Boomerang Beach worth coming back to

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Boomerang Beach worth coming back to

I’m wondering if this is a bit of a cop-out. I’m finally getting back to the coast — and, more importantly, being able to surf — after an early mishap on my adventure exploring Australia with my dog left me landlocked for months and needing intensive rehab to get my hand to make a fist, let alone push myself up on a surfboard.

But now that’s all behind me, fast becoming a blip on the radar. And I’m pulling into familiar territory — the beautiful Pacific Palms area in mid-north coast NSW.

I’m asking if it’s a cop-out, because I have explored this area a little bit before when I lived in Sydney years ago.

Shouldn’t I be exploring new places, putting myself out of my comfort zone? But as soon as I pull into my new home (for a while, it turns out) at the Tiona Holiday Park, those thoughts evaporate.

There’s a reason I’ve been drawn back here and it gives me that great feeling you get when you’re travelling — I’m not in Perth/WA anymore.

Pacific Palms encompasses rainforest that runs to the beach on one side and into huge great lakes on the other, breathtaking headlands, and beaches of three national parks and the cabbage palms that spread throughout.

Camera IconA surf check via the rainforest. Credit: Christien de Garis/Supplied

After setting up camp ensconced in the palms and thick forest, I’m now travelling south to a sandbar I’ve heard might have some good waves.

It’s here Mallee dog and I trek along a solid boardwalk through dense rainforest, hearing the chorus of unfamiliar birds calling to each other before we suddenly pop out on to the sand.

We don’t have surf checks like this in WA.

The surf isn’t the best, so I’m now putting on the wetsuit and going for my first surf at Boomerang Beach, a strip of sand between two imposing headlands that can produce great surf at either end, depending on swell and wind.

I’m at the northern end taking in the view. Thick forest on the headland gives way to granite rocks, falling into emerald-green water. Dolphins are cruising, then chasing fish between us surfers, and a whale is jumping out the back — this is not some Utopian figment of my imagination — it’s actually happening.

When all the conditions come together like they have this morning, there’s no place like a surfer’s playground.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconDecent surf at southern Boomerang Beach. Credit: Christien de Garis/Supplied

There are several peaks of breaking waves, which is helping spread the crowd. With the waves refracting off the northern headland, it produces wedgy lefts and a few right-handers. And thankfully, my hand holds up, and helps me up to my feet. Managing to link a few turns for the first time since the Nullarbor is a great feeling.

It’s winter school holidays, and the crowd is mellow. I even bump into a former news cameraman I worked with in Sydney more than a decade ago, helping me feel more local.

Surfed out, it’s time for another “I’m not in WA anymore” moment — as the courtesy bus for the Pacific Palms Recreation Club, or the Recky as it says on my new membership card, is pulling up.

The driver can’t believe it when I explain the courtesy bus concept barely (if at all — I’m leaving a tiny margin of error) exists in WA. Most pubs and clubs in regional and some suburban areas of NSW operate a bus. In this case, I rang them 15 minutes ago and asked for a lift (usually within a 5km radius but they’ll stretch that when they have the time) and they’ve come out to pick me up for free or a gold coin donation.

The driver is also surprised we don’t have pokies. I’m not sure if the two are related because I’ve seen some pretty beaten-up old courtesy buses, and the staff are doing other things between runs to and from the club. It doesn’t seem like too much of an impost on costs, and certainly helped me tip a few more hard-earned dollars into the local economy.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconMeat tray raffles are serious business in NSW. Credit: Christien de Garis/Supplied

Newcomer’s luck helps me nab a meat tray — one of 20! Meat raffles are something else in NSW club land — I think the pokies might help there. One local *****-set tells me, he doesn’t buy meat, he just budgets to win a meat raffle, particularly in the quiet times when he’s not in competition with the hordes of tourists.

The Recky is on the banks of Wallis Lake, and a sunset ***** on the deck is a must. It’s not far from the quaint little shopping strip with the usual couple of cafes, general store, bakery, and a few other shops.

With surfing and dog-walking/exploring filling my days, the sun shining and the wind doing the right thing (and I’m now on a first name basis with the courtesy bus driver) I finally think, “yep this trip is back on track. I’m going to settle in a while”.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconSunset at the Recky is a must. Credit: Christien de Garis/Supplied

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