Hat head bushwalk in wildflower and whale watching season

 

We went for a great shortish (7km) walk in Hat Head National Park.

It was a perfect day!

The sun was shining but it wasn't hot and there was a nice breeze blowing.

It's a great time of year as the wild flowers are out and the whales are moving back south to Antarctica.

The walk starts at The Gap which is on the ocean side of Hat Head rather than the bay.
There is a car park but no facilities. If you need the loo before you start you have to go to the caravan park.
There are two tracks here.
One goes around Korogoro Headland and the other goes south to Connors beach and beyond.

The path to Connors beach is a well-formed track up and over a little rise but then it gets a bit tricky.
Walk along Connors Beach and at the south end you will see a sign on the rocks.
Scramble up there and follow the well-worn foot pad as it winds in and out of a couple of gullies and past Third Beach.

Unfortunately the gullies and the track are getting a bit choked with nasty invasive bitou bush which makes it a little less pleasant.
National Parks and Wildlife Service are getting a round to spraying this but there is a lot to be done.

Fortunately there are lots of wildflowers in between - flannel flowers love this part of the coast!
There were yellow isopogons, assorted pea flowers, native violets, little tiny blossoms, and eventually we found some orchids! With the help of an orchid hunter.

Along this stretch we were entertained by a pod of whales! They hung around for ages. About five big ones and a baby,  they were quite close in.

After about three and a half kms you get to the grassy headland of Kemps Corner.
It was a strikingly clear day!
We could see Crescent Head, Big Hill, North Brother mountain and Tacking Point at Port Macquarie.
It's a great spot for morning tea or lunch.

You can also walk here from the road that goes past the Hungry Head camping area.

Then walk back the way you came.

As an added bonus you can swim at Connors beach on the way back.

 

Wilson's Promontory - not quite a walk in the park

In February we wandered around Victoria and it seemed a good time to tackle the classic circuit in Wilson's Promontory National Park - or The Prom as it is called.
There are a few variations on the classic circuit, but this is what we did.

Day 1.
Started at Tidal River where the park headquarters are and a big campsite.
Drove to Telegraph saddle and parked the car.
Walked in an anticlockwise direction, so headed to our first camp at Roaring Meg.
Mostly along a fire trail, but there is beautiful forest on either side.
You follow the route of the old telegraph, evidence of which is still there.
Roaring Meg is set in the forest near a creek and there is on the terrace above the creek or creekside.

4 hours walking.

Day 2.
Left tent and packs and walked down to the southernmost point on the mainland.
It's a very scenic, but windy spot.
Had lunch.
Packed up and walked to the lighthouse.
The way again is on a firetrail for a while but then it ends and as you follow the foottrack and round a corner you glimpse the lighthouse. Spectacular!
The lighthouse is in an amazing location, as many lighthouse are.
The last little bit up to the lighthouse is quite challenging and we were so thankful that the caretaker
was out and about and took our backpacks in his 4WD for us.

It is highly recommended to stay here. There is very comfortable accommodation with bunk beds, but BYO bedding or you can hire.
There is a well-equipped kitchen, but again, BYO food and drinks, although there was tea and
coffee.
The caretakers Renata and Colin are delightful and welcomed us and showed us around.
We felt privileged to have a tour of the lighthouse and museum by Colin, one of the caretakers.
The resident wombats make it just that bit more special.

3 hours + 2.5 hours.

Day 3.
We sadly bade farewell to the lighthouse to continue on to our next campsite at Little Waterloo Bay.
The walking is so pleasant, through forests and ferny groves, with glimpses back to the lighthouse.
Up and down to Waterloo Bay and up and down again to Little Waterloo Bay where the campsite is tucked in behind the dunes.

6 hours.

Bespoke windshield for cooker

Day 4.
A hot day so we were grateful to be walking along beaches where we could cool off.
The track goes up over headlands and down to beaches a fair bit.
Lunch at Refuge Bay where there is a campsite, but just a wallaby and a snake were there.
Camped at Sealers Cove which is a pretty popular place.

6 hours 45 minutes.

Day 5.
Left Sealers Cove. You have to get the tides right here because the tide comes right up the beach and you cannot walk along it at high tide.
The next part is along a beautiful ferny boardwalk.
Then it is all uphill, but a steady climb to Windy Saddle and then mostly downhill back to Telegraph Saddle.
Back at the car

About 5 hours.

All the campsites need to be booked and walkers must register at the park office.
The campsites all have water which should be treated before drinking, and there are pit toilets. BYO toilet paper.
You can book campsites on-line.
You can also book for the lighthouse on-line. It is pretty expensive - but it is a special treat.

Go to Parks Victoria website for more info.

A change of plan

G and T go south!
To the Gong.

The original plan was to ride our bikes in the company of our lovely daughter A to Gerringong.

However.....the day looked a bit like this....

Doesn't look too bad you say?
It also looked like this....

So, discretion being the better part of valour....or something, we walked instead.....from Kiama towards Gerringong.
Along the coastal path.

Some of us walked all the way to Gerringong....some of walked back and got the car and drove to Gerringong.

When we got to Gerringong, we did this.....

...at The Perfect Break Cafe.
Well deserved I'd say!

Plan B turned out rather well after all.