HI,
This is an addition to the camping at pacific palms thread.
We have stayed here a few times now and it is in my opinion and very relaxing place. There is very little traffic around and the water is never crowded.
We stay at Sandpiper lodges clean and simple self contained cabins, if you do prefer the camping tent style then across the lake is Sandbar caravan park, this place is off the beaten track and you do have a sense of remote surroundings but the water is at your feet.
When we are hear we rarely drive elsewhere BBQ each night and beach it all day, I love it.
Very child friendly place the lake is shark free and shallow at places as seen on the footage.
The lake at the time when we where there it was open to the sea by a man made trench this closes up naturally and the lake fills up again and the very shallow areas become waist to shoulder deep again just right to sail from end to end.
Fishing is great, nice walks on sunset, kayaking, bike riding, windsurfing you really feel relaxed just enough to appreciate going back to work until the next holiday.
Well I hope the footage invites you to take a break there sometime. Enjoy.
Kind Regards
Walt
Yes it is a top place to unwind. Have stayed a few times at Sandbar and also at Sandpiper. Was at Sandbar one Australia day weekend and the water was right on the edge of the camp grounds. You could sail anywhere on the lake without loosing your fin.
I used to go to Sandpiper often, many years ago, but the the lack of water became a problem for windsurfing. Might have ato give it a try again soon. Now that I have some SUPS it would be a good place to go exploring.
Good one Walt! Mate, it looks great down there- you,ve sold me.
I like the cabin idea at Sandpipers, but Im keen to take the camper trailer and stay over at Sandbars. Now, I take it a weed fin is needed?
PS- Is that beach a good one to wave sail? I mean are the waves usually the rolling type or shore dumps? Looks like it would be cross- offshore in a n-easter.
Cheers for the clip
Great video, defintly don't need a weed fin sailing in Smiths Lake. If the water's out and the wind is the right direction there is a pretty good speed strip.
Looks like fun Matt! It's only two hours from here, so I'll definitly be hitting there (and Wallis Lake) a bit next spring onwards. You haven't wave sailed Cellito Beach have you? Just wondering how it goes in a nor-easter.
Ps- Welcome to the forum mate.
Hi Phil, Thanks for the welcome, I'm not really into wavesailing but Celito is one of only a couple of places that you can surf in a NE, there's a headland that may interfere with the wind in the corner but may be alright further downwind and does get dumpy down the middle of the beach. I,ve had a couple of goes at wavesailing up at Wallaby Point in a NE which has a few sailers and kiters.
Hi Walt, the photo was taken about 3 years ago and spot on with the wind direction SSE, about 25 to 30 kts and was awesome with a 6.0. There's just that dodgy period until there is enough water over the sandbank at the caravan park and then sail right up against the sandbar that separates the lake from the ocean.
great vid thanks for sharing looks tops ads always talks it up might have to pay a visit .... like the look of the speed strip :_)
Given the nice spring weather I Decided to do a last minute trip to Smiths this weekend for some paddling on the Sup. well blow me away, looks like its going to be a ripper wind today. just as well I brought a van full of windsurfing gear as a back up!
Given the WSW forecast I may give Wallis lakes a go.
I may have to do these SUP trips more often, seem to get more w'surfing action this way!
How did you go? Looking forward to getting out there once my kit arrives. not far from my pad
Hey Waiting4wind
How was it there? If your back, did you get a sail in at Smiths and Wallis, with the westerly I assume it was nice out there.
The question is, is Smiths Lake water level adequate to sail over to the sandbar yet. Wallis would of offered some good long runs I guess.
Hope it was a good last minute get away for you guys.
Kind Regards
Walt
Had a great weekend at Smiths. SUP on Saturday. The lake lake is open to the ocean at the moment so tidal. the water was very low when we went out, even had to pick a path on the SUP to avoid getting stuck.
Sunday the wind kicked in WSW so headed off to Wallis lake and had a good few hours on the 6.4m and 94l board. Apart from the weed (and getting my 20 yr old weed fin to fit) I found Wallis to be a nice and relaxed place to sail. also surprised by the turnabout of locals, about 6 or so others out. The wind was a bit gusty being a typical westerly but very happy to get get a great, somewhat unexpected sail.
I'm thinking off heading up for the long weekend in June, but it may be a a bit cool by then.
