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Tag: National Park

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Seaham Swamp Nature Reserve

Seaham Swamp

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.

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Cape Baily Track Kamay Botany Bay

Sea Cliffs and Waves Cape Baily Track

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
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Sawn Rocks Mount Kaputar National Park

The Cliff Face From the Viewing Platform

Sawn Rocks Mount Kaputar National Park

Getting There

Located around 40 km north east of Narrabri, Sawn Rocks is a geological formation of columnar basalt which resembles organ pipes. As part of the Mount Kaputar National Park, the area is managed by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, which ensures it is managed correctly.

The road from Narrabri is fully sealed and was in very good condition when we visited.

Car Park

Designed for travellers, the car park has lots of space, so there is room for caravans to easily park. For somewhere so far from a town, the facilities are excellent, making it a great place to stop and relax. Next to the car park is a composting toilet. On the opposite side is a picnic area with sunshades and gas barbecues, which were in excellent condition.

There is a series of information boards explaining the formation of Sawn Rocks, as well as other things to do in the area.

  • Picnic Area and Bar-B-cues Near the Car Park
    Picnic Area and Bar-B-cues Near the Car Park
  • Information Board in the Car Park
    Information Board in the Car Park

Walking Track

The track from the car park to the viewing area only takes around 15 minutes to walk, but remember to take water. Winding through the bush, it is either paved with bitumen, or is a metal walkway, which makes the walk easy.

  • Bitumen Paved Access Track
    Bitumen Paved Access Track
  • Metal Walkway into Sawn Rocks
    Metal Walkway into Sawn Rocks

Sawn Rocks Viewing Platform

On reaching the viewing platform you look directly at the cliff face which is perfect for taking photos.

  • The Sawn Rocks Cliff Face From the Viewing Platform
    The Cliff Face From the Viewing Platform
  • Sawn Rocks
    Sawn Rocks
  • The sawn rocks Cliff Face From the Viewing Platform
    The Cliff Face From the Viewing Platform

Creek Bed

A short walk down from the viewing platform gets you to the creek bed. There is a path cut into the rocks to form a stairway, makes for and easy descent. The base of the cliff is littered with fallen boulders, so be careful of you footing and wear good walking shoes.

You get a different perspective of the formation from here because you can look up at the cliff. Even the boulders on the ground are interesting, as they show the piping of the rocks and how they have a cross sectional polygon.

  • Steps Down to the Creek Bed
    Steps Down to the Creek Bed
  • Looking Up From the Creek Bed at the Cliff Face Sawn Rocks
    Looking Up From the Creek Bed at the Cliff Face
  • Looking Up From the Creek Bed at the Cliff Face
    Looking Up From the Creek Bed at the Cliff Face
  • Fallen Columns in the Creek Bed
    Fallen Columns in the Creek Bed
  • Fallen Columns in the Creek Bed
    Fallen Columns in the Creek Bed
  • Lichen Covered Columns in the Creek Bed
    Lichen Covered Columns in the Creek Bed Sawn Rocks

This was a great place to visit, with an easy well maintained track, amazing views and great facilities.