Mount Fortescue Circuit

Friday 5th January 2018

Mount Fortescue

This circuit starts at Fortescue Bay, follows the Cape Pillar track to the Three Capes Track and then back along the coast, over Mount Fortescue and back to the start. I had done it before when it could be walked in a clockwise direction. It can only be walked anticlockwise now due to National Parks rules.
As it was holiday time, the camping area at Fortescue Bay was crowded out and even the walks car park had limited parking spaces. I set off along the Cape Pillar track and made good time to the Three Capes junction. The Cape Pillar track was quite clear and has had some maintenance done to it.

Cape Pillar track

Button Grass plains towards Arthurs Peak

Arthurs Peak

Once on the Three Capes track I followed it in a northerly direction, through the Retakunna complex, and began the climb up Mount Fortescue. There was a group of hikers just preparing to set off. About halfway up Mount Fortescue, I stopped on a convenient seat to have a snack and to let the hikers go ahead, as they were all young and fit looking. Oh to be that age again.

Three Capes Track

Three Capes Track

Area at Retakunna where helicopter lands

Convenient seat. Red paint is supposed to represent blood

I huffed and puffed up the remaining track to the top of Mount Fortescue. I did not stop at the lookout as there was no room due to the presence of the previously mentioned hikers. I knew there were plenty more lookout spots ahead. The rain forest around Mount Fortescue is quite pretty with lots of moss and tree ferns.

I carried on down to Red Dirt Bluff where there are heaps of lookout locations along the way.

Cape Pillar

Cape Pillar

Once past the lookouts I walked on to the Cape Hauy turnoff when I encountered the hikers again as they were settling down for lunch, and then continued on back to Fortescue Bay.

Three Capes Track at Fortescue Bay

Fortescue Bay

Fortescue Bay

Fortescue Bay

When I arrived back at the car there were people everywhere. All car parks were taken and people had improvised, and utilized every available small spot to park. It was quite chaotic and I was glad to get out of there.
This was a good walk with nice rain forest and coastal scenery.
Distance: 18.0 kms.
Time: 5'18"
Ascent: 730 metres
Click here to download GPX file.

Bellettes Point

Wednesday 27th December 2017

Bellettes Point

Bellettes Point is located on the Forestier Peninsula and I parked at the large car park at Dunalley Beach about 2.0 kms. south of Dunalley. This was an exploratory walk as I had not stopped in that area before.
I headed off along Dunalley Beach in a southerly direction to the rocks and around the point to Carlisle Beach. It was a beautiful day with sunny skies and light wind.

Dunalley Beach

Dunalley Beach

Around the rocks

Carlisle Beach

Next was around a grassy headland and an unnamed beach and on to Wiggins Point. Here there was an old unused foot pad that went around the point which provided a break from the rock hopping.

Wiggins Point

Unnamed Beach

Wiggins Point

Heading around to Wiggins Point

From Wiggins Point

Smooth Island

Heading around to Dunbabin Point

From Wiggins I rock hopped around to Dunbabin Point. It was all quite easy going as long as one does not have an aversion to rock hopping.

Towards Dunbabin Point

Smooth Island

Nice unnamed little inlet

Dunbabin Point

Dunbabin Point

Bellettes Bay

Bellettes Point and King George Island

I rounded Dunbabin Point and then on to Daltons Beach before rounding another small point and on to the main beach at Bellettes Bay. This was a long sandy beach, and as I had arranged the walk to coincide with an outgoing tide, I could walk across the sand flats.

Heading to Daltons Beach

Dunbabin Point from Daltons Beach

Bellettes Beach

Bellettes Point from Bellettes Beach

After a stop for a snack I walked around to Bellettes Point which was nothing startling, just more rocks. I immediately turned around and began heading back.

Bellettes Point and King George Island

King George Island

Bellettes Bay

I intended to walk back along a road thus avoiding all the rock hopping. I had checked out the maps and there appeared to be a right of way just near Daltons Beach. As I was heading back there I stumbled across a birds nest with a couple of eggs in it. I think it was a gulls nest.

I found the track/road that I was looking for and started walking back. There was a fence along the road and I was not actually sure which side of it I should have been on as it was clear either side. It is the access track to Daltons Beach so I think it was okay. I reached the Arthur Highway and walked back to the car, thus eliminating all the rock hopping and making the walk shorter and easier.
This was an interesting walk with lots of rock hopping.
Distance: 13.8 kms.
Time: 3'58"
Ascent: 180 metres
Click here to download GPX file.