Tuesday was our chance to view the offering at Port Stephens. And to cut down on time, we packed breakie for the road and set off from Central Coast for the hour and a half long ride on an overcast morning. I reflect and count it a blessing that we’ve had sunny skies throughout since we arrived last week and thought that if the local farmers had been pleading for rain for their crops’ sake, that it would be alright if the skies did open. God must have heard for He beckoned a thunderstorm later in the day, but still kept us and our itinerary of things to see and do in mind, leaving us the fairer part of the day to do all that we’d traveled here for.
Upon arrival at Nelson Bay at Port Stephens, the two mothers parted ways with Tze (in the interest of time, space and the blogger’s convenience, Tze Min shall henceforth be referred to as ‘Tze’) and me. They boarded their Moonshadow Cruise vessel and made their way to the middle deck for their 1.5 hour cruise. Almost concurrently, I was getting into the harness in preparation for the parasailing adventure we were going to go on. Our waiting speed boat with a launch platform at its rear ed (operated by Port Stephens Parasailing) was ready to propel us into 
the air over the bluish-green waters of the bay. Our only connection to land (or should I say water) was a red cord that was slowly released as the boat picked up speed. The cheery coloured canopy behind us began to swell as it caught the wind and soon, we made our way skyward on our tandem flight. With nothing more than the clothes on our back, it was chilly up there with the wind slamming into our bodies. I was literally having ‘cold feet’ in the air and to make matters worse, our skipper Ian decided he’d let us enjoy some Nelson Bay spray by lowering the boat’s throttle and dunking us feet and bum into the water below before teasingly pulling ahead again, thrusting us back into the air. While Tze took some hours to dry off naturally, I was glad I’d packed along an extra set of clothes to change into after the flight. Poor Tze.
We met our mums on board their cruise vessel for lunch thereafter. They reported they’d seen the bottle-nosed dolphins residing in the bay as they scoured the water body. They also heard from the ship’s captain Steve that the whale-watching cruise begins this weekend! So if getting up close to these huge creatures appeals to you, make Port Stephens a port of call soon by calling Dynasty Travel today!
After lunch, Tze and the two mums got off at Anna Bay for their sand dune adventure ride operated by Port Stephens 4WD Tours. They climbed into their vehicle as Ian their driver got the engine started and drove deeper into the undulating Stock Bight sand dunes. Apart from catching sight of the 32-kilometre beach of fine white sand, they also slid down the steep slopes on sand boards. My mum reportedly couldn’t stay on her board. Tze enjoyed her ride down but grumbled at having to climb all the way up to come sliding down again. But grumbles aside, we knew the climb in the soft sand was worth the effort given she slid down not once but five times!
While they were slippin’ and sliddin’ away, I was fighting off paralysis. I knew I was going to be feeding the sharks at the Australian Shark & Ray Centre, but I didn’t know I was going to be standing waist deep in their tank doing that. Before arriving at the centre, I had pictured myself standing on a platform a metre or two from the creatures. Razor-sharp teeth, ferocious and flesh-eating – these are what sharks are, at least that’s what I understand from Jaws. Centre director Andrew Tindale asked if I’d like to snorkel and I don’t know what made me say yes. I got myself into a wet suit and was given a pair of snorkels. But I confess I chickened out when he brought me to the two huge shallow tanks filled with curious sharks and rays. The most intimidating creature in one tank was Fred, a black ray that looked wider than a metre when it was gliding with its wings outstretched. I made my way gingerly down the wooden planks into the tank and goose-bumps started to landscape my skin as the fish came to check me out. This was some ‘checking out’ I wanted to check out of, but for the camera, I faked all my initial smiles. I narrowly missed stepping on some of the lower-gliding rays in the tank and watching my every footing made me slightly uncomfortable. We know what dogs do to you when you step on their tails, and I suppose it wouldn’t be too different with the rays. Besides, the Steve Erwin story was still fresh in my memory. Andrew however put my fears to rest by saying all the rays there had no barbs. Phew!
Thinking the worst was over, I was asked to climb into the second tank beside. Unlike the first, this tank was filled with sharks and one seemed as long as two metres. How could anyone be comfortable in a tank full of sharks with my wet suit only going down to above my knees and leaving the rest of my flesh exposed? There must be a reason why I had on wet slip-on shoes. It was feeding time and Andrew armed me with a pair of tongs that had pinched some piece of squid, a clump of shrimp or fish for the hungry sharks. Soon, the sharks with their powerful suction jaws were sucking those pieces of food off the tongs. They got really excited while I was getting more comfortable with these playful sharks who would rub and slap you as they walloped the food. Seeing I was getting into the swing of things in the tank, Andrew then put some food close to a part of me I’d rather leave attached and before they bit, I stumbled backwards for posterity. I’d never imagined I’d be in a tankful of sharks, petting and playing with them at such close personal quarters. This 6-month-old attraction at Port Stephens is a must-visit and will certainly change your perception of the nature of sharks. If I couldn’t have a dog for a pet, I’d get a shark!
After toweling off, we headed back to Sydney for our final evening in the city before setting off tomorrow to the beautiful Blue Mountains that everyone’s been raving about. Gim Kuan is getting excited as she’s read about the mountains and had always harboured a desire to visit it. Tomorrow, her dream will come true.
Our final meal in Sydney was Vietnamese cuisine on George Street at Saigon Metro Restaurant Cafe. We had five sumptuous dishes including rice-paper rolls with shrimp, pork chop, spicy salted prawn and tofu, spinach and beef noodle soup. This place comes highly-recommended. Gim Kuan's review 'die-die-must-try' speaks volumes of the true delight the food brings.
Check back tomorrow for my next entry and more food reviews. Meantime, hope you’ve been compiling your answers to the ten trivia questions we’ve listed for you on the 938LIVE website. Ten winners will be getting some lovely prizes when the trip’s over, so keep following our journey!
See ya tomorrow mate!
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