The Great North Walk 2006: Day 13 - Teralba Railway Station

This morning's journey started on a cold train platform as we waited for the train to Teralba to arrive. Meeting up with Anne and a couple of other walkers we all boarded the train, quickly finding a large group of walkers on board.

On the train mum and I enjoyed a breakfast of croissants, bananas & chocolate milk. The rest of the walkers were waiting as we exited the train at Teralba and got the final leg of the walk underway.

We headed down through Teralba and to the edge of Lake Macquarie where we had to make our way through the construction site of the new bike track they were building there, we then meandered around the lake to Warners Bay where morning tea was held conveniently opposite the shops where walkers could buy their cups of coffee, cakes and anything else that was on offer.

After morning tea we headed off away from the lake following nature corridors through the outlying suburbs of Newcastle, the GNW was just one path in a maze of well walked tracks through the strips of bush, leading through tunnels under the road and around the golf course where the crack of a club hitting a golf ball was an instantly recognisable sound in the bush.

We passed by an old disused rail line and train platform at Kahibah before crossing over the road and into the Glenrock State Conservation Area where the high well made board walk showed that we were traversing a very popular walking trail. The pleasant trail overlooked a creek from which the sounds of many little frogs could be heard as we continued on the trail passing over a high suspension bridge and then enjoying the view as we overlooked a waterfall. Surprise could be heard amongst the group as the path came to a lookout which overlooked the beach not far away, and our next stop for lunch.

Continuing on the trail it wasn't long before we reached the sparsely populated beach which was perfect on a warm winters day and everyone spread out to enjoy their lunch. After lunch we headed north along the beach with the keen surfers as they tried to catch some waves and the dolphins which were swimming around out at sea to our right, and the remains of disused mining equipment sticking out of the rocky cliffs to our left.

The beach curved around a bend and suddenly we were all back in civilisation and at the Merewether baths. After a regroup here we headed off along the well used coastal paths of Newcastle following the beaches up to Strezlecki Lookout where we got a perfect view as far south as Norah Head and out to sea where all the cargo ships were waiting to pull into Newcastle Harbour, or looking back the other way over the city of Newcastle itself.

Following a half hidden trail we headed to another lookout which was atop some of the old war tunnels which are situated around Newcastle, then onto an obelisk where we were treated to another great vantage point overlooking Newcastle and then down into a busy shopping mall, where a group of dirty walkers didn't really fit in.

The last leg of the journey involved walking up the winding staircase to the top of the tower at Queens Wharf from where many photos were taken, then winding back down to the bottom and the ever important sign which showed the end of The Great North Walk (or beginning, depending on which way you looked at it). A few more photos were taken here before the group all ended up in the nearby brewery for a few drinks.

Mum & I left a bit early to make the train from Newcastle back to Tuggerah and boarded the train with a few other walkers, in the end most of the walkers seem to have the same idea and soon the carriage was full of GNW walkers. The train trip back made a perfect end to the day as Mum and I enjoyed chocolate ice creams while discussing the days walk and anything else of interest with the other walkers.

I suppose now I can say that I've walked all the way from Sydney to Newcastle, even though it wasn't that hard, and it'd be worthwhile doing it again only all in one go next time.

Melissa