Destination's Journey

Category: Bushwalking

  • Cape Banks Botany Bay National Park

    Cape Banks Botany Bay National Park

    Cape Banks

    Getting There

    We drove to Cape Banks and parked near the pistol club and helicopter base. This large car park has plenty of space, so parking shouldn’t be a problem.

    Cape Banks Walking Track

    The Cape Banks Walking track runs past the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter Base towards the coast. On the way you pass an old fortress before reaching the ocean. At this point you turn right, if you turn left, you will arrive back at the car park.

    The track continues along the coast to the New South Wales Golf Club, where a small bridge leads out to the cape. From here you are able to explore the rock platform and the higher ground of the cape.

    • Bridge to reach the rock platform
      Bridge to reach the rock platform

    Cape Banks Fortifications

    Used to protect the approaches to Botany Bay, Fort Banks is an old World War II bunker and fortification complex. During World War Two, it was armed with two 9.2 inch guns, but these are long gone. Sand dunes and vegetation are overtaking the fortifications. Graffiti also covers most of the site, which detracts from the importance of the site.

    Despite this, it is still an interesting spot to walk around, with some of the building accessible through rusty doors.

    Several old tombstones are stored here, removed from the nearby Hospital Cemetery.

    • Fort Banks
      Fort Banks
    • Fort Banks
      Fort Banks
    • Roof of Fort Banks
      Roof of Fort Banks
    • Fort Banks
      Fort Banks
    • Rusty Steel Doors at Fort Banks
      Rusty Steel Doors at Fort Banks
    • Old Headstones at Fort Banks
      Old Headstones at Fort Banks

    Rock Platform

    Exposed at low tide, the rock platform provides great views over the ocean. Be careful because you need to climb over rocks to get there. Check the tides before going, to make sure the tide will be low. Rock pools and slippery surfaces on the platform mean you need to walk carefully to avoid slipping.

    The small cliff face displays some great erosion patterns from wind and waves. The colours of the rocks are also interesting.

    To visit the shipwreck at the end of the cape, make your way to the rocks, where the SS Minmi can be seen up close.

    • Rock Platform and the Wreck of the SS Minmi
      Rock Platform and the Wreck of the SS Minmi
    • Waves Breaking Over the Rock Platform
      Waves Breaking Over the Rock Platform
    • Eroded Cliff on Cape Banks
      Eroded Cliff on Cape Banks
    • Undercut Cliff on Cape Banks
      Undercut Cliff
    • Eroded Cliff on Cape Banks
      Eroded Cliff on Cape Banks
    • Looking Along Cape Banks From the SS Minmi
      Looking Along the Cape From the SS Minmi
    • Overhanging Eroded Rock on the Cliff Face
      Overhanging Eroded Rock on the Cliff Face

    Wreck of the SS Minmi

    Located at the far end of the rock platform, the remains of the wreck of the SS Minmi are easily accessible at low tide. Salvage work in the 1930s removed the forward part of the ship, so only the rear portion now remaining.

    The SS Minmi was a 75m long, 1,455 ton collier built in Glasgow, Scotland in 1927. It was named after either the lower Hunter Valley town of Minmi, or the nearby Minmi Colliery.

    The Minmi’s captain for all of her ten-year service was Captain McPhall, who had brought the ship to Australia. Captain McPhall commenced two weeks’ leave in the first week of May, leaving Chief Officer Callum to take over as Captain. On 8 May 1937 at 10 pm while returning to Newcastle after delivering coal to Melbourne, the ship struck the outside of Cape Banks. Frederick Boulton, the ship’s cook, collapsed and died of a heart attack soon after the ship struck the rocks.

    The Minmi split in two at about 12:45 am, with crew members stranded on both the front and back sections. Those at the front were rescued without incident, but it was more perilous for those in the rear. During the rescue, one life was lost because of the heavy seas.

    • SS Minmi on the Rock Platform
      SS Minmi on the Rock Platform
    • SS Minmi on the Rocks
      Wreck of the SS Minmi on the Rocks
    • SS Minmi Wreckage Strewn Over the Rocks
      SS Minmi Wreckage Strewn Over the Rocks

    What Did We Think?

    This was a great little walk, because we saw an old fort, a shipwreck, and enjoyed some nice views. The walk is short, but does require some climbing over rocks and a visit at low tide is a must.

  • Seaham Swamp Nature Reserve

    Seaham Swamp Nature Reserve

    Seaham Swamp Nature Reserve

    Managed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Seaham Swamp Nature Reserve, is a small, but important park. Located 40km north of Newcastle, it contains colonial heritage and an important bird habitat.

    We parked in a car park near St. Andrew’s Church, which let us walk to Tom’s Cottage and to the swamp and its bird hut. The walk is graded as 5, implying that it is difficult, however, this is due to a lack of signs. The walk is flat, but you need to follow the tracks made by previous visitors as there is no signage.

    St. Andrew’s Anglican Church

    Built in 1860, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church is an interesting little church, notable for being one of the few buildings in Seaham to escape the 1939 bushfires. We parked nearby in the car park, so spent a few minutes wandering around looking at it.

