View allAll Photos Tagged CoastalBeauty
Was happily snapping away at Merewether Beach when this storm front started rolling in. It seemed like it was swallowing the sun above, which still made a valiant effort to shine through the front. It resulted in some really eerie light, as if the light itself wasn’t sure whether it should be bright and sunny, or dark and gloomy. Like most things it only lasted a short while until the storm hit. Then the sun shine again, as it always does ☀️
Fun fact: Merewether Beach is home to the international surfing competition, Surfest.
cheers :)
Just getting back to my favourite thing - beach photography. This is a rockpool at Fingal Bay in Port Stephens NSW where I'll be heading back shortly for a mini-holiday.
Happy weekend out there everyone, and remember, weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something totally pointless ;)
One from awhile back of a sunrise looking out from the Terrigal rock shelves. I find that colour combo of the orange reflected light from the sun and the green of the weed on the rocks appealing. It reminds me of that old saying “Nature's wake-up call: When the sun rises, even the weeds show off their green glamour” Don’t feel confused if you haven’t heard it before, when I say “Old saying” I mean it’s about 2 hours since I made it up 😜
Enjoy what’s left of the weekend wherever you are! There is 15 minutes left here. And the days start getting longer now , yeeessss!
Another trip down memory lane. This time to 2011 and tropical Cairns in north Queensland. It brings back memories of scuba diving on the outer Great Barrier Reef, a giant friendly Wrasse on the inner reef named Wally, white water rafting in flooded rivers (and being washed over and under and surfacing 100m downstream eventually, all part of the fun)
Ahh, the good old days ;)
Happy Wednesday !
Some of the cool sand-encrusted rock formations at Birubi Beach seem to be saying "this way, come this way to the ocean and the sky"
Totally unrelated fun fact: The weight of all the ants on earth is greater than that of all humans. I'm glad I've always been kind to ants. (I hope they forget that incident with the magnifying glass when I was a kid!)
Here are some of the beautiful flannel flowers in bloom all around the coast at the moment to start your Friday. I'm pretty sure these guys are unique to Australia. They get their name because they have a soft woolly feel. Kinda like Flannel I guess ;)
Happy Friday :)
I took this photo at one of the first beaches I used to visit for photography - Spoon Bay. It was also where I lost my first camera to the wave gods. It was also one of the first pics taken with my first Olympus micro 4/3 camera. Lots of firsts. Does the red algae in this photo remind anyone else of War of the World and the red weed?
Did you know that the algae in this shot married some weed? I hear their marriage is on the rocks now 😬 I heard the music at their wedding was quite interesting , all algae rhythms
Humpday here , happy Wednesday when it arrives wherever you are 😀
because sometimes you just need a rock on a beach.
Does anyone else like to sit in a rock with the tide coming in and pretend they are on a desert island? No balls named Wilson necessary. It can be quite zen, until the hard rock lets your butt know it’s there!
Fun fact: next time you are looking out your window remember that common sand is the main ingredient. You are literally looking through a beach ️
Today’s trip down memory lane is to the unforgettable time, way back in 2012, when we went sea cave kayaking in stunning Phang Nga Bay in the Strait of Malacca. This awe-inspiring bay is filled with majestic limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, and mysterious sea caves, some of which we were lucky enough to explore by kayak.
After paddling under the overhanging sea cliffs, you enter the squishy tunnel through the caves, lying flat your nose nearly touching the ceiling, only navigable at low tide. Then you glide out the other side into a magical place! A place that takes your breath away and renders everyone silent Beautiful secluded natural lagoons surrounded by lush greenery, wild monkeys chattering in the trees, and the gentle lapping of the waves. A place lost to time and civilisation. Magical.
Later, after recovering from the day’s adventures, you make a traditional Krathong (offering). Imagine putting together things like banana leaves, flowers & candles trying to make something that floats. (Lucky my daughter was good at it, me not so good😉) Then as the sun is setting, you climb back into your kayak and head into a dark cave with your Krathong where the candles are lit, and the offering set afloat. Watching the flames flicker in the dark was a mesmerising experience.
To finish the day its back to the boat for the trip back to port drifting on an ocean, and past islands, painted shades of orange and red by a stunning sunset. It has to be the most beautiful natural wonder in Thailand 😊
Thanks for bearing with me while I bared my thoughts.
Gee, the secret rock pools won't be secret if I keep posting them ;)
Just some broader views of these magnificent weed-laden rock pools. So hard to do them justice in a photo though.
Can you see the little boat going past in the background? I had to lay on the ground and pretend I was seaweed by wiggling my fingers and toes about. Didn't want to give the location away, they were probably rock pool spies!
Just a quick Wednesday snippet of Wreck Beach, Port Stephens for a winter Wednesday.
Anyone feel like a game of snap the pic then run quickly away before the next wave rushes up the channel?
