Matariki - Beach and Bush Retreat at Arakoon, NSW, Australia

02/09/2024

🏖️😅🌺 Immediately upon our return to Arakoon, NSW we've hit temperatures of approximately 30°C for the past two days, an absolute contrast to the cold and wet conditions we experienced in New Zealand.☔⛈️💧
Today I spotted a koala in a tree by our driveway, while the kangaroo, a frequent visitor, was helping with lawn maintenance. Two days ago we observed a spectacular sunset at Laggers Point Trial Bay, following an impressive display by a couple of baby whales (around 25 sequential leaps).
The wildflowers are in bloom on Monument Hill, where we also spot whales frolicking as they migrate south towards Antarctica.🐳

31/07/2023

The 2023 "Sculpture in the Gaol" exhibition at Arakoon (South West Rocks, NSW) opens on 26 August and runs until 24 September.
Right now, the tail-end of the whales migrating north are still being seen from the Gaol carpark and during walks over Monument Hill but very soon their numbers will pick up amazingly as they start returning to Antarctica with their new calves.
The weather here at Trial Bay is glorious at the moment. Air temps reaching 22°C some days and water temp 20°C.

31/01/2023

We seem to be getting more frequent koala sightings near us at Arakoon. This little koala walked along our driveway, strolled across the road, then started to climb. Later we spotted it high in the tree-tops and then noticed another koala swaying up there a few trees away.

25/11/2022

Lovely day at Arakoon today. The water was perfect at our end of Front Beach.
We have started taking bookings again for Matariki - Beach and Bush Retreat at Arakoon, NSW, Australia. Our available dates in December and January are filling fast.

17/11/2019

Yay!!! We've got rain and hail! About 12ml in around 30 mins. It was really welcome. It seems like such a long time since we had a decent fall. Sure beats smoke.
I hope other parts of the mid-north coast have been lucky too and it has helped douse the fires.

16/08/2019

Some of the sculptures that caught my eye at Sculpture in the Gaol, South West Rocks. Great exhibition open until 30 August.

12/06/2019

Fabulous weather here on the Mid-north Coast. Some people are still swimming. A couple of days ago we went whale watching walking from our door up and over Monument Hill. We didn't spot whales that time but saw the biggest pod of dolphins - around 50. I managed to video some of them down below us catching a wave. We spotted whales yesterday.

24/03/2019

Our fish filletting bench has got good use this afternoon. Our son had a very successful fishing trip on the Macleay River in his kayak today. He caught eight good flathead, including a large one of 79 cm.

02/02/2019

I was wondering why our birdbath level had dropped so suddenly!

12/01/2019

The curve and the breakwater at the Arakoon end of Trial Bay keeps our end free of blue-bottles in the North-Easterly. We are having amazingly lovely weather. Clear skies and clear water make for a bumper swimming season. But fishing has been good too!

23/11/2018

Had a wonderful day yesterday, swimming at North Smoky Beach then having a late Bbq lunch below Smoky Cape Lighthouse.

09/11/2018

Lovely walk over Monument Hill this morning. Watched a navy boat leave Trial Bay (a mine sweeper??) - it looked different to the cruise ship that visited recently. Down off Lagger's Point I spotted a small turtle off the rocks, then while watching some dolphins swim north, there was a spout close in - a late whale heading south. Busy here today!

10/10/2018

Must be spring! Saw these two red belly black snakes today at the edge of the Macleay River 18 km away at Gladstone, NSW.

02/10/2018

There are lots of whales heading south. We have great whale-watching walking out the door and up Monument Hill.

Check out these Airbnb listings from Julie!

11/06/2018

Sunset at the mouth of the Macleay River. Very high tide. There were dolphins riding the bow wave of a fishing boat heading out to the bar. The whale season is now ON!

21/05/2018

We saw our first whales of the season yesterday! You can go whale-watching walking from our front door. We don't need traffic lights at Arakoon or South West Rocks and the weather is fabulous. Our Matariki hideaway keeps lovely and cosy with lots of sun during the day and underfloor heating for when temps drop overnight. Come stay with us via Airbnb.

19/04/2018

A stunning autumn day at Arakoon (near South West Rocks, NSW). The water is 24 degrees in Trial Bay and people are making the most of it. It's school holidays and the campgrounds are busy. Book through AirBnB for a comfortable, quiet stay at Matariki.

20/03/2018

We spotted this goanna and kangaroo with joey on our walk to have a swim at Trial Bay. The tawney frogmouth spent the whole day today in a tree by our verandah. The bird-hide next to the wetland is a great spot to do bird-watching at dawn or dusk.

27/02/2018

This male kangaroo hopped by about a metre from where I was sitting by my computer just now.

23/02/2018

We have gentle visitors at Arakoon!

01/01/2018

A beautiful full moon and lovely, calm evening on the headland at South West Rocks on 1 January 2018. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!

02/11/2017

The weather is stunning here at Arakoon/ South West Rocks, the water is lovely and is exceptionally clear

22/10/2017

WE PROUDLY ANNOUNCE the arrival of our baby Tawny Frogmouth! The telephoto lens captured the family in their nest which appears to be precariously balanced in the branch of a swaying tree about 10 to 15 metres above the ground.

18/09/2017

Fabulous morning here. Walked over Monument Hill to have breakfast at Trial Bay Kiosk. Saw one turtle off the gaol. Got out the binoculars and realised there were four swimming together. Walked back over the hill to whale-watch. Saw a large pod of whales tail slapping offshore. Then two eagles soared along the cliffs. Last of all, heard, rather than saw, this goanna just above Little Bay.

27/08/2017

HMS Young Endeavour anchored off South West Rocks on Thursday. On Friday, when we walked over Monument Hill to whale-watch we happened to see the ship sail away. What a magnificent sight!

22/08/2017

So quiet here. Great to walk into South West Rocks along Main Beach and barely a soul about for 4 kms. It's whale season and they come in close here. Yesterday we saw dolphins just off the headland near the new boat seat/sculpture.

15/04/2017

As host of Matariki, I just achieved Superhost status on Airbnb. You can see our reviews on this link:
https://www.airbnb.com.au/users/show/69614930

11/04/2017

We have just had a cancellation for Anzac weekend and so for those looking for a break, bookings are open from the 18th to the 28th April. You will need to book through Airbnb, have a verified ID and good reviews, be non smokers, adults, single or x2, no pets or parties and put your pyjamas in the drawer marked pyjamas!!!! (just kidding - it's a reference to "Under Milk Wood" by Dylan Thomas). 🙂

16/01/2017

We had a lovely swim a few days ago at our beautiful Front Beach. The weather was superb and the water was very clear. Noticed a ball of fish moving back and forth along the beach while we were in swimming. It seemed fantastic to have the ball divide to go around me, they were so close I was tempted by the idea of putting out my hand to catch one. I think they were mullet - they looked so beautiful with their blue shiny backs. One guy flicked out a fishing line and pulled one up straight away. He showed it to his son and then threw it back, which left all the beachgoers happy.

19/12/2016

Apartment in South West Rocks, Australia. Half-way between Sydney and Brisbane, beaches on two sides, surrounded by National Park, bush and coastal walks, 3.5 kms to shops and cafes at South West Rocks. You’ll love our newly-built peaceful, sunny hideaway with such easy access, high-end f...