Botany Bay to Cronulla

15 km (1046 km) 6 hr

Warra warra wai [Dharawal language] (The first words spoken to Cook's landing craft at Botany Bay. Initially interpreted as meaning 'Go away' but now, more accurately, 'You are ghosts - return to the land of the dead from whence you came'.)

Kurnell to Cronulla today. Another amazing southern Sydney walk that doesn't get nearly the accolades it deserves.

Started at Kurnell, the site for Cook's Landing at Botany Bay (far Kurnell as the old joke had it). A pleasantly forgotten little pocket of Sydney that has a pleasant, quiet charm.

Walked around the rocks (best at mid tide or lower) past Inscription Point to The Steps. Then it was a short walk along the road to The Leap track.

Better rockhoppers than me might be able to do the whole way to Cape Solander rockside - but a few deep fissures saw me return to the road with a diversion to Yena Picnic Area and up to the newly refurbished whale watching platform. Next, the Cape Solander to Cape Baily Track. Love, love, love this walk; wide, white sandstone cliffs the whole way. Sadly the Skylight Cave is now permanently closed thanks to too much love (and too many idiots) on instagram.

Just a magical walk - great signage, incredible cliffscapes (primarily 'white' Hawkesbury sandstone, due to iron leaching through weathering), nice info and pics of the cliff dwellers at Tabbigai Gap (sadly these precarious perches were removed in the 60s).

After Cape Baily Lighthouse the track is primarily rock platforms and sandy firetrails leading on to Boat Harbour Aquatic Reserve and the Boat Harbour beach itself. More depression era huts (descendants of these guys luckier to have 100 year leases) and finally the lovely walk along a few clicks of sand all the way to Cronulla.

Packs a whole lot of punch this walk - double highly recommended.

There is a ferry from Cronulla across Port Hacking to Bundeena at the northern edge of our first National Park - sunrise tomorrow will be from yet another magical place. Can't wait!