Monk Bay Circuit

Wednesday 25th January 2017

Monk Bay

 Today was meant to be a repeat of the walk done in 2015 but circumstances necessitated a slight change of plans towards the final stage of the walk.
We started at the Coal Mines site on the Tasman Peninsula near Saltwater River and headed off to Plunkett Point, bypassing the ruins, as we intended to check them out on the return.

Plunkett Point

Plunkett Point

Ironstone Point

Cottage at Plunkett Point

Cottage at Plunkett Point

 After Plunkett Point we continued on to the fire break where I almost missed the track turnoff. the track from here to Ironstone Point is becoming overgrown and appears to receive little use but it is still reasonably easy to follow. We stopped at Ironstone Point for a short break before continuing on around Monk Bay. It was a perfect day.

Monk Bay

Monk Bay

Monk Bay

Nameless Point

After Monk Bay we carried on past Nameless Point and Whitehouse Point before finding a shady spot for lunch. The colour of the water all along the coast here is terrific and it changes as the walk goes around the coastline.

From Whitehouse Point

Ironstone Point

From Whitehouse Point

Nameless Point

Whitehouse Point

After lunch we walked on to Lime Bay and just as we approached the turnoff to the old vehicle track, one of my companions tripped on a sapling stump that someone had cut off at just a height to cause a serious hazard. Why people do this I do not know, but I see it quite often in my travels. Anyway she did a good face plant and injured her nose and knee and tried to carry on but was in pain. I suggested that we walk to Lime Bay, which was not far, and I would walk back along the road to get the car. This we did. It was a hot, dry and dusty walk back along the road but it only took an hour and I was back at Lime Bay to collect them. By that time my companion had recovered somewhat from the shock and was glad to be heading home. We did not bother to check out the ruins at The Coal Mines site. Another day, perhaps
This is a great walk with really beautiful scenery.