Catherine Hill Bay to Swansea Heads

A walk from Catherine Hill Bay to Swansea Heads and return. 25klm all up.

Parking near the cemetery at Catherine Hill Bay its straight down to the beach to walk to the rock platform at the north end. 

I wanted to visit the large rock pool (Bogey Hole?) and Shark Hole on the rock platform but as a large chasm stops access around the rocks I had to climb the steep firetrail over the headland nd come back down to the rocks.

Looking back over Catherine Hill Bay from the headland trail. 

Looking down on the rock platform and pool. 

One of the nicest rock pools I have seen. Large and deep enough to swim in. 

Then along the rock platform to Shark Hole, which is a small inlet into the rock platform. 

Climbing up behind Shark Hole you can then walk out on to a narrow headland with views north to Swansea Heads and a huge sea cave. 

Continueing on to the southern headland of Pinney Beach 

Before dropping down and crossing Pinney Beach.

and on to Caves Beach

Then a beach walk to Swansea Heads 

At the end of the beach and stopped by the cliffs I back tracked a short way and climbed up onto the Headland. 

The Coastal Patrol Base on Reids Mistake (the headland)  where I could look down at breakwaters at the entrance to Lake Macquarie marked the turn around point of the walk.

Moon Island 

Caves Beach 

Spoon Rocks, built out into deep water to load the coal ships.

Split Rock on the coastal walk back to Pinney Beach.

Back to Catherine Hill Bay 

Bangalee

I had bought an inflatable boat and the plan was to paddle up the Wollondilly River at Goodmans Ford. But as usual plans are made to be broken. Predicted temperatures were to reach 40* so Plan B was  to head to the coast and paddle up the Crooked River at Gerroa.  Driving down after work, I spent an uncomfortable night at a lookout over the Kangaroo Valley after strong, gusty winds forced me out of the cot tent and into the car to try to sleep. Next morning at Gerroa the wind was so strong that I couldnt have paddled in the inflatable. The car was actually rocking in the wind when I parked on Black Head at Gerroa.

So, a quick rethink, and I headed off to Bangalee on the Shoalhaven River for a walk of 5.9klm. Temps still in the high 30's but not too bad in the wind. 

Bangalee is an area of old settlements on the Shoalhaven River. The walk starts at a nice picnic area with a wharf before heading down river through a track cut through the weeds and lantana on the river bank. 

It then climbs and follows the ridge  with views back over the Shoalhaven River. 

Two small cemeteries of the pioneering families are on the loop. One up on the ridge in very rocky and dry forest/scrub and the other under the ridge in more of a rainforest area. 

The loop then crosses the road to another lookout on the cliffs over the forest. 

and down to a lovely forest glen along a creek (dry). 

Coming back to the river under the ridge cliffs, a very picturesque fig tree. 

Not bad for a Plan C walk. Would be better with a little less weed and a little less dry.

Rocky Waterholes Creek

A loop walk  of 7.4klm from Hill Top to Rocky Waterholes Creek. Surprisingly? a series of rocky waterholes along the creek. 

Be nice to come back after rain and explore more. Disappointingly, there was a lot of rubbish along the creek, on the main track, the closer we got to the car. 

Marhynes Pool

Marhynes Pool at Appin on the Georges River. Parked at Kings Bridge on the Appin road and walked the fire trails along the Georges River down to the pool. 

I had just bought a monocular for birdwatching and was wearing it on my backpack belt. At the pool I took the backpack off to have a drink and the monocular fell off. I did not notice this until I was half way back to the car. Normally I walk midweek and it would have been still sitting on the rock shelf where I stopped. Unusually for me it was a Sunday and there were a few people about. The young couple of locals at the weir when I was,denied that they had seen it despite guiltily stuffing something into their bag as I returned. Being loathe to turn them upside down and shake them I took them at face value and left without my scope but with a sour taste in my mouth.

A pretty walk with a lesson learnt.