While browsing through the old photos on my phone, I came across some wonderful memories from my visit to Perun Mountain at the start of last year. I strolled along the narrow paths of this lesser-known mountain, a sibling to the more famous Mosor Mountain, in search of tranquility amidst the bustling city of Split, which was clearly visible from my vantage point in the picture. It was truly a moment of discovery. I ventured deep into the cold winter night, yet my heart yearned to linger near the quaint St. George's Chapel. I promise myself to return there in the near future.
Just had to post again, a shot from today. Spring has arrived! It finally feels it, so I made my way out to one of my favourite spots in Munmorah State Conservation Area. This view looks across Frazer Beach from Bongong Beach.
The weather was perfect - warm air, a gentle breeze, flannel flowers just starting to wake up, the scrubby coastal vegetation fragrant, the water glowing in spring aquamarine, rockpools glistening near high tide, and clouds drifting lazily across the sky. Everything felt alive. Especially after a cold and extremely wet winter.
As a bonus, when I got home, I discovered our Clivias (& dandelions ;) in bloom. Laid about taking some macro photography to offset the hundreds of landscape pics I took!
Yay for spring in the southern hemisphere!
Thanks for any comments, they are always greatly appreciated.
Waterscape 76/100 for 2025
some people will run away to extreme places to avoid having their photo taken by their overly snap-happy father
This was one of those calm, overcast mornings at Frazer Beach the other day where the sea was just quietly rearranging sand and pebbles on the beach while the sky painted in pastels.
Somewhere beneath that cloud-filtered light were:
Four surfers, one distant collier, and roughly 30,000 pebbles, each one perfectly content with where the sea placed it.
You're welcome to count them for an exact number but based on some back-of-the-envelope maths (8 square metres, average pebble size 15 mm, 60% ground coverage), you land somewhere between 25,000 and 35,000 pebbles. Approximately. Possibly. Maybe. I have no idea.
Thought for today: Give someone a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach them how to use the internet - and you may not hear from them for weeks. Maybe months. Possibly years.
Thank you to everyone who takes the time to comment, it is greatly appreciated!
Waterscape 81/100 for 2025
This shot was taken at Norah Head Beach during that funny moment when night isn’t quite over, and day hasn’t fully arrived — a hush falls over everything, like the world is holding its breath.
It’s as if two shift workers are crossing paths.
Night lingers on the distant sea cliffs, reluctant to clock off, maybe angling for a bit of overtime.
Day ambles in slowly, still yawning, tossing a few lazy rays toward the rocks — no coffee yet, but doing his best.
“Morning, mate,” says Day. “How was the shift?”
“Not bad,” replies Night. “Bit quiet, though that moon’s a real lunartic. Everyone on the night shift thinks they’re a star performer.”
“How’s the day shift going?”
“Oh, you know… not bad either. But working with family can be tricky — especially my Sun. Fiery temper, that one.”
They nod, exchange the usual pleasantries, and part ways.
Same sky, different shifts.
Between them, the coast lies quiet, still settling from the moonlit tides, waiting ...
This a a blend of 3 bracketed exposures.
Have a great weekend & thanks for any comments — they’re always greatly appreciated!
Waterscape 86/100 for 2025
I’d better get back to my “100 Waterscapes in 2025” before I get completely distracted again.
This one’s from Bongon Beach, in Munmorah State Conservation Area. I originally stopped because the rockpool looked like a promising bit of foreground interest. But as I crouched down for the shot, I found myself completely absorbed by the tiny marine dramas playing out just beneath the surface, all the little things darting around, hoping not to be watched I guess. Probably waiting for the next high tide so they could escape to the ocean. A whole miniature marine world, quietly doing its thing. Was fun to watch for quite a while.
I’m not saying I thought it might be a portal to Atlantis… but I’m also not not saying that ;)
Thanks for any comments, they are always greatly appreciated.
Waterscape 83/100 for 2025
A bit of a contrast to the last post. Budgewoi Beach on a cloudy day with Bird Island in the distance. Does anyone else like to know where places get their names? There are some interesting versions of where the name Budgewoi came from, but I like this one from a local historian: the aboriginal name for the area as Budjeri, which meant "good conditions" and described the abundance of wallabies, birds, fish, prawns, trees, shrubs and plants they could use to sustain a healthy tribe. Conjures up some great imaginings of what life was like.
I'm really excited about the amateur autopsy club I just joined. Tomorrow is open Mike night ;) Edit: This is a joke btw, I'm not really joining an amateur autopsy club!
Thanks for any comments, they are all appreciated !
Waterscape 77/100 for 2025
Took a mate for a three-beach walk today: Soldiers Beach, Gravelly Beach and Lighthouse Beach.
Before we left he asked if we needed hiking shoes. I said, “Nah, thongs are fine — it’s all beach.”
Famous last words. Turned out there was an extremely high tide, so we ended up doing a fair bit of rock scrambling between headlands to get to the next beach. Let’s just say wet thongs aren’t ideal footwear for slippery sandstone.