    • St Andrew's Anglican Church Seaham
      St Andrew’s Anglican Church Seaham
    • St Andrew's Anglican Church Seaham
      St Andrew’s Anglican Church Seaham

    Tom’s Cottage

    Seaham Swamp Nature Reserve is home to a historic slab cottage known as Tom McLellan’s Cottage, or simply Tom’s Cottage. This is an example of a typical colonial era rural dwelling which was moved to its current location in the early 1900s. Though it’s named for Tom, the cottage was actually first built as a retirement home for his mother, Mary McLellan.

    • Track From St Andrew's Anglican Church to Tom's Cottage
      Track From St Andrew’s Anglican Church to Tom’s Cottage
    • Tom's Cottage
      Tom’s Cottage
    • Tom's Cottage
      Tom’s Cottage
    • Inside Tom's Cottage
      Inside Tom’s Cottage
    • Inside Tom's Cottage
      Inside Tom’s Cottage
    • Seaham Swamp Near Tom's Cottage
      Seaham Swamp Near Tom’s Cottage

    Seaham Swamp

    An important bird habitat, Seaham Swamp provides refuge for migratory waterfowl. Depending on the time of year, different species are present, but during our visit, we only saw a few ducks. It was still an interesting walk because the swamp and trees provided interesting photos opportunities.

    Only 300m one-way, it is an easy walk, but no signage means you need to keep track of where you are.

    • Seaham Swamp
      Seaham Swamp
    • Seaham Swamp
      Seaham Swamp

    Birdwatching Hut

    The birdwatching hut is an all-weather bird hide allowing you to watch from a platform, ensuring you get great views and photos of the birds without disturbing them. Identification photos show the species that frequent the swamp, along with information boards explaining about the local wildlife.

    • Inside the Birdwatching Hut
      Inside the Birdwatching Hut
    • Information Board Inside the Birdwatching Hut
      Information Board Inside the Birdwatching Hut
    • Seaham Swamp From the Birdwatching Hut
      Seaham Swamp From the Birdwatching Hut

    What Did We think?

    These two short but interesting walks were fun. Not only did we see an old colonial slab hut and the swamp, but were able to see an old church too. Simple to find with easy parking, it made for a fun morning out.

  • Cape Baily Track Kamay Botany Bay

    Cape Baily Track Kamay Botany Bay

    Cape Baily Track Kamay Bay National Park

    Getting There

    Located in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, the Cape Baily Track winds along coastal cliffs with amazing ocean views. The track starts at the end of the park’s road, past Cape Solander. A car park next to a helicopter landing pad provides easy access to the start of the walk.

    The Cliff Under the Car Park
    The Cliff Under the Car Park

    Cape Baily Track

    The track is well maintained and in many places is a formed board walk, which makes the hike easier than walking over rough terrain. As we walked, the surroundings changed from coastal scrub to bare sandstone rock. Several areas had steps, but these were in excellent condition and easy to climb and descend.

    At 4 km each way and often exposed to strong winds and heat in summer, remember to take plenty of water and sunscreen. There are no facilities on the track, so take what you need for the walk, which takes around 2.5 hours.

    • Board Walk Through Coastal Scrub Cape Baily Track
      Board Walk Through Coastal Scrub

    Ocean Views

    The amazing sandstone cliffs which line the ocean side of the walk are beautiful. Lookouts along the walk provide great vantage points to see them, but obey the signs and don’t go near the edge.

    We might be biased, because we’re local, but in our opinion they are far better than the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. Not only are they high with vertical drops to the ocean, but they are not as crowded and more scenic.

    • Sea Cliffs and Waves Cape Baily Track
      Sea Cliffs and Waves
    • Ocean Views and Sea Cliffs
      Ocean Views and Sea Cliffs
    • Cape Baily Track Ocean Views and Sea Cliffs
      Ocean Views and Sea Cliffs

    Tabbigai Cliff Dwellers

    Fishermen built dwellings on some of the cliffs and lived there from 1920 until the 1960s. As can be seen in the photo from that time they were precariously perched on the cliffs, although some were quite extensive. We had not heard of these buildings before the walk and found out about them from the information boards on the trail.

    The Department Of Lands ordered their eviction and removal of structures in the 1960s.

    • The Tabbigai Cliff Dwellers
      The Tabbigai Cliff Dwellers
    • Gully Where the Cliff Dwellers Lived
      Gully Where the Cliff Dwellers Lived

    Cape Baily Lighthouse

    At the end of the track the Cape Bailey Lighthouse sits high on the cliff, warning ships of the rocks. It isn’t a particularly interesting building, being plain and functional. There are many more lighthouses of note around Sydney, such as Macquarie and Hornby Lighthouses. We didn’t do the hike for the lighthouse but for the scenery, so we’re not disappointed.

    • Cape Baily Lighthouse
      Cape Baily Lighthouse
    • Cape Baily Lighthouse
      Cape Baily Lighthouse