Akaroon
One of the first walks we did in the area was from Trial Bay gaol, called monument hill walking track. If you’re just going one way it’s a 1.4km track, it’s classed as grade 3 trail with some steeper areas in parts. The pathway is also a wide gravel track. The views across the headland are spectacular, because you’re elevated you can see for miles.
At the end of the track you’re greeted by beautiful beach in little bay. This beach holds firm memories for us, it’s such a beautiful little bay…. whoever came up with the name 🙌 as it truly is. There is a small picnic area just behind the beach and it’s accessible by road too if you don’t fancy the hike over the headland.
From here we decided to loop back along the other walking tracks available. So we headed onto the powder magazine track, which is a 1.1km one way, which is a good way to get back to the Gaol where we’d parked our car. Along the way you’ll see the only remaining construction from the powder magazine history but it’s amazing to see the stone masonry from the original build of the Gaol.
These walking tracks are both great ways to explore the headland and immerse yourself in the local history
Smokey Cape Lighthouse
Slightly south of Akaroon is Smokey Cape Lighthouse. Standing proudly on the headland since 1891. The area had many ship wrecks and needed the lighthouse to warn passing vessels.
The walk up to the lighthouse is very steep, but manageable for most fitness levels. Once at the top you’ll be rewarded by mesmerising views up and down the coast. The lighthouse backdrop is the lush dense rugged bushland of the Hat Head National Park.
The lighthouse also has onsite accomodation, with 2 self contained cottages and a B&B. We’d definitely want to have a night here next time we’re in the area, the night sky would amazing.
Hat Head
So for this walk, we’ll post the extract from our Facebook blog. Chris wrote the funniest story of our trip out to the Hat head headland here, However I couldn’t do it justice, his tale of the treck will definitely make you laugh
🕷🕸MAN EATING LIZARDS 🐊🐬
Today we took a drive to Hat Head NSW, beautiful little beachside community.👍
We normally have a cuppa and a bit of cake but the cafe was closed in town😢
So we had a walk on the beach at the heads and then drove to the gap to have a look at the Hat Head look out.😄
Whilst here we saw a a sign saying Korogoro trail 3.2km, I said to Vee let’s do it we can knock it off in 30 mins and head back to South West Rocks for a cuppa afterwards👍👍👍
So off we go, 1st km a breeze, nice wide path and grade 1 walk (whatever that neans😂)
Then it starts getting a bit tougher and we thought ah well it will get easier.😄
Nope it doesn’t get easier, up we went up the side of Hat Head, granite mountain face and all.
There were some really hairy spots along what was now a faint rocky path.😂😂
Eventually we get to the top, dark clouds coming in and wind in our faces.
Well we have got past half way now, we might as well carry on.⛰🌋
Along the way I was brushing through a number of the biggest spiders webs I’d ever seen🕸
I said to Vee as long as we don’t come across mummy we will be fine🕷
We stopped for a breather and watched some dolphins playing in the surf below, the views were stunning and the water had so many different colours of blue and turquoise’s.🐬🐬
As we rounded the corner on the home straight, there she was.
Biggest bloody spider I ever saw, web straddled across the narrow path on the side of the mountain, with a huge drop one side and thick gorse the other.🕸🕷🕷🕷
I had no choice I had to push Vee ahead to deal with it 🤔😂😂
Yeah right, I gently persuaded Doris the spider onto the bush with a stick and we sprinted past with her web with road kill stuck in my hair😂😊🕸🐜
We were laughing so much and having a great time.👍👍
The last thing we then expected to see was Larry the Lizard.
Over 6 feet in length this sand goanna as it known by David Attenborough was now baking in the sun on the pathway.
FFS, Vee go and ask him to move 😂😂
As luck had it, it seems he was scared to death of us and headed up a tree on the path.
Again we sprinted past, in stitches.😂
Larry had nails Flo Jo would have been proud of.🐊🐊
As we made back off Everest ⛰
There was a sign.
Experienced Bushwalkers only.
Guess that makes us now experienced bushwalkers.😂😂
On the way home, I bought a vanilla slice from the bakery and put the kettle on🍰
THE End 👍
For more information on where stayed in the area head over to https://www.chrisveeandtillysbiglap.com/mid-north-coast/