The desert sounds so magical, doesn’t it? But I haven’t been outside my own country in over four years! However, Keddah Jaleel does have the most spectacular coastline…and those who know me know how much I love the beach. It doesn’t really matter which beach—I pretty much love them all. So today I thought I’d share some of my favourite beaches with you.
My childhood beach was in the tourist hamlet of Tuncurry, which is just over two hours North of Newcastle (which is where I live). This particular spot is called The Rock Pool (though it’s more a netted beach than an actual rock pool), and is very child friendly. It’s tucked into the mouth of the harbour, bordered by the breakwater, and it’s not unusual to see dolphins frolicking in the harbour on the other side of the net. J (This spot featured in my 2011 release, The Secretary’s Secret).
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The Rock Pool, Tuncurry…with the iconic Forster and Tuncurry bridge in the background[/caption]Port Stephens is an hour north of where I live. When I was a child my family would sally forth on day trips here—and now Mr Douglas and I will occasionally sneak away for the day too. I think it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth (which may be why I’ve set two of my books here over the years). These photos from Gan Gan lookout will show you how big it is—it’s 2 ½ times as big as Sydney Harbour.
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View from Gan Gan lookout, facing north[/caption][caption id="attachment_872" align="alignright" width="300"]
View from Gan Gan lookout, facing south[/caption]There are lots of different coves, bays and inlets here. Little beach is a great place to swim and snorkel.
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Little Beach, Port Stephens[/caption]But my very favourite is Fingal Bay. If you’ve ever seen the Australian Tourism commercial “Where the Bloody Hell Are You?” then you’ll have seen Fingal Bay (on this YouTube clip it’s at the 17 second mark and right at the end—with Laura Bingle who looks right at home there J).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TebeNC-_VjA
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Fingal Bay, Port Stephens[/caption]In the last few years I’ve discovered Hawks Nest—a tiny beachside town on the Myall Lakes—and it could just be one of my favourite places ever. The beach is all national park…and it just goes for miles and miles. In the school holidays this place is over run, but the rest of the year it’s practically deserted.
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Hawks Nest beach[/caption]But to be honest I have some glorious beaches right on my doorstep. There’s the iconic Nobby’s Beach that’s only a ten-minute drive away.
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Nobby's Beach, Newcastle[/caption]And this one—Dixon Park Beach (at the far end is Merewether Beach and behind me at the other end is Bar Beach). It’s a gorgeous strip of beach.
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Dixon Park and Merewether Beaches, Newcastle[/caption]So, as you can see, I’m spoiled for choice. And very, very lucky. Do you have a beach nearby or a favourite beach you like to visit—maybe one I should put on my bucket list?
About Michelle Douglas:
Making up stories of her own has always been one of Michelle's passions. She received her first rejection letter at the age of eight for Keri the Koala Baby, and has been writing ever since. A love of literature led her to major in English at the University of Newcastle where she recently completed a MPhil (Creative Writing).She has worked an assortment of jobs. Everything from waitress at a wedding convention centre (where the staff oohed and ahhed over fairytale wedding dresses) to answering the complaints line at a call centre for a bank. All of which have provided her with endless ideas for stories.
Her own "happy-ever-after" came in 1998 when she eloped to England with husband Greg. They were married in Westminster – the town hall not the Abbey – lived on tinned soup for a month so they could afford to spend their wedding night in The Dorchester, and then flew out the next day to honeymoon in Paris.
She is a sucker for happy endings, heroines who have a secret stash of chocolate, and heroes who know how to laugh. When she's not writing she can usually be found with her nose buried in a book.
Michelle Douglas on the web:
Website Facebook Goodreads
She has a new book out:
Sarah and the Secret Sheikh
Expecting the sheikh's baby…
When one magical night with gorgeous and enigmatic Majed leaves Sarah pregnant, she's torn apart over whether to reveal her secret. She already loves this baby, but will confirmed bachelor Majed feel the same? Discovering he's going to be a father changes everything for Majed. It's time to face the music and unveil his true identity as Prince of Keddah Jaleel! He'd love to make Sarah his sheikha, if only he can convince her she'll be much more than his convenient bride…
Buy on:
Amazon Kindle
Amazon Paperback
Enter this Goodreads Giveaway for a chance to win signed copies of Sarah and the Secret Sheikh.
Thank you so much for sharing your love of beaches around Australia with us all here, Michelle! And congratulations on the release of Sarah and the Secret Sheikh. I loved reading this story. It was emotional and sweet with a hint of thrill and danger!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaways!
