Ah well this walk was a little lesson in the difference between a track and a trail. The AllTrails app said this was a 2.7km circuit, linking the Slades Trail with the Duffys walk Track. It would feature a lookout, a descent to the water then a climb back out. It noted that there were few different ways of getting to the water…. A note to which I did not give sufficient weight!

The walk started out as expected, an easy stroll along a fire trail. I startled a wallaby in the bush beside me and it bounded away. I didn’t get a good look, only a greyish blur, a thud thud thud sound and the movement of bushes gave its location away. I carried on and soon enough came upon Slades lookout. It was a lovely spot – if I was a local I would come here often. In the distance I could see Bobbin Head. I had often stood at Bobbin Head and explored the ridges in the distance with my eyes, wondering what was up there. Well now I know! I looked down and noticed an aboriginal carving of a bird in the rock. I couldn’t tell whether it was an emu, a brush turkey, or some sort of waterbird.

I decided to move on. But I couldn’t find the trail! I backtracked a bit and checked AllTrails for guidance – it helpfully directed me straight off the cliff! Some of the comments mentioned being disappointed that they couldn’t find the track. I tried a few routes that seemed to resemble a footpad but they led to nothing. I couldn’t figure it out. I was contemplating giving up when I noticed a path of sorts running behind an information sign just ahead of the lookout. I walked on it only to find myself at another cliff, however this one had a notch in it that could be the way forward. I couldn’t see any path though, nothing to link up to. I decided to push forward as I seemed to be on the AllTrails route exactly. I reached the base of the cliff. Nothing. No path, no indication anyone had ever walked here. I pushed on.

My confusion fell away after I saw a small stack of rocks. Of course! This was a true trail! No firm footpad to follow just a vague direction and some helper cairns. That reassured me enough to keep going. Soon enough I saw another rock stack. Then I saw what looked to be a rock stack but turned out to be a natural feature. I couldn’t see any see the water though and could head down without any help. The last rock stack was found slightly hidden beside a bush. This showed an easy way down the last small cliff. For the rest of the way I tried to stick as close to the AllTrails app track as possible.

The water was highly visible now and I could see a group of birds basking on a large boulder at the waters edge. It was a majestic sight. They flew off as I approached and they found a second boulder to perch on a hundred or so meters away. I took some time to take in the view from the shore. It was a beautiful clear day, and the water lapped a against the rocks below me. It was peaceful.

After a short walk around the shore I located the Duffys Wharf Track, which took me past some mangroves exposed in the low tide. There were some stepping stones through the mangroves, and I’ve seen pictures of these immersed in water at high tide. Dry today. I looked for crabs in the mud but saw none, which seemed odd to me as the mangroves near Bobbin head were filled with them. I followed the stepping stones and soon joined up to a fire trail and was, uneventfully, led out of the valley back to the trailhead.

I think I enjoyed this walk! The challenge of finding the path down to the water and the outrageously beautiful sight once I got there made this an extremely satisfying afternoon adventure. Looking back on the AllTrails app there was plenty of warning from those who had commented that the trail wasn’t clear so I have only myself to blame for completely missing this aspect of the walk, but honestly it made it a little more enjoyable!

I was filming a short vlog for this one – click below to see my very confused self trying find his way!