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The walk is essentially a ridge walk out to the viewing spot at the end of Box Head, with steep diversions down to Tallow Beach and Lobster Beach. The circuit starts at and returns to the Killcare Store at Hardy’s Bay. It’s not a long walk but has some steep sections and starting at the store means you don’t have to climb yet another hill at the end.
Group photo at Tallow Beach Morning tea at Tallow Beach
Someone wanting a lift Driftwood at Tallow Beach
There were ten of us and it was a perfect day. After a short, steep climb through the streets of Killcare we reached Hawkes Head Drive, which shortly becomes a management track and follows the ridgeline out to the Box Head lookout. We left the main track to divert down to Tallow Beach for morning tea, then climbed back up to hill to continue to the lookout with spectacular views across to Umina Beach, Pearl Beach, Lion Island in the foreground, Barrenjoey and West Head in the distance and the blue, blue water glittering in the sunshine.
Views from Box Head
All the walkers at Box Head Lion Island seen on the way to Box Head
Retracing our steps back along the ridge to the start of the Tallow Beach track, the start of the Flannel Flower track to Lobster Beach is close by. The well made track leads past houses high on the hill above Pretty Beach, cuts across some local roads, then arrives at the steep staircases, up then down, to Lobster Beach.
Majestic tree seen enroute to Lobster Beach Looking down to Lobster Beach
People who had brought swimmers plunged straight in. People who hadn’t, but couldn’t resist the water, stripped off as much as they could for modesty and plunged in after. This was a better than usual lunch spot.
Fringed Lily - Thysanotus tuberosus Twisted angophora
Hardys Bay A well earned coffee at the Killcare Store
Then it was up the stairs and down the stairs, down the steep path to Pretty Beach and around the foreshore to our starting point. And we were in time for coffee.
Walkers : Janet and Leah (leaders), Alan, Carolyn, Celia, Deidre, Hazel, Nick S, Pragati, Trudy, C
Tailend Charlie: Trudy
First aid: Leah
Words: Leah
Picture credits: Alan (2, 3, 5); Deidre (12, 13); Hazel (1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) Nick S (4, 11, Map)