STAGE FIVE (26 NOVEMBER, 2008)

Kurnell - Cronulla

After an early start (0500hrs) I found myself on platform 25 at Central Railway station waiting for a train to Cronulla. As per chance there were two other people there also waiting for the same train and who also were carrying day hike packs. Sauntering over to them I cautiously asked if they were joining Maureen Carter’s group for the walk to Cronulla from Kurnell, to which they replied, Yes. Whew, any form of embarrassment gone. Suitably introduced I soon learnt that Jill, Peter’s wife, was from the UK and was a walk leader who leads walks in the UK and Europe.

Our walk for this leg of Maureen’s Meander to Melbourne consisted of train to Cronulla, bus to Kurnell, (CAPT James Cook’s landing place in Australia in 1770), and then onto Cronulla via Boat Harbour, Wanda Beach and onto Cronulla to finish at Darook Park.

We had 15 starters for todays walk and commenced from the bus stop at Kurnell at 0905hrs. Our group was a collection of people who were very happy and enthuisiastic walkers and who contribute to the enjoyment of life for all who have contact with them. Unfortunately we did not have the company of Garry, Wilf or Jan for this leg as their collective knowledge and enthusiasm is always appreciated.

Our group listened to the description of the walk given by Maureen as well as the group introduction and a few safety points explained to us by Maureen. Onward ever onward and we proceeded to the Capt Cook Obelisk that has been erected to the site of his landing. A little further on we were able to observe a monument to Sir Joseph Banks and the Solander Monument. After reading inscriptions and a few photographs we headed on toward the Discovery Centre where there were further monuments but alas the centre was still closed for maintenance and not due to re-open until next week. Not to worry, we’ll catch up on that area at a later date. After a short stop we followed the Yena Track through some “close” Banksia scrub that was also quite heavily populated with Flannel flowers which still had some very bright white flower heads on them; some also at the end of their time which lent to initial thoughts that there were different types of flowers dispersed amongst the flannel flowers. Not to be, just the different shapes of the dead flowers.

Yena Track continued around and across the head-land where we joined up with Cape Bailey Track. This segment of the walk provided great views back towards La Peruse and some of the area covered on our previous leg (3) such as golf courses, Little Congwong beach and Bare Island. Also observed were a couple of “rifts” in the cliff landform which were quite spectacular in that we were able to look down through these to observe the ocean pounding in through these apertures in the coastal landform.

Travelling on we rested for morning tea at a look-out at Cape Solander where again we had fabulous views back towards Cape Banks, an area covered in our previous walks. Cape Solander was named in recognition of Sir Joseph Banks co botanist who collected profuse botanic sample with Banks and eventually cataloged these when he returned to England and took up residence in Bank’s home and was sponsored by Banks to complete this work. From Cape Solander lookout, during the whale migration season, whales can be observed travelling up and down the NSW coast. A very informative board has been erected here which provides excellent information on which whales travel this route and some general information about each sub species. Also at this rest stop we were able to observe a drilling rig associated with the Sydney Desalination plant located about 100 or so metres off the coast and about half a kilometre from where we were stopped. Fortunately, a Sydney Water employee was also at the look-out and provided us with some information about the current happenings. It appears that the geological survey was not able to detect soft material located below the sandstone bed on which the drilling platform was located and after breaking through the bed-rock, and encountering the softer material, problems are being experienced with the softer material clogging the drill flutes. Even so, the employee was able to inform us that they still expect to be producing clean, desalinated water in September, 2009.
We travelled on and after passing Cape Baily Light House and some more spectacular coast line and views we stopped and lunched at Boat Harbour (1150 – 1230hrs). This is a really pretty, sandy bay area but, in my opinion, spoilt by the weekender/fisherman shacks that are located on the shore line. It really looks like the “old town” rubbish tip and it is a pity that the relevant authorities cannot remove them or at least have some regulations about what can be located there and how they are to be maintained. At our lunch site Tim had a swim but declared that the water was quite cool so any thoughts of a swim quickly evaporated!!

After lunch we commenced our travels across Wanda Beach through Elouera Beach and onto Cronulla, approximately 5klms. During this section it was interesting to observe the dune restoration work being performed by local Land-care groups as well as see a couple of groups of young people who appeared to be participating in a surf board riding class; great to see them out doing some sport and enjoying our great beaches. Also while walking along this section I observed a small Leather Jacket fish that had been stranded above the water-line. I did not take too much notice of the state of the fish however a short distance on I spotted a small Flathead fish that was also stranded but that was still flicking around. I was able to pick this one up and throw it back into the surf and hopefully it was able to recover and swim on to have a happy life before it ends up in the food chain for some other predator in the ocean or on my plate for dinner as a result of one of my fishing trips. Although with my success on these outings I think that this little fish will be very safe!!
We progressed on after passing the Cronulla surf life saving club and soon bade farewell to six of our fellow walkers who chose to head to the train and home. The remainder of our group then travelled around the Esplanade past Blackwoods Beach and the Stella Maris Nursing Home and Hostel; what a wonderful location to see-out your days. Certainly some great views and peaceful setting. Further around and past some expensive looking homes we passed Shelly Beach and Bass and Flinders Pt. Once again some very beautiful houses and coastal views. At this point we also thought that Maureen had “spat the dummy!!” Fortunately not, she had spotted a “dummy tree”. It appears that some local character/s have picked up “lost” dummies and have attached then to one of the bushes along the Esplanade. Probably a few dozen dummies have been placed here and makes for an interesting site and laughable talking point.

Further along we encountered Bass and Flinders Pt where monuments to both these explorers/sea-farers have been erected. Bass and Flinders also travelled down around the Illawarra area and Bass is credited with the discovery and habitation of that part of the coast. Of note was that neither man lived very long with Bass dying at age 43 after being proclaimed missing off the coast of Tahiti. Venturing on we finished our walk at Darook Park/Gunnamatta Bay at about 1450hrs. Some of our group had left cars in the locality and five of us sauntered up to the station and caught a train back to the city for our connecting trains back home; myself arriving home at about 1740hrs as I was superbly lucky in boarding a mountains train soon after arriving at central station.