On a windy winter day 25 members met at Kurnell for a return walk along the coast from Cape Solander to Cape Baily.
We met at the Endeavour Café for a pre-walk cuppa, then travelled in convoy to the Yena carpark for the start of the walk.
We passed the new Cape Solander whale watching visitor area, currently under construction. It will be amazing facility when complete.
The Cape Baily track is a combination of easy boardwalk and wind worn sandstone with some mud and surface water in places. There are fabulous views along the cliffs and out to sea.
A short track up a mild slope brought us to the 1950s Cape Baily lighthouse. The lighthouse is of historical interest as the Chance Bros lantern dates from the 19th century, albeit that the modern lamp is solar powered.
An interesting highlight before arriving at the lighthouse is Tabbigai Gap where, among the steep sandstone cliffs, a small community of people lived between the 1920’s and 1960’s. These Tabbigai Cliff Dwellers (as they were known) built their dwellings there following the economic depression years in the 1920s and 1930s. The Sutherland Shire Environment Centre notes that these people were “Permissive occupants at Tabbigai, not squatters … they paid an annual fee to the Lands Department and also paid Council rates for the right to occupy their precarious ledge”. The community was eventually moved off this Crown Land in the 1960s.
The true highlight of the day, however, were pods of whales, with over 20 sightings, some very close to shore just below the cliffs.
After a pleasant lunch just short of Potter Point in a sandstone hollow with some wind protection we retraced our steps to the carpark.
We completed 9.5 km and it was great to welcome nine new walkers to our group.
Many thanks to Russell and Jan for the planning and leadership. Special mention to Russell for his efforts in training the whales to put on a show for us.
This GPS trace shows our route for the day.