Hi Nas,
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to be here! So glad you enjoyed all my beach pics -- as you can now tell, the beach is my happy place. :-) And many thanks for your kind words about Sarah and the Secret Sheikh! It was a book I had a lot of fun writing. :-)
Those all look like beautiful beaches. I haven't been to the beach in years despite only living about 2 hours from some.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing those beach pictures! I'm jealous. While I do live next to one of the great lakes (Ontario), the local beach is nothing like the beach of an ocean. We do get to travel to Kiawah Island once a year which is off the coast of South Carolina.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with your book.
When it comes to beaches, you're preaching to my choir. I've had a lifelong love affair with the ocean, but am equally as happy next to any body of water. (Except for the bathtub... strictly a shower kinda gal! HA)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your latest book. It sounds terrific!
One of my favorite beaches is Magen's Bay in St. Thomas. I've been there several time, and it never gets old.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in California and we would go to the beach just about every weekend. I live in Las Vegas now and there are no beaches. I miss the beach.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful beaches, I love beaches but none nearby me unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteThose are spectacular beaches. Love the color in the Port Stephens shot of the bay. I grew up inland in Northern California, but we were only a few hours away from pretty spectacular beaches. Love the Mendacino coastline. I have also enjoyed the Maine and South Carolina beaches too. Now my beach views are along the Great Lakes coast lines.
ReplyDeleteFun that you can you your favorite beaches as settings for your stories. The secret sheikh angle does sound good.
Stunning pictures!!!
ReplyDeleteHere in Northern Ontario (Canada), we do have some terrific beaches, but our climate means we don't have more than a few summer months to enjoy them
I love the beach too much that I don't think I could stay away for too long, Ellen. There's something so calming about the waves washing up on the shore. :-) My sister, however, loves the mountains. Different strokes. :-)
ReplyDeleteLOL, Tamara, I love a good bath too. But so glad to have found a beach soul sister! :-) And I agree -- a lake or a river can be just as soothing as being near the ocean.
ReplyDeleteKelly, that sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteOkay, I had to go and Google it. Wow! It's GORGEOUS. If I'm ever in St Thomas I'm going to have to visit. I'd never get sick of it either. :-)
Wow, Mary, going from every weekend at the beach to living so far inland must've been an adjustment. I grew up on The Beach Boys (and I still love them) so California has always seemed like such an exotic place to me. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that you don't have a beach nearby, Christine. But maybe one day you could plan a beach holiday (nothing but sand, sun, swimming...good food and good books -- gosh, doesn't that sound good? Might have to plan one of those for myself!). :-)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, Sophia Rose, the colour of the water at Port Stephens is amazing! So clear and blue/green...and much of it is a sanctuary too so the place teems with aquatic life which makes snorkeling and scuba diving very popular there. :-) I love setting books there because then I'm forced to visit for research purposes. :-D
ReplyDeleteOh, the Mendacino coastline looks glorious! And I bet the Great Lakes' coast is gorgeous too.
Glad you enjoyed them Jemi! I think one of the joys of the beach is just walking it. But, obviously, our climate in Australia is very different from yours in Canada. There are people who swim all year round here. And I've met Canadians holidaying here who'll swim in our winter no problem at all! I guess it's what you get used to. :-)
ReplyDeleteOops, sorry, Susan! All of the comments went higgeldy piggeldy for a moment (which meant I saw Tamara's name instead of yours - oops!)
ReplyDeleteTamara, Kiawah Island sounds *very* exotic! And I imagine it's lovely and soothing (not to mention pretty) walking by the lake. :-)
ReplyDeleteNot much on being in the water but I love the beaches! Every other yr I go to San Diego California to visit my son and I love the beach there. But I had to miss my trip this trip and the beach...I want my feet in the sand! Beautiful beaches you showed here.
ReplyDeleteThere's just something about walking along a beach and digging your toes in the sand that can't be beat, Pam! Hope you get back to San Diego soon. :-)
ReplyDeleteThat first picture has me itching to plant my feet onto some warm sand! Not much chance of that in the UK at the moment so I will have to wait for our Australian holiday next year. Our family live in Adelaide where there are lots of beaches, but our favourite is Glenelg. We’ve spent many a happy time there.
ReplyDeleteThe beaches near you look wonderful, maybe we need to travel further afield next time.
I would love Hawks Nest Beach. It's nice to find places where you basically have it all to yourself.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, I was lucky enough to stay at Glenelg last year! It was winter...and it rained...but it was a beautiful spot. :-) Oh, and, yes! I'd definitely recommend adding Newcastle and NSW's mid-North Coast to your travel itinerary in the future. :-)
ReplyDeleteSherry, I think Hawks Nest is my happiest of happy places. :-) It's just mile upon mile of beach wilderness...and there are Dolphins.
ReplyDelete