About 20 members met at the Fingal Bay Holiday Park for our annual camping get-together. Accommodation choices varied from tiny tents to luxury on-site villas.
On Friday we started our exploration of the Tomaree Coast Walk by walking between One Mile Beach and Fingal Bay. We caught a bus to the start point then walked the 11 km back to the Holiday Park. The stretches along One Mile Beach and Samurai Beach were a little hot and exposed, but the rest of the track was most pleasant. There was exposure of a different sort at the north end of Samurai, a noted “clothing optional” location.
The second day saw our group split up, some deciding to start with coffee and shopping at Shoal Bay while others checked out the northern section of the Coast Walk. Those who walked captured spectacular views from Tomaree Headland and then hiked back to Fingal Bay through varied terrain - total distance about 9 km. One group’s peaceful lunch in a street on the National Park boundary was interrupted when a large limb fell from a tree about 50 m away. Quite a number of residents raced out of their houses to see what was going on. Fortunately, no-one was injured, but a fence was rather badly damaged.
Land at the base of Tomaree Headland is the site of the former Tomaree Lodge, a residential and respite facility for mentally ill people. It’s been vacant for 5 years while the State Government decides how the site will be used in the future and what buildings will be retained.
Everyone gathered for a group evening meal which was held at the nearby Sports and Recreation Club. A couple of hours prior to that, some enthusiastic members met on the Club's bowling greens for a few ends of barefoot bowling. Variable grades of bowling skill were on display.
On Sunday, our third day, most folk headed home in the morning, but a small group stayed an additional day and walked the Coast Walk’s southern section - Birubi Point to One Mile Beach - for a distance of just over 7 km. This part of the walk is notable for rough rocky outcrops and crashing waves, as well as a geological formation known as a slot canyon.
We are grateful to Bob and Sally, Sharon and Harm for planning and organising this weekend.
