garrycol wrote:muddy deo wrote:is there any snorkelling at either end of this beach guys? i can't believe i'm only just finding out about this beach after 20 odd years of having lived at lake macquarie.
The whole beach is called 9 mile beach because it is 9 miles long - northern end is Redhead Beach - southern end is Blacksmiths Beach and the channel into Lake Macquarie. Belmont and Jewels swamps drain into the sea when water levels are high at the lagoon and into the lake at Belmont South.
Snorkelling - well it is all surf beach - guess you could snorkel off the rocks at Redhead - I have seen divers/snorkellers around Swansea Bridge at slack water but since commercial fishing has been banned in the lake the number of Bull Sharks have increased - and of course like Stockton Bight, Great Whites also like hanging around 9 Mile beach - apparently doing what comes naturally.
Garry
Funny it takes a Canberrian to explain the details of this hidden gem, but you have it spot on Garry.
Having grown up on this stretch of sand, and still live within a couple of gear changes from it, I have driven and ridden just about everything there is to traverse the sands of Jewells as we know it. This stretch of sand has always been soft and traditionally a low tyre pressure adventure if you want to enjoy it without over straining your vehicle - air is free guys, let your tyres down.
For those wishing to venture into the water, just be careful of the notorious under currents. Some of the biggest rips on the east coast that will drag you out to sea before you know it here, and not a life saver in sight to rescue you when it does go wrong.
Still, it's one of the few beaches around that a permit is not required, which is great, but it is patrolled by the local constabulary from time to time so be mindful of how many cans you've thrown back when enjoying it.
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Rock On !