the day, on a busy street, and I would be outside.
She said she wouldn't go cause she didn't feel safe, I told her she was being ridiculous and she got angry and had a go at me, causing me to shake my head and feeling that was a bit too much paranoia now.
'You need to watch less true crime." I told her, pissing her off more.

We made our way to the patisserie, past a Guzman y Gomez (GYG) fast food restaurant and I said there were toilets in there, and made her go.

We went to the patisserie and I asked for a Flaming Ron' having to sign a waiver. 

"Do you need it heated?" The lady asked as they come frozen (I had already called ahead of time to ask and was told they only sell them frozen now, so we had purchased a cooler bag at Coles to transport it home.)

We continued the drive home which from here took us along the coast past Lake Macquarie, an area I would like to explore.

Eventually after a long drive we reached home, where I debated about eating my pie that night, or the next day at lunch (as I had taken that day off work too.)

I decided upon having it for lunch instead, filming my attempt.

I was able to eat it with relative ease, suffering some minor stomach pains later that afternoon with the ring of fire that night and the next morning. I shared my attempt of Facebook where my cousin Jason commented that back in the day if you would eat it under 5 minutes you could eat a second one, almost like a 'Hard Mode'. I told him I ate it under 5 minutes so if I pass through Umina again I would have to purchase 2 and see how I go.

And thus ends my little weekend holiday in Newcastle, where I returned to work for two days, taking Friday off to travel to Sydney to see one of my favourite bands: Agalloch at Factory Theatre in Newtown, with the lead singer being one of the opening acts, as well as another band I love (an Australian band) called Suldusk.

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Thanks for reading! - Steven