Thursday 12 November 2020
Photos courtesy of Karen, Amanda and Barry
Starting from the Durras Ocean Boat Ramp, this walk begins in the Village, before turning into the forest and by back-tracks emerges at Myrtle Beach. The forest paths involved quite a bit of scrambling across fallen logs, uncleared since the gales earlier in the year, and the gullies were still muddy from recent rains. The group enjoyed a sunny morning break on the grassy bank above Myrtle Beach before turning north along the beaches and rock platforms that make up the coastline.
As we dropped onto the basaltic black sands of Dark Beach our geologically inclined leader waxed enthusiastically over the unique geological features of this area which marks the Southern tip of the Sydney Basin. Indeed, combined with striking coastal scenery, the coastline geology here make this a fascinating day out. A fair amount of rocky scrambling followed until the group reached the “leap of faith” where a dike intrusion has been eroded away leaving the sea foaming beneath the bushwalkers feet. At low tide this is more like a step than a leap – but it is followed around the headland by more interesting geology. In the cliffs opposite Wasp Island are pieces of fossilised wood and further on are signs of humanity: remains of an ancient metal boiler and iron stakes set in the rock platform where the timber barges of 100 years ago moored to take their cargo on board.
It was a fascinating, varied morning out with a range of interesting forest and coastal scenery. Thanks to Rob for stepping in to lead at short notice. His expertise made it all the more interesting.
Rodney