Today Hill View walkers were tracing part of the route along the 5 Lands Coastal Walk linking the coastal villages of MacMasters Beach, Copacabana, Avoca Beach, North Avoca and Terrigal. The route along the coastal walkway takes in some of the Central Coast’s most lovely coastline and coastal forest. After a somewhat cloudy start from MacMasters Beach including a few drops of rain the weather improved. After ascending the first of many hills we visited Allan MacMaster’s gravestone in Corribeg Reserve. Allan MacMaster an early landowner in the area after whom MacMasters Beach was named arrived in Australia from Scotland in 1839 with his wife Catherine and ten children. After a walk alas on soft sand along MacMasters and Copacabana Beaches past Cochrane Lagoon the group followed the most direct but steepest route up to the Captain Cook Memorial Park Lookout.
We had morning tea at the lookout commemorating Captain Cook’s voyage and exploration in this region in 1770 where there were extensive views along the coastline. Then it was the first of many flights of steps descending down past Winney Bay followed by a zigzagging firetrail back up to the ridge until finally after another long series of steps and pathways through coastal forest we arrived at Avoca Beach and lunch. The weather now fine and clear the group ascended our many many steps back up to the ridge to this time walk the full length of MacMasters Beach once more on soft sand to have coffee at the surf club overlooking the beach.
Rhondda briefs the group
Inspecting Allan MacMasters grave
Heading off along MacMasters Beach
Fantastic Grass Trees (left)
Rainbow Lorikeet paradise (right)
Morning Tea stop at Captain Cook Look-out
On the downhill track through the forest to lunch
Hon Secretary and Ros (left)
Colour Co-ordinated Bella and rocks (right)
Lunchtime view of Avoca Beach
Ladies at lunch and ladies at rest (Do they ever walk?)
Nick at rest above MacMasters Beach
Back down to the beach for the homeward run
Silky Spider Grevillea Danger- Bluebottle at close range
Last lap to coffee!
Round the Rocks as the tide closes in (left)
Enjoying a well earned coffee (right)
Leaders Jill and Rhondda led Helen A, Nick, Chris B, Susan, Elaine, Michael, Sue F, Anne G, John G, Ros, Mary, Martin, Christine McA, Dawn, Bert, Pragati, Barbara, Guenter, Kurt, Lyn, Drina, Bella, Pete and a casual visitor.
Photos Barbara (4, 5, 18 ), Christine McA(1, 10, 11, 14, 15,), Drina (7, 13, 20 ), Pete (2, 6, 9, 12, 19), Susan (3, 8, 16, 17)
Words by Jill