I was very pleased to be able to resume my walks with Brian Everingham that he organises for the National Parks Association of NSW. Quite a few of the walkers who attend are regulars and it was good to catch up.
In the party were Brian, Valerie, Ross, Suzanne, Ann, Jenny, Claire, Terry and myself. I met up with Valerie on the train, and we had a nice ferry cruise to Bundeena from Cronulla. There we met up with the rest of the party and set off for the Jibbon Beach.
At the end of the beach, a small flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos flew past squawking away.
The smell of the Kunzea flowers was quite powerful on the headland.
And there were some Variegated Fairy-wrens –
And we saw quite a few of these Sand Wasps –
I was in the front at one part and almost trod on this legless lizard –
We then inspected the Aboriginal art – a series of large rock engravings.
Then out to Port Hacking Point.
We stopped here for a brief snack.
Here is a Yellow-faced Honeyeater –
We continued around to Shelly Beach and stopped for lunch in the cool shade behind the beach. Then we walked back via the loop track through the littoral rainforest back to Jibbon Beach and back along that to Bundeena.
A pleasant day out, and thanks to Brian for leading the walk.
Gorgeous pictures, especially the sparkling sea. No swim at Jibbon Beach? The nicest swimming in the whole general area. You can make a nice loop of this walk by continuing on round the cliffs past the Cobblers and to where the coastal path (the official one) begins. Although this is an unofficial route, the way is very clear and there are remnants of the old NPWS track to the Cobblers. Most of the walk is on the cliff top, but near Shelly Beach there are some rocks to clamber over (so it’s easier to detour inland on the Jibbon Track and take the first track to the cliffs through the scrub). In a couple of places along the cliffs you need to go through thickets of heath to avoid dangerous cliff edges, but those parts are exceedingly clear.
The water at Jibbon Beach did look inviting. Yes – I know about the route along the cliffs from Shelly Beach to the Cobblers but have only ever done the first bit from The Balconies to the next point north – which is very interesting. And I was thinking about doing that whole section sometime soon. Thanks for your advice about the route. I have seen the old stone house in the gully near the Balconies and wanted to have a closer look at it also.