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Friday 31 March 2017

Eliza Point

Friday 31st March 2017

Eliza Point
I could have called this walk a few different names but settled on Eliza Point as it is approximately half way along. Other places visited included Big Lagoon Beach, Little Lagoon Beach and Black Swan Lagoon, all of which are special in their own right.
The walk starts in South Cape Spur 1 and after turning off the main road into this, drive for 3 kms. and park at the locked gate.
I set off a bit after 0800 and walked down the usual track to Big Lagoon Beach. The track was quite dry which made walking very easy. Anywhere in this area is best walked in the dry because once the winter rains start, it becomes somewhat of a quagmire with water and mud that has to be negotiated.
Button Grass Plains

Remains of an old bridge

An example of the track
Once I arrived at Big Lagoon Beach, I headed south along the coastline towards Eliza Point. I had not been this way before and was not sure what to expect. I knew there would be plenty of rock hopping, but how hard or easy it would be, I did not know. As it turned out it was quite easy with the rocks varying in size from pebbles to boulders.
Big Lagoon Beach looking North

Big Lagoon Beach looking South

Heading South

Nice little beach heading South
I actually reached Eliza Point much sooner than expected. If you don't like rock hopping then I would avoid this walk as there is 2.0 kms. of it along the coastline, but as I have already mentioned, it is quite easy.
Heading South

Looking back to Big Lagoon Beach

Heading South

Heading South

Little Bay at Eliza Point
Once I reached Eliza Point I headed inland on an old track and then veered off down to the point just south of Eliza Point where I had a little break.
Looking towards Fishers Point and Cockle Creek

Looking towards Fishers Point and Cockle Creek

Looking North at rest stop
I then walked back to the track and along it down to Little Lagoon Beach.
Little Lagoon Beach

Little Lagoon Beach

Little Lagoon Beach

Little Lagoon Beach

Looking towards Fishers Point
After walking almost to the end of Little Lagoon Beach, I exited to the old track and up another old track to hopefully get a view of Black Swan Lagoon. I did get views of the Lagoon and it is very easy to see where it got its name. It was teeming with black swans all making a whole lot of noise.
Black Swan Lagoon

Black Swan Lagoon

Black Swan Lagoon and peaks to the West

Fishers Point, Sullivan Point and Black Swan Lagoon

An example of track heading back
I just kept walking back along the track to the car. There is a section of about 1.0 km. in length and down towards the car which is being gradually overtaken with cutting grass on this track. It makes route finding a little difficult in places and some scrub bashing is required.
Other than that this is a great little walk visiting a couple of pristine beaches where I saw no other footprints.
Distance: 14.1 kms.
Time: 4'20
Ascent: 225 metres
Click here to download GPX file.



Saturday 25 March 2017

Collins Cap Circuit

Saturday 25th March 2017

Collins Cap
As we were driving to the start of today's walk in Suhrs Road, Collinsvale, it was raining slightly and the weather did not look too promising. Thankfully, once we started walking we had no rain and experienced none for the rest of the walk. The walk commenced at the end of Suhrs Road where the landowner has given permission for walkers to access Wellington Park from here. 4WDs and horses require a permit and a very explicit sign informs people who have no permit about what to do. We set off along the road to enter Wellington Park on the Collins Cap Trail. It was then a bit of a slog uphill to the Collins Cap turnoff.
Heading off

Collins Cap Trail

Collins Cap Trail
It took about 35" to reach the summit where there was a cold wind blowing. We did not stay too long and descended to a point out of the wind for a snack.
Track up to Collins Cap

Collins Cap Summit

Heading up to the Summit

Collins Bonnet

Collins Bonnet and Trestle Mountain

Mount Marian
Collins Bonnet

Mount Wellington

Collins Cap Summit Cairn

Yellow Cliffs

Collins Bonnet and East West Fire Trail
We descended to The Glen Dhu Fire Trail and walked along it as it descended to the lower lands. We kept following it around as it passed through some nice rain forest country until it eventually ran into Nicholls Road. It was then a simple matter of walking back along Nicholls, Collins Cap and Suhrs Roads to the car.
Glen Dhu Fire Trail

Nice Boulder beside the Trail

Nice Rain Forest Area

Mount Dromedary

A really good walk through the high country with changeable vegetation and great views.
Distance: 11.4 kms.
Time : 4'53"
Ascent: 600 metres
Click here to download GPX file.