Stockton is an easy drive from Newcastle across the Stockton bridge and Kooragang Island. We parked in the ferry car park and walked from there. There is a great coastal walk along to the breakwater which was the main reason for our visit. Fairly flat and very well maintained, we found it to be a very relaxing easy walk.
About halfway along the breakwall is the wreck of the Adolphe . This has been incorporated into the breakwall along with several other wrecks that are not visible. A viewing platform next to the wrecks allows you to get a good view of what remains of the ship.
Wreck of the Adolphe on the BreakwallWreck of the Adolphe on the Breakwall
From the breakwall there is a great view of Nobbys Headland and lighthouse. We have walked Nobby’s many times but this was a totally different perspective of a classic Newcastle landmark.
Nobby’s Head From Stockton Breakwall
Tank Traps on Beach
Rough seas and high tides have uncovered relics from World War Two on Stockton Beach. Placed here to impede any attempted invasion these concrete tetrahedrons are tank traps from the 1940s. Visible at low tide, they are an interesting sight stretching along the beach.
Concrete Tank Traps Along the Beach at Low TideConcrete Tank Traps Along the Beach at Low TideOn of the Tank Traps
Shipwrecks at the Stockton Bridge
On our way home we stopped near the Stockton Bridge. There is a rack of boats that looked interesting as well as the wrecks of several boats in the water. Best seen at low tide, the wrecks are badly corroded, but make an interesting sight. The wreck closest to shore is the Kate Tatham, a barquentine that carried cargo between Australia and New Zealand. Run aground here in 1922, then abandoned and left to decay. The wreck furthest from shore is iron-screw steamer Sylvan.
Boat RackShipwrecks at Stockton Bridge the Kate Tatham (right) and the iron-screw steamer Sylvan (left)
The Wreck of the Kate Tatham With Stockton Bridge in the Background
The Wrecks of the Kate Tatham (TR and Sylvan (L)
If you are in Newcastle and don’t want to drive around to Stockton take the ferry from Honeysuckle and then walk to the breakwall.
Stockton Ferry Hunter
To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.
The Dark Stories True Crime Tour is a great way to spend a Saturday evening discovering some of the darker aspects of Newcastle’s past. The meeting point is easy to find being centrally located, at the corner of Scott and Watt street near Customs House. We parked close by at the foreshore car park and then walked the short distance to the meeting point.
Sara our tour guide for the night was very enthusiastic for the whole 90 minutes of the tour. We followed her around Newcastle’s streets, past the beach and through a cemetery. We were told about many crimes and their locations. Several were amusing but most were an eye opener to the past history of Newcastle.
Fig Tree at Night
Dark Stories True Crime Tour took through familiar places we had not visited at night, like Christ Church Cathedral and the Old Newcastle Hospital (now and apartment block). We also went to some back alleys we had never seen and found some interesting street art as a bonus.
Old Newcastle Hospital
Christchurch Cathedral At Night
Christchurch Cathedral Cemetery At Night
We had a small group of five but the maximum group size is limited to twelve people. This ensures that you will not get pushed to the back of the group and not hear the stories. A great evening out that was interesting and fun for the whole 90 minutes.
Street Art
Street Art
To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.
We decided to go on a Kayaking Tour of the Hunter Wetlands National  Park with the School of Yak and had an amazing time. This is a small local tour company specializing in kayaking which gives you a great personalized experience of the wetlands. Glenn the owner grew up in the area and spend much of his childhood kayaking through the mangroves. His knowledge of the swamp and it’s environment was brilliant giving us details of the local bird life, trees and the local ecosystem.
Safety on the Water
The tour starts with a detailed safety briefing, to ensure that you understand what to do. This was great for beginners who had very limited experience on kayaks. Glenn ensured we all had the correct footwear and provided some for those who didn’t. You will also get wet from paddling and the spray from the water, so dress appropriately.
Safety on the water is very important and Glenn provides life jackets and makes sure they are correctly fastened. If you forgot your own sunscreen and hats, Glenn can provide those too.
The first lesson starts on land, where you are shown how to use the paddle correctly. You then get into you kayak (single or double seat, depending on what you want) and away you go. As you paddle around, your guide stays close so you have him if you need help. He also gets you to practise your skills around the entry area to make sure you are happy and confident before the tour begins.
Kayaking in the Wetlands
The guide is always watching the surrounding trees and waterways and giving local information. He has a vast knowledge of bird life and species as well as the areas we toured around. From spotting eagles in trees, to sandbanks and old causeways, they are all pointed out to you and explained.
We stopped on a small sandy beach for afternoon tea. Glenn helped us out of our double kayak, to make sure there were no slips into the water, he helps again to get back in safely. The food was excellent and we enjoyed our stop there along with a look of an old ship wreck and old ruins from World War 2.
Glenn pointed out the importance of not damaging the fragile wetlands and helped minimized the impact we had by leaving no rubbish behind. In addition, he collected plastic garbage that had washed up on the shore.
Pace of the Tour
If you are a beginner, or novice kayaker, Glenn will tailor the tour to your ability. Glenn can also tailor tour to suit what you want to see, ensuring that you get the most enjoyment out of your time on the water. The tour is undertaken at a relaxed pace, so there is plenty of time to look around and enjoy the scenery.
You will not be paddling for the full tour as the water often gently moves you forward. Glenn used the tides to advantage to help take us in the direction of travel.
What did we Think?
The tour was excellent and we came away feeling we had gained a lot of knowledge about an area we drive by regularly. We soon became confident in our ability to kayak and manoeuvre through islands. One of the highlights of our Hunter Wetlands National Park kayaking tour was going down very narrow waterways, through overhanging trees and feeling completely enclosed by the mangroves.
Hunter Wetlands Mangroves
Small Channel by Kayak
Mangroves in the Hunter Wetlands
Hunter Wetlands
We had a fantastic day, finishing late in the evening which enabled us to get great pictures of the sunset.
Remains of the Ajax
School of Yak’s local knowledge of the swamp areas and other locations in the Hunter Valley gave us a great insight into the Hunter Wetlands, its fragile ecology and beauty.
Our Hunter Wetlands National Park Kayaking Tour was an amazing experience and we came away thinking about another adventure we would go on with him.
The Hunter Wetlands at Sunset
Pelican at Sunset
To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.