My mate may have come home with a few grazes .... and a lot less faith in my definition of a “leisurely two-hour beach walk.” 😅
That aside, it was a wonderful spring day on the coast — sunshine, sea spray, and plenty of laughs finished off with a hamburger with the works and a banana smoothie looking out for whales. Wouldn’t have it any other way. 🌊
For the non-aussies, a burger with the works here includes the regular beef patty, grilled onions, cheese, lettuce, beetroot & tomato slices along with a fried egg, bacon, and pineapple. On a soft bun with BBQ sauce of course. Delicious and so big you can't get your mouth around it. But you have to, and quickly before the flies and seagulls attack ;)
Have a great Friday everyone!
Thanks for any visits and comments, always appreciated.
Waterscape 94 of 100 in 2025.
A serene and breathtaking sunset over the Andaman Sea, where the sky glows in soft hues of orange, pink, and purple. Silhouetted mountains line the horizon, reflecting gently on the calm, glassy water. No boats or people—just the quiet embrace of nature.
We’re just about a week out from the Spring Equinox here, and it’s already starting to feel like spring. The little signs are everywhere - like turning up at the local surf club café for breakfast at 8 a.m., only to find the car park packed and every table taken. Luckily, the whole beach was free to play on while waiting 😉
This shot is an earlier shot from Snapper Point down on the rock shelves. Another of my favourite spots on the coast.
Fun fact for today, don't read if you liek cheese ;) In 2013, scientists created cheese using bacteria from human belly buttons, armpits, and toes. It was part of an art-science project called “Selfmade,” exploring the microbial connection between humans and food.
I'll pass I think! Thanks for any comments, always much appreciated.
Waterscape 80/100 for 2025
Back to basics, my "standard" beach shot. Central Coast, Rock shelves, ocean, headland, moody sky, & a distinct lack of humans. This one was taken at low tide on my OG Central Coast beach — Bateau Bay Beach. The rocks here look like a kind of nature’s jigsaw puzzle where the pieces never quite fits back together. To me it looks like the ocean’s own art gallery.
I love wandering places like this - not another soul around, just the sound of waves slapping the edges and a few gulls shouting at each other about who gets which rock pool. And bonus ... there’s something deeply satisfying about photographing rocks; they don’t move, they don’t blink, and they never ask to see the results on the back of your camera ;)
Have a great new week everyone! Thanks as always for any comments, they are always appreciated.
Waterscape 87/100 for 2025
I love exploring new beaches and this weekend we were lucky enough to stay in a caravan park right on Racecourse Beach at Bawley Point down the NSW south coast. It’s a stunning stretch of coastline, dotted with one beautiful beach after another.
This one is Shelly Beach, (same name as our local Shelly Beach) area. The cloud formations here really caught my eye - they looked like sunrays, only made of cloud. I think the high wispy ones are cirrus, and the lower ones... well, not so serious — cumulus. 😉
Hope everyone’s having a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by — your visits and comments are always appreciated. 🙏
Waterscape 91/100 for 2025
Took a wander out along Snapper Point recently, a wild little headland where the wind does all the talking. The water here shifts from turquoise to deep green in seconds!
My favourite coastal plants, Flannel flowers, cling on bravely, shaped by years of salt spray and resilience.
It’s the kind of place where you lose track of time… and find it again in the sound of waves on rock.
Have a great week everyone and thanks as always for the comments and visits, they’re truly appreciated!
Waterscape 92/100 for 2025
Ahh Snapper, rugged and remote, one of my favourite locations on the coast here, nestled within Munmorah State Recreation Area.
Have a great week out there! Thanks for any comments, always greatly appreciated.
Waterscape 74/100 for 2025
I love the natural tessellated pavement at Eaglehawk Neck Tasmania, one of the best examples of this unique geology I've seen. This photo doesn't really do the size of it justice.
Eaglehawk Neck itself has an interesting history. It is a narrow isthmus that connects the Tasman Peninsula with the Forestier Peninsula and hence to the rest of Tasmania.
As Eaglehawk Neck forms a natural thin gateway between the peninsulas, it was used by the British as a place to stop convicts attempting to escape from Port Arthur and other penal institutions on the Tasman Peninsula. A system was developed where a line of dogs were chained to posts across the "Neck" to warn of any convicts attempting to escape. The Dog Line was first implemented in 1831 and was used until the closure of Port Arthur as a penal institution in the 1870s.
Many thanks for every fave and comment, I appreciate them all!
Have a great new week out there!
The Whitsundays from a recent cruise day trip. I thought I was dreaming. Then again, I do daydream lots 😉
Across the ditch is a saying here for popping over the Tasman Sea to New Zealand. This is the black rock beach of Napier on the north Island. It is a beachside city with a seaport, known for its sunny climate, esplanade lined with Norfolk pines, and extensive Art Deco architecture. For these attributes, Napier is sometimes romantically referred to as the "Nice of the Pacific".
Have a great week ahead !
Many thanks for every fave and comment, I appreciate them all.