Pirates Bay and Surrounds - 4 August 2026

 Due to rain overnight and a heavy downpour starting  at about 8:30am it was decided for safety reasons to change today's walk (from Macgregor Peak) to start at the Blowhole at Pirates Bay and on toward Waterfall Bay.

Six intrepid walkers set off and were pleasantly surprised as there was no sign of rain when we arrived .

Getting Ready

 

Just a few steps away Chris and Marilyn find an abandoned fire hose which they use to fill their water bottles

The first part of our route will be along the cliff tops to Tasmans Arch

You can't have a decent walk without an obstacle

 We soon come to an inlet which we haven't seen before and spend a short time exploring

 Making our way along the cliff tops

The view looking north

 

Back on the track

Animal print on the track which we think was made by a deer

Someone said the magic words .. "morning tea"  and whats better than sitting in the sun with an excellent view

 

Shortly after we reach Tasmans Arch and to our dismay the whole area was a fenced off construction site with no walkers allowed in the area. As the construction area went all the way to Waterfall Bay it was decided to return to Pirates Bay and walk along the beach to Eaglehawk Neck.

Making our way along the beach

 

Interesting rock formations

 

Chris has his own island

 And it's lunch in the sun

 

View of Pirates Bay and the Blowhole in the distance

Pied Oystercatchers 

 

From a distance this feature looked like a rusty pipe sticking out of the rocks .. on closer inspection it was a circle of rock .. no idea what created it

 

A river crossing on the way back to Pirates Bay

 

We spend some time exploring the Blowhole and surrounds

 Chris and Sally in the distance

 

Lyn at the lookout with the Hippolyte Rocks in the distance

 

Today 6 walkers covered 7kms in the area around Pirates Bay / Blow Hole and Egg Beach.  The weather was great as most of the walk was in bright sunshine.  Despite having to change our route a couple of times it turned out to be a very relaxing day.

 Thanks Chris for the photos 

 

Coningham - 28 July 2026

Today we are doing a circuit around the Coningham Nature reserve, a walk we have done before.  The weather forecast was for a mostly sunny day of 15 with light winds and a chance of rain later in the day - a perfect day for hiking.

We start from the car park  at Coningham Beach.

 Preparing for the walk

 

And onto the beach

 

 

Leaving the beach as we reach the boathouses and proceed along the clifftop track

 

After about 40min walking, looking back we can see the boathouses near where we began todays walk

 

Unusual rock formation - is it a monster coming out of the sea?

Mount Wellington in the distance

Passing the one orchid that was seen all day!

 

We reach Legacy Beach and stop for a quick look - no swimming today as it's too cold

 

A short distance along the track we reach the cave - Michael, Morris and Ron go exploring

 

After all that strenuous activity it's time for morning tea

 Morning Tea over we continue along the road, fire trail and track as we climb towards Sheppards Hill (an ascent of approx 250m - our only climb for the day)

 At the track junction we take the opportunity to take off some clothing

 

After passing Sheppards Hill it was decided to use a bike track that we hadn't previously walked on for our return journey to Coningham Beach.  This involved some back tracking.

Soon after we stopped for lunch - always a welcome diversion 

 Lunch over and off we go along the bike track

 

Not sure why this pot is here

 

An early wattle

Almost back.  

The view from above the beach
 

A collection of fungi we passed today

 

Today the 16 walkers covered 10 kms.

Thanks to Chris, Michael and Morris for their photos. 

 

 

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