Spoilt For Choice

Living in a photographer's paradise was a completely unexpected bonus of moving from the ratrace that is Sydney to the quiet little town of Laurieton on the North Coast. Nestled securely in the shadow of North Brother Mountain, which is frequently shrouded in cloud, provides a deliciously foggy atmosphere.  The mountain is my new landform of addiction, whether wandering in the rainforest atop the mountain or the fern forests festooning the base. Its imposing presence is easily discernible from most locations in the Hastings  and its moods are countless which makes it a never ending source of photographic opportunities.

image: Looking towards the Fishermans Co op at Laurieton from Dunbogan bridge
Five to 30 minutes driving distance from so many peaceful locations and walking trails, some of them even walking distance away, I am spoilt by serene surroundings accessible from every direction.    

Diamond Head, only 10 minutes away from home, boasts a most imposing rock formation comparable to Cathedral Rocks and is one location I cant wait to explore at low tide.

The Port Macquarie Hastings area boasts "more than a stunning coastline", with quiet waterways and quaint little towns within easy travelling distance. Although forests would generally be my preference for atmosphere over beaches any day, it's taken me a while to track down the accurate names for the plethora of beaches also available in my local area. Most of the beaches have magnificent rock formations and there are so many composition options. Thankfully most of them are also easily accessible. A very helpful beach guide is accessible from the  Greater-Port-Macquarie website at http://www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au along with many other useful snippets of information. The Council run website sings the praises of not only Port Macquarie but Camden Haven, Wauchope, quaint towns and villages and day trip destinations.

 Laurieton sits right in the middle of the Camden Haven area which stems from the Camden Haven River which flows from the Comboyne Plateau, and Queens Lake, a paradise for water lovers.