Batemans Bay to McKenzies Beach (Munjip Trail)
20 km (1463 km) 8 hrs
...points of optical ecstasy, where romanticism and optimism overshadow any form of menace or foreboding...
Brett Whiteley
Optical ecstasy indeed on the Munjip Trail today. Great to be back 'out there' on my beloved NSW coast -the first day of Stage 13 of the Dreamtime to Eden camino.
Spent the night at Corrigans Cove not far from the start of today’s walk. Dawn on Corrigans Beach and then a short hop to Observation Point. - its glorious panorama across Batemans Bay and Tollgate and Snapper Islands a fine spot for a magnificent sunrise. A cool, crisp, clear, sunny day made for a chilly start but ideal sauntering weather.
The trail then headed south to Caseys Beach and around the headland to lovely Sunshine Bay followed by a few headlands and rock platforms to Denhams Beach, Flat Rock and on to Surf Beach.
Gorgeous Wimble Beach was next followed by a wonderful stretch to intriguing Bulday Gagurr / Grandfathers Gully which is a traditional source of ochre.
Beautiful Circuit Beach and Lilli Pilli Beach followed and then it was over the headland to delightful Mosquito Bay (nice name to keep the tourists away). Then a steep ladder up to and over the headland to exquisite Garden Bay Beach. .
Malua Bay Beach followed then it was the great track out to Pretty Point looking down on Pebble n Shell Beach, Shark Fin Point and Orangestone Cove with delightful McKenzies Beach and its whale tail sculpture to conclude the day's saunter. Optical ecstasy the whole way!
No doubt the winter sunshine adds to the true blue colour of the sea but it just seems to get ever bluer the further south I walk...
Most of today was on the Munjip Trail – a newly opened walk stitching together a range of existing tracks - an absolute masterpiece IMHO. Just an amazing pot pourri of everything you could want on a longish coastal walk. Plenty of wild bits, lots of tame bits, some up bits (including the occasional ladder) some down bits (stairs when needed) oodles of perfect little coves and beaches, heaps of majestic cliffs and headlands, the odd cafe along the way, and, and, and... sensational!
I especially love its 'undercooked' feeling - stairs, bridges and walkways only when needed but most of the way is earth, rock or sand underfoot.
It's so new that my google maps doesn't yet show it, but the Eurobodalla Council website has a highly detailed interactive map.
The whole trail is well-signposted with high tide or avoid rock platform alternatives if needed. The interpretive information, comminity artworks and cultural explanations are first class. I particularly valued the effort to include linguistic information (munjip means 'walking together, let's go' in Dhurga language) in many places along the way.
I love these 'road less travelled' coastal trails offered by forward thinking local councils - and once again I feel blessed to be walking this 1000 miles of coastal perfection.
11/10 Thanks to all @eurobodalla
Looking forward to tomorrow's meander. And as the Munjip signs say 'walawaani njindiwan' - safe journeys, everyone...