I had walked from Kurnell to Cronulla back in 2017. It had been a pleasant outing, and I had talked with Bob about being keen to repeat it sometime. This was a good opportunity, the forecast was good and there sound be some whales to see. It had walked part of the way a few days earlier – on the walk from Cape Solander to Cape Baily and back. But that is a very enjoyable section I was happy to walk it again.
We met, and drove in Bob’s car to park near Cronulla High School. On my previous trip, I had caught a bus from Cronulla Station to Kurnell. That bus had been crowded with students until Cronulla High, where they all got off. Getting on there would be a good way to avoid crowded bus. On our walk down the coast, we would be able to leave the beach a little early, and make the short walk across to where Bob’s car was parked.
This worked out well and we were soon at Kurnell. We got off at the stop just before the entrance to Kamay Botany Bay National Park. We first walked around the coast to view some monuments to where Lieutenant Cook had landed and shot the first two Aboriginals he encountered.
We then walked to the visitor centre and through the carpark to the track to Cape Solander. This track takes your though very attractive bushland – forest at first, then heath. The Grass Trees are similar to those in Royal National Park.
At the coast, we started walking along the track to Cape Baily.
On the previous Saturday, I had seen a Sea Eagle here, so was looking around for raptors. No Sea Eagle, but I did spot a distant hovering Black-shouldered Kite.
And a short way along the cliff, a Nankeen Kestrel was perched –
We continued on our way. At Tabbigai Gap, I showed Bob one of the old structures from the early settlement.
We soon reached Blue Hole Hap, and made our way around this dyke.
we passed the historic Cape Baily Lighthouse.
Here is one of the many New Holland Honeyeaters living in the coastal heath.
We had seen a few whales earlier, but now we saw some much closer –
We were soon at Potter Point and its nice rock platforms.
Some more whales –
We stopped for lunch at Doughboy Head, just north of the Boat Harbour. A Nankeen Kestrel was hunting in the area –
But this Raven seemed more keen on our lunches.
In this area is a huge Aboriginal midden.
Here is the Boat Harbour, which unfortunately has become a bit of a four wheel drive playground.
We visited the rock platform to the south of the Boat Harbour. Here are some of the Crested Terns –
We then started out along the long beach walk towards Cronulla. Looking back I spotted this distant Sea Eagle –
This section is a long way, but at least the sand is hard packed and so the walking is not hard. It didn’t take us too long to reach Bob’s car.