I'm based in Sydney and want to get away for a few days over Easter with the family. I was thinking of Trial Bay, but it's a bit of a hike in school holidays. Other options I was considering are Port Stephens, but I don't know anything about the place, Jervis or Gerroa, but I'm not sure how my non-wave/fsw gear will handle. Is there anything decent up around Bluey's etc?

Any suggestions?

Cheers

Went to Blueys last Easter. Stayed at Boomerang in one of the more affordable places back from the beach although you have
high season/holiday prices. Didn't take any w'surf gear as no wind forecast. It's a really nice area for families and close to
Forster for nice beaches as well.

Wind is often all over the place for easter.

You are more likely to sail at Port Stephens esp. with your bigger gear. Even had westerlies there over easter. It's not summer
busy but still school hol's busy.

Port Stephens
- (relatively) easy drive from Sydney
- more accom options
- more likely to sail
Blueys/Boomerang
- better surfing
- not as busy

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2035 said.. I was thinking of Trial Bay, but it's a bit of a hike in school holidays.

Great place up here, but as Tomp touched on, pretty wonky wind usually around that period. But having said that it could be blowing 20 knots and you have a ball. Never can tell really... Still a sweet place to take the family- wind or not.

Thanks for the info, guys.

Yep, plenty of good waves to be found around Boomerang and Blueys et al.

Ideally I'd love to stay at and sail Trail Bay, but I definitely don't want to drive that far and not get any wind. Guess I'll save it for a more reliable time of year.

So it sounds like Port Stephens is the way to go. I've heard Salamander Bay is the place in a NE'r? What about Fingal Bay in SE'r?

I think most sail the NE'r at Bagnalls Beach/Corlette although it's also good straight off Shoal near the jetty.
You can drop your gear & usually park up past the boat ramp if parked out.

The bombie/reef in the middle of the bay often breaks on the lower tide with a decent swell and you can also
sail all the way over to Jimmy's Beach on Hawk's Nest side if you're keen.

Fingal ok in SSE/SE, can get a bit of a shore dump but sometimes only small as takes a bit of swell to get in
through the heads so worth a look.

Plenty of sharks (and dolphins) but the water is clear so you should see them easily!

Take the Richardson Rd exit (left) past Raymond Terrace roundabout, not Tomago Rd as some nav's will say.

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tomp said..
I think most sail the NE'r at Bagnalls Beach/Corlette although it's also good straight off Shoal near the jetty.
You can drop your gear & usually park up past the boat ramp if parked out.

The bombie/reef in the middle of the bay often breaks on the lower tide with a decent swell and you can also
sail all the way over to Jimmy's Beach on Hawk's Nest side if you're keen.

Fingal ok in SSE/SE, can get a bit of a shore dump but sometimes only small as takes a bit of swell to get in
through the heads so worth a look.

Plenty of sharks (and dolphins) but the water is clear so you should see them easily!

Take the Richardson Rd exit (left) past Raymond Terrace roundabout, not Tomago Rd as some nav's will say.

Nice... thanks for the info.

If a NE sea breeze is blowing there are not many more beautiful flat water locations to sail in NSW than Jimmy's Beach on the north side of Port Stephens easily accessible from Hawks Nest.

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Mobydisc said..
If a NE sea breeze is blowing there are not many more beautiful flat water locations to sail in NSW than Jimmy's Beach on the north side of Port Stephens easily accessible from Hawks Nest.

..and fantastic bump & jump in howling southerly and a large swell outside.[I never thought to sail Jimmy's in a NEer]

Thanks for the tips guys.

Not a big fan of Hawks nest... it's pretty isolated and I'm not the world's most experienced sailor. I've surfed along there before (alone) and it's a bit creepy and very sharky feeling. I do, however, like the idea of Port Stephens.