Bawley Point to Pebbly Beach

18 km (1407 km) 8 hr

Great sunrise this morning from Cormorant Beach, just south of the 'point' of Bawley Point, in a perfect 'admire the ocean' chair. I love scenic meditation in beachside seats and always respectfully read the brass plaque memorials. So often they're poignant tributes to departed loved ones who spent many years enjoying their little bits of paradise. They always feel like kindred souls who adored their Aussie coast as much as I do. A great reminder that there is so much love in this world - and also that you have to treasure every waking minute (and get down to the beach as often as you can!).

Anyway enough philosophising. From Cormorant it was around Juwin Head to Gannet Beach and its cute headland, leading on to yet another perfect south coast beach - Murramarang - just sublime. Then it was around to perfect Cat and Kitten Beach, sheltered by offshore Carey Rock and Brush Island.

Around Bull Pup Point to Racecourse Beach, which had some excellent waves near the point today. A bit more idyllic sauntering in the softish high tide sand and then it was around Shelly Point to (yet another) Shelly Beach followed by Butlers Point and Kioloa, looking over offshore Belowla Island.

Took a loop track around O'Hara Head and more by good luck than good management found my way down to Merry Beach and Snapper Point.

And then, tada, the first part of the iconic Murramarang Walk beginning from Pretty Beach - looking at its absolute prettiest today.

I was glad I had waited for a lowish tide for the rockshelf immediately south to Island Beach - heed the NPWS warnings, as it would not be fun (means risky) on a fullish tide.

Singing Stones Beach was great thrill - sometimes you just have to stop a while and listen to the music!

This part of the Murramarang Walk is very much a bushwalk rather than a beach hop. Plenty of ocean views along the way, and a few little bits of sand and rocks, but most of the walk to Pebbly Beach was track and trail (and stairs) through some incredibly beautiful and varied coastal heathland and forest and rill glens. There are side tracks down to Snake Bay and Burns Bay, although I couldn't see one out to lovely looking Clear Point.

Outstanding sections of old growth gums and, of course, kangaroos, kangaroos and more kangaroos (and the occasional wallaby) along the way. Words fail me - just a magnificently beautiful part of the world - doubleplusgood as Big Brother would have us say!