Pottsville to Brunswick Heads

18 km (81 km) | 6 hr

I haven't got any special religion this morning. If you walk hard enough, you probably don't need any other god ~Bruce Chatwin

Leaving Pottsville at first light, I wandered across Mooball Creek via the Pottsville bridge. Day 3 was another long, long stretch of continuous beach (although broken into various named sections) from Pottsville to the northern edge of the Brunswick River.

Pottsville Beach became Mooball Beach with intriguing Black Rocks a little offshore. Mooball then morphed into Wooyung Beach backed by Wooyung Nature Reserve. Even though the Tweed Coast Road is not that far inland, Mooball and Wooyung Beaches felt completely remote. Not a soul to be seen, just the sun, the sand, the ocean, the whales, the dolphins, and me. A shoutout to the Wooyung locals who have made a perfectly delightful spot to relax and beach-watch with a selection of comfortable outdoor Bunnings-style chairs and sofas and a large table just where I needed a rest... thank you, whoever you are! I was so completely satisfied that I forgot to take a photo, so you will just have to leave your armchair, get yourself to Wooyung Beach, and discover this little slice of paradise for yourselves!

After a rest, a swim, and lunch at Wooyung I continued south. There is an inland trail through Wooyung Nature Reserve for those who prefer to leave the sand, but I continued my journey oceanside along Crabbes Creek Beach, Ferns Beach, South Golden Beach, Ocean Shores Beach, and New Brighton before arriving at Harrys Hills Beach on the northern bank of the Brunswick River. Because of a long sand spit and the need to cross the Brunswick River the next morning, I had to backtrack to South Golden Beach and then walk a few kilometres inland to the Billinudgel Hotel for the night.

I was happy to follow my nose and discover that New Brighton ‘Road’ off Kolora Way is actually a walk/cycle path that heads through Marshall Creek Reserve, coming out not far from Billinudgel. Billinudgel is a quaintly attractive town, and the Billinudgel Hotel has an authentic ‘olde worlde’ charm. I had organised a catch-up with a couple of old friends who live nearby, which added a perfect end to another perfect day.