Running along the northern side of the Wagonga Inlet, the Mill Bay Boardwalk is the perfect way to appreciate Narooma. Narooma itself is located on the New South Wales south coast, around a three-hour drive from Canberra, Australia.
Getting There
Access is very easy, with a large carpark nearby. Accessible to wheelchairs, the boardwalk is flat and runs for 350m around the bay.
The Boardwalk
While walking along the boardwalk, keep a lookout for wildlife. We were lucky enough to see an Australasian Darter eating a fish it had caught. Resting on a rock not far away, a pelican was sunning itself and drying its wings.
At several places, the pathway has been widened and bench seats installed so that people can fish. This is great, because it allows room to fish, while people can walk through on the boardwalk without getting tangles in fishing lines.
This was a nice little walk with great views over the water. Worth having a look at if you are in the area.
Australasian Darter eating a fishAustralasian Darter eating a fishInformation board on seagrassPelican drying itself offLooking over Wagonga Inlet from the Mill Bay BoardwalkThe BoardwalkSteps leading up to Centenary DriveBench seats and fishing spot on the boardwalkYacht moored on Wagonga Inlet
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Although the Durras Lake Discovery trail is only 1.5 km long, it’s a fun walk, taking around 45 minutes, depending on your pace. Located in the Murramarang National Park it’s only a 30 minute drive from Batemans Bay. It is a good idea to check the weather before going, as the road can become very boggy in wet weather.
The Walk
Although graded at level 3 by NSW National Parks and Wildlife, it is steep in places and rough in others. We hiked here after a storm. A large gum tree had fallen over the track and shattered, completely burying the trail. This added some fun to the walk as we picked our way over the smashed timber. Another tree that must have fallen years ago also crosses the trail, but has a gap under it, or a path around.
The vegetation was very dense because rainfall had been heavy in the previous months. Everything was nice and green.
Not long after starting the walk, there is a bridge over a creek, followed by a sign post. This is the point you would take to the Durras Lake Walking Track (8km and 2-4 hours) or stay on the loop track. You will also found a rough wooden gate near the start of the track and another near the end.
Information boards are placed along the trail, describing the plant and animal life.
At the high point of the climb is a bench seat where we stopped and had a snack before descending from there down into the valley and back to the carpark.
This was a great walk and one of our favorites in the Murramarang National Park. Remember that there are park entry fees (we bought the year long pass which works out cheaper if you visit a lot of parks). As it’s a national park, dogs are not allowed.
Lush ferns and palms on the trailLarge tree fallen over the trackInformation boardBridge over a creekBench seatFallen and broken tree blocking the trailRough wooden gateSpotted gum forest on the Duras Lake Discovery Trail
One of Tasmania’s most popular destinations, Wineglass Bay was our first stop on a recent holiday to the Apple Isle. Arriving at Coles Bay early in the evening, we stayed two nights in Coles Bay, giving ourselves the whole of the next day to explore.
Access to the Freycinet National Park is by a Parks Pass, which can be purchased at the Visitor Centre or the carpark. If you decide to ride a bike, rather than drive, access is on a per person basis, rather than per car. A bike rack at the top of the car park shaped like a whale is conveniently placed to leave your bikes.
Rated at Grade 3, the track to the lookout is 2.6km return, with an estimated time of 1 to 1.5 hours to complete.
Whale of a Bike Rack
The Track Going Up
Starting as a gravel track the, path winds through beautiful Tasmanian bushland as it goes uphill. Many sections have steep steps to navigate the steepest sections, making the going easier than climbing over rocks. In one place it passes through a narrow gap between two boulders.
Extremely well maintained, you can see where your entry fee is spent, because the upkeep of the track must be huge.
Large visitor numbers in the peak season has resulted in the National Park Authority turning the lower section of the track into a one way loop. Although we went in winter, this was still a great feature, as you don’t meet people coming the other way and have to step off the path to let them pass.
Start of the Wineglass Bay TrackWineglass Bay TrackInteresting Bark Colours on a Gum TreeFormed Steps Going UpInteresting Chair on the Way UpBoulder Turned into a Weather ShelterSmall Track Between Two Large BouldersSteps Going Up
The Views
Although the track is steep, the views make up for it, being amazing even on a cloudy day like we had.
A viewing platform half way up gives views back over Coles Bay.
The main attraction though is the view of Wineglass Bay, which is breathtaking. A one-way metal walkway provides different views of the bay, with several large platforms to look out from.
The views still looked great, even though it was cloudy. The low cloud clinging to the surrounding hills looked really good, adding a great feel to the area.
View Looking Back Over Coles BayCloud Covered Rocks From the Viewing PointWineglass BayWalkway at the Viewing Platform with Low Cloud
The Track Going Down
The first section of the return walk retraces your steps until you arrives at a junction off to the right. This takes you on the return loop, so that you do not hold up people on the upward leg. Once again there are many steps, although this time you are going down rather than climbing up.
The only wildlife we saw was a small wallaby that jumped off the track before we could take a photo. However, we were lucky, as another decided to visit our accommodation and sit on our veranda.
Two Boulders on The Track Going Back DownThe Track Going Back DownBennett’s Wallaby Outside Our Accommodation
What Did We Think?
This was a great walk, even with the clouds because the views are amazing. Designed for tourists, the path is well maintained, so with plenty of rest stops the climb up is fun. Don’t rush, take breaks and admire the views and surroundings as you go.
