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Tag: travel

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Burrawang Walk Kamay Bay

Whale Sculpture

Burrawang Walk Kamay Bay

Kamay Visitor Centre

Before setting out on the Burrawang Walk, drop into the Visitor Centre. Not only are the toilets located here, but it is full of useful information for your visit. The staff were very friendly and helpful, which made the day start on a positive note.

Burrawang Walk Kamay Bay

Weaving through the history of the area, the Burrawang Walk takes you through the eyes of the original inhabitants of the area, through to Cook’s landing in 1770 and to its ongoing impact. Starting at the Visitor Centre it was originally called the Monuments Track, because of the monuments in the area. This is an easy track, because it’s only 1.2 km long, and mostly on grass or concrete pathways.

Interpretive Signs

Interpretive signs provide an insight into Aboriginal life in the area and the impact white settlement had on them. This is great because until recently, only European heritage was commemorated here.

  • Interpretive Area Burrawand Walk
    Some of the Interpretive Signs
  • Interpretive Sign Burrawand Walk
    Interpretive Sign

Meeting Place

The Meeting Place Kamay Botany Bay National Park Burrawand Walk
The Meeting Place

Cook’s Landing Place

A large obelisk and plaque commemorating Cook’s landing place dominate one section of the shore. In 1770, Lieutenant (later Captain) Cook landed here and claimed the continent in the name of the British Crown.

  • Captain Cook's Landing
    Captain Cook’s Landing
  • Plaque at Cook's Landing
    Plaque at Cook’s Landing

Banks’ Memorial

Banks inclusion in Cook’s expedition as a scientist led to many discoveries of plants and animals unknown to Europeans. A large memorial to him sits near Cook’s memorial, which recognises his contribution to science.

Banks Memorial Burrawand Walk
Banks Memorial

Solander Memorial

An interesting memorial and the first one we saw is to Daniel Solander, a Swedish scientist who accompanied Banks on the Cook expedition. He was the first Swede and university trained scientist to set foot in Australia.

Solander’s documentation of unknown plants led to the area being named Botany Bay, although now it has a dual name, Kamay Bay in recognition of its Aboriginal heritage.

Overshadowed by Banks while also dying at the young age of 49, he did not develop the reputation he deserved.

Solander Memorial Kamay Botany Bay National Park Burrawand Walk
Solander Memorial

Bronze Sculptures

Sitting in, or on the water’s edge are three sets of bronze sculptures. These commemorate the 250th anniversary of the meeting of Aboriginal Australians and the crew of HMB Endeavour.

  • Whale Sculpture
    Whale Sculpture
  • Whale Sculpture
    Whale Sculpture
  • Whale Bone Sculpture
    Eyes of the Land and Sea
  • Whale Bone Sculpture
    Whale Bone Sculpture
  • Bronze Canoe Sculpture
    Bronze Canoe Sculpture

First European’s Grave

Located on the waterfront, is a plaque marking the grave of Forby Sutherland, the first British subject buried in Australia. Forby died of tuberculosis.

Forby Sutherland Burial
Forby Sutherland Burial

What Did We Think of Burrawang Walk?

This was a nice, easy walk with lots to see. The numerous information boards were educational, which made it even more interesting. This is a must visit if you are in Sydney, because of the number of memorials and European heritage.

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Cape Banks Botany Bay National Park

Rock Platform and the Wreck of the SS Minmi

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.

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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.