Skywatch Friday: Cudgen Lake

Just near the coastal villages of Cabarita Beach and Bogangar on the Tweed Coast, Cudgen Lake is a hidden wetland treasure surrounded by floodplain forest and rainforests. Looking out over the calm waters, you'll see majestic Round Mountain to the south and striking views of Mount Warning to the west.
Cudgen Lake's pristine water is perfect for canoeing, which is how I got these photos.

Mount Warning in the distance, zoomed in...

We weren't sure if the sky would colour up much, due to cloud on the horizon. But then, we saw a golden glow beginning...

And then, this happened...

Linking with the following meme:

Tweed Coast: Cabarita Beach

“The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.” ~ Robert Wyland

It's no secret to my readers that the beach is my "happy place".

Casuarina Beach runs almost due south for 8 km from Cudgen Headland and Creek to the rocks just north of Norries Head, at Cabarita Beach.

The view from Casuarina Beach to Norries Head.

Almost completely encircled by a nature reserve, lake and its beautiful beaches, Cabarita Beach is an unspoiled pocket of paradise on the Tweed Coast.
Cabarita Beach, only 20km south of the QLD border, is one of our favourite destinations on the Tweed Coast. The original name of this charming seaside village was Bogangar, an Aboriginal name, meaning "place of many pippies".

Down on the rocks below Cabarita Hill, just north of Norries Head.

Looking north, all the way to Fingal Head in the distance.

Looking south along Maggies Beach from the Cabarita Foreshore Trail which takes you up to the top of Norries Headland, where there are stunning uninterrupted views to the north and south.

More views south from the top of Norries Headland.

Looking south along Maggies Beach; the rocks below are called "Razor Back" and the headland in the distance is Hastings Point.

Looking down on Norries Cove, immediately south of Cabarita Beach. The 200 m long beach is tucked in between Norries Head and the rocks and bluff that separates it from Cabarita Beach. This is an unusual beach, in that it varies tremendously in size and shape depending on the pulses of sand (sand waves) moving around Norries Head.

Facing west, we watched the sunset, just the two of us. While it wasn't one of the most stunning sunsets I have witnessed, it was certainly serene.
I am always in awe of God's special way of "announcing" the end of the day!

I've been suffering severe withdrawals from our regular weekend beach trips (usually every 1-2 weeks) due to some surgeries and a prolonged hospital stay during the last 6 months.

I'd give anything to walk along the sand by the waters edge. I do hope I can head down to the beach this weekend...

Linking up with the following memes:

                        

                        

Cabarita Blues

Whether you love body-surfing or serious wave riding, swimming in safe, shallow waters or long beach walks, the beaches of the North Coast of NSW are just about perfect. This is the most accessible coastline in Australia, with national parks, nature reserves and headland lookouts.

As I may have mentioned before, one of my favourite beaches on the Northern NSW Coast is Cabarita Beach.
We were blessed with the gift of 4 days away in early September for Michael's birthday. I have posted on Cabarita a few times before but mainly focusing on the headland area & the southern beach or the rocky coves & surf spot just north of the headland.

Staying 4 days at Cabarita Beach gave us the opportunity to explore even more of the area than we have during our day trips in the past.
North of the headland and the rocky coves, there is a long white sandy beach that stretches all the way to Kingscliff. This is the southern end, right near the Cabarita Beach Surf Club.

The beauty of Cabarita is that it's so peaceful.

I even managed a fence for Theresa's meme  "Good Fences".
You can see the headland of Kingscliff in the distance.

All the little coves make it a wonderful and fascinating beach!

There is something about the beach that draws me in. Blue skies, fluffy clouds and the ocean are definitely a happy place for me.
It was a perfect day!

Linking with these memes:

                                    

CAPE BYRON, Tweed Coast, NSW

One of my favourite parts of the northern NSW Coast is the Tweed Coast. I love the huge blue seas and the big skies. Cape Byron is the most easterly part of the Australian Mainland. There are stunning views both north & south. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

On the way up the headland, the view south along Tallow Beach is breathtaking...

Heading up the headland, is a wonderful lighthouse. Cape Byron Lighthouse is an active lighthouse located at Cape Byron, New South Wales, Australia. 

Standing on a bald rocky headland with a precipitous cliff on the east side, and a sheer drop of approximately 100 metres, Cape Byron Lighthouse is the most easterly light in Australia, and one of the most powerful. (Info from ByronBay.com)

The cape is the most easterly point of the Australian mainland, located about 3 kilometres northeast of the town of Byron Bay.

There is a lovely, well maintained walk all the way down.

Built in the style used by NSW colonial architect, James Barnet, Charles Harding his successor, prepared the plans for the Cape Byron Lighthouse. Due to the elevation of the site, a tall structure was not required. Construction began in 1899 with the levelling of the site by contractors, Mitchell and King. The total cost was £10,042 (pounds) to the contractors, £8,000 for the apparatus and lantern house, and £2,600 for the road from Byron Bay township. (Info from ByronBay.com)

The tower is constructed from concrete blocks made on the ground, lifted and cemented into position and finally cement rendered inside and out. This technique saved erecting framework. 

The 8 ton optical lens was made by the French company, Societe des Establishment, Henry Lepante, Paris. (Info from ByronBay.com)

There is even a hang gliding launch area on the headland below the lighthouse.

Sharing with the following memes: