Durras to Maloneys Beach
26 km (1433 km) 9 hr
There are just no words. Today's meander along the Murramarang Coast Walk was incredibly, indescribably outstanding. If you love 'god's grandeur' you can't wish for anything more. Exquisite cove after cove, serenely picturesque bush interludes, sensational cliff top and headland views, remarkable 'living textbook' geology and, of course, kangaroos and wallabies and red-tailed black cockatoos. Even an afternoon drenching squall only added atmosphere to the day. Too, too, too, too good!
Started off this morning south of Lake Durras to avoid a chilly pre-sunrise swim in the tricky currents. Durras is a gorgeous beach intersected by the lake entrance and Bikini Shape Lookout. South Durras then leads on to Cookies Beach, Wobbegong Bay and Mill Beach - an excellent start to the day.
Next was lovely Mill Point, Wasp Head and Wasp Island - both quite waspish in their insect, rather than their Anglo-Saxon, resemblance.
Emily Miller Beach was my favourite little cove today. I stopped for a while to swim, and more significantly, to imprint it into my collection of 'happy places'. Steep with soft coarse sand but just one of those special spots where you could lose yourself or find yourself depending on your preference.
Dark Beach and Myrtle Beach are geological delights. Two of the world's best examples of what geologists call an angular unconformity — a geological boundary between two rocks from different time periods (150 million years different - oh what tiny things we are!) Here is the very southern boundary of the Sydney sandstone squashed onto much older black slate in rainbow layers - amazing!
If you can, make the time to take every beach detour and cliff side track on the Murramarang Walk. Many of the highlights are a little off the main trail so definitely a walk that rewards 'explorer mode'.
North Head Lookout was sensational, as was Yellow Rock and the insane Three Islet Point. All of the above were woven together by some of the most stunning coastal forest in our state. Too good to be true!
The final stairs down into Maloneys after Quirriga Beach and Reef Point made me glad I was walking north to south - it would be a tough intro for hikers in the other direction!
Murramarang fully deserves all its accolades - every step is a natural masterpiece. Can't recommend it highly enough - just a special part of the world.
Tomorrow is the final cruise for this stage from Maloneys to Batemans Bay. On on...