Lake Macquarie from Speers Point Bluff

Hi everyone!  Today I finally did something I have wanted to do for quite a while now!  Every time I drove along The Esplanade on the shores of Lake Macquarie, the bluff at Speers Point has beckoned to me to get up there and get some panoramas of the beautiful lake from up on high.  

I hadn't actually planned on doing this today..... it was going to be a stay at home and garden/housework type day.  When Kim told me that she was hitting the shops with our daughter Rhiannan, I took full advantage of the beautiful sunny cloudless day. 

I drove around for a little while, trying to find a street where there is access to walking paths that lead up to the bluff.  I tried Quarry Road where there is an entrance into the reserve that winds up to the left.  I found a track up the hill and stopped to get my first photos.  I then proceeded to follow a 'track' that went uphill but the rock was soft and crumbly and, covered in leaf litter.  I didn't want to risk a slip (I was actually more worried about damaging my camera if I did!) and so I abandoned that way up.

I drove around the higher streets looking for a path in.  After about 10 minutes, I parked the car in Farm Road where there is an access point to the Speers Point Reserve.  One of the locals confirmed that there were bush trails that would take me up to the top of the bluff.  Following the winding path through some lovely rainforest and bush, I finally reached the ridge of the hill that took me to the lookout on the bluff. 

The view was fantastic; as you will see in these photos. It would be awesome to be up there for a sunrise shot but that would mean tramping along those bush paths in the darkness so I would need a good torch!  Looking west from the top of the bluff would also give some great sunset shots over Speers Point, Teralba and up to Mount Sugarloaf.

I also got some lovely photos of the ferns and trees that look very much like a rain forest on the way up and back.  I always shoot in RAW format and for these photos I increased the contrast and shadows but I decreased the clarity to give them a lovely soft look.  In PSE 11 I adjusted levels slightly and used the unsharp mask for a crisp clean edged look.  I think they have turned out wonderfully and this has given me more ideas for another Photo Safari down to the National Park at the Watagan Mountains on the Central Coast where I believe there are some great walks and waterfalls!

I hope you enjoy these!

Regards to All !

Jordy

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