Minnie Water to Wooli

16 km (287 km) | 4 hr

Be like a tree. The tree gives shade even to those who cut off its boughs. ~ Sri Chaitanya

I again begin by immersing myself in the sunrise. This time at the Tree of Knowledge lookout (amazing view, but sadly I'm none the wiser), and then follow a delightful trail down to Minnie Water Back Beach. A ‘back’ beach generally faces a different direction from the ‘main’ beach and is usually more exposed to larger swells (so in this part of the coast facing a more southerly direction). Anyway, the back beach was a grand walk in the early morning light before arriving at Diggers Camp; a refreshing highlight being the permanent freshwater showers that run down from the peculiarly named (for Australia) Lake Hiawatha.

Nearby exquisite Boorkoom campground leads on to the Wilsons Headland track which is definitely on the nomination list for the headland oscars – just an incredible place. After a few small unnamed beaches, I have another soft sand trudge along Wooli Beach with the high tide approaching – nothing too difficult and the lovely Wooli River Lodges on the bank of the Wooli Wooli River provides perfect therapy at the end of the walk.

Wooli is the largest town on the Yuraygir walk and a delightful place to spend the evening. The local hotel has a gourmet touch with an ex-chef from Australia’s longest running Italian restaurant having made a sea change to the town – unusual to be enjoying five-star food on a five-star trek!