We have just arrived in Japan, so here is a little post I wrote a few weeks ago whilst we get ourselves sorted out here...
There is nothing quite like knowing you're going to leave a place to make you do all the things you have through about but not given priority to.
Such as this walk.
Parking on one of the residential streets in Avalon, near to the entrance on Whale Beach Rd, we began our walk - and ascent - up Banally Head.
Such as this walk.
Parking on one of the residential streets in Avalon, near to the entrance on Whale Beach Rd, we began our walk - and ascent - up Banally Head.
It is one of the largest bushland reserves in the Pittwater area, yet I didn't know it was there until I was walking up the many, many steps. The ground was covered with leaves and sounds of creatures scuttling in the undergrowth - creatures you hoped were just lizards, and not humungous spiders or snakes...
The views from leaf-framed peepholes across to Pittwater provided a welcome chance to catch our breath, before continuing up yet more steep steps.
With pounding hearts and burning lungs we eventually reached the top, and were well and truly rewarded with some spectacular views:
The site was a mass of weeds until 2001, when a regeneration project helped to clear the area, allowing trees and fauna (and therefore wildlife) to return to the area.
Banally Head is the highest point on the northern coastline of Sydney. The view the other side was no less spectacular, and we could see all the way down the coast to North Head
And back across the rolling green hills of Pittwater
Looking back at Banally Head, just glimpsing the golden sands of Avalon Beach.
Walking down to the next beach on the walk we passed this tree. Its branches and roots appeared to have spread everywhere, wrapping themselves around whatever they could get. You can't really see from the photo, but it had wrapped itself around a palm tree and killed it.
Our next beach was beautiful Bilgola Beach. Slightly quieter than it's neighbours, thanks to being tucked away, it is one we have only recently discovered.
Only in Australia would you see signs like this:
Up some more steps, and we could see our destination: Newport Beach. Around 6km in length, but many steps up and down, we had a coffee and picnic lunch on the beach, and then back the way we came.