Today we're walking from Wingara Road near Howden, to the Powder Magazine. A walk we've not done for a while.
The weather forecast since yesterday has been for rain, hail, snow, high winds, brimstone and pestilence. Well, maybe not the last two, but keeping the rest of the forecast in mind, Bob suggests we don't start at our usual place on the turnoff into Wingara, but drive down to the end of the road and start from the boat ramp. Which we do.
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| The end of Wingara Road and the beginning of the walk |
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| On track. That's North West Bay ahead |
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| We drop down to the shore briefly to pick up the track just ahead |
It's a pleasant track with varying landscapes.
The track runs between the shore and private properties on public land. It's not long before it comes out on Morwong Street where we turn left.
Turning left again at Tinderbox Road, we continue mainly on a track that runs beside the dirt road.
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| Morwong Street |
Our next turn is at the entrance to Magazine Gully, but before we walk much farther on, Morning Tea beckons.
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| Walking beside Tinderbox Road |
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| Morning Tea |
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The weather isn't following the forecast, we have sunshine!
Looking towards Mt. Wellington shows some weather moving in, so we may still cop it.
Morning Tea finished, we continue up the road. Soon we're insight of the entrance to the Powder Magazine, but several of us know that Bob has a special treat just ahead.
What treat I hear you ask? A nice little climb just for us.
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| Turning right, the first difficulty is just getting up the bank from the road |
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| Looking down, the road is at the bottom |
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| Looking up. Hopefully there's a top somewhere |
There is a top and we stop for a breather. Recovered, we start to climb again, a longer one but not as steep. It's also open and gives some good views such as the one below looking towards Margate.
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| Over North West Bay towards Margate |
Looking a bit to the right, weather is definitely moving in on Mt. Wellington.
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| This weather appears to be heading our way |
We continue climbing looking back occasionally to see if the rain clouds are still heading our way.
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| Still climbing |
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| Doesn't look good |
We reach the top of this hill, where a road passes close to us, heading towards a communications tower. We decide to take some time to explore but you can't get any farther than the tower.
We head back to our turnoff point and follow the remains of an old road north. we want to find the top of the track leading up from Magazine Gully.
Along the way Jenny finds a pretty bird feather. Jenny's holding it, not me I hasten to add.
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| A view I saw in a real estate ad described as a "filtered water view" |
In other words, you can barely see the water.
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| The old road |
Reaching the top of the track to the magazines, we start down. It's steep and slippery, but not too bad.
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| Heading down |
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| Very scrubby either side of the track |
Finally we reach the first building at the top of the road. There are four buildings along the side of the hill going down. Large, small, large, small. All brick with heavy steel doors and special ventilation systems to keep them dry.
Not in use now, they are looked after by Parks & Wildlife. If you really want to see more of them,
CLICK HERE for our walk back in 2015.
I've photographed them in the past and can't see taking pictures again.
We walk down to the small gate house at the end where there's a sign that tells the story of the Magazine.
Leaving the gate house, we walk a short distance to where we started up 'that hill' earlier.
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| Start of the morning's steep climb |
If you look closely, you can see the desperate claw marks of people trying to make their way up!
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| Sign at the entrance |
We stop at the same place we had Morning Tea for lunch before retracing our way back to the foreshore track.
We enter the bush along the foreshore, and Jenny finds another bird related item.
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| Beautifully made |
Bob makes a slight detour on the way back to avoid a couple of yappy small dogs and takes us down onto the rocky shelf that serves as a beach.
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Passing through sheoaks -
Casuarina |
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| Onto the rock shelf along the shoreline |
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| The bad weather never happened |
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| Not man made |
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| Heading up to the track back to the cars |
We had 13 walkers anc covered 8.18kms in 3:41hrs. A good walk, close to home thanks to Bob.
Click here to download GPX file
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| Notice the nice little hump in the elev |
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