It was a beautiful winter's day for a walk along the coast starting at Adamstown and finishing in Newcastle. Nine walkers were at Hornsby station bright and early for the train trip on one of the new trains. After the briefing at Adamstown station the first section is along the Fernleigh track, which is a combined walking and cycling route to Belmont on an old railway branch line. Once arriving at Burwood Rd, Kahibah we turned left to join the Yuelerbah trail through Glenrock SRA to Glenrock Lagoon. This a very pretty bush track which follows Little Flaggy Creek to Leichhardt's Lookout and then descends to join the coast at Glenrock/Burwood Beach.
Walking through the tunnel on the Fernleigh Walking Track Flaggy Creek Yuelerbah Walking Track
All the walkers at Leichhardt's Lookout and the view from the lookout towards Glenrock Lagoon and our morning tea location on the coast
We stopped on the beach for morning tea -its a beautiful spot to have a break and watch the many surfers catching waves. The tide wasn't as low as on our recce day but we decided to try and get around the rocks to Merewether Beach. We spent a bit of time along the way looking at the coal seam in the rock and ruins from the old railway line so that by the time we got to the rock platform it was quite a manageable crossing and only involved a small amount of rock hopping.
Beach walking followed morning tea and Merewether Ocean Baths looked very inviting (to one of the leaders) Can you guess which one? (Ed)
After reaching Merewether Beach we followed Bathers Way coastal path via Dixon and Bar Beaches all the way to the "Anzac Memorial Skywalk" which has fabulous coastal views looking back to where we came from and also over the city of Newcastle to the north. Lots of people we looking for whales and although we thought we spotted some they were quite a long way out to sea.
"Anzac Memorial Skywalk" Looking back along Bar and Merewether Beaches
From here we diverted off the official GNW to continue along the coast passing the Bogey Hole which is believed to have been hewn out of the rock platform at the base of the cliffs by convict labour to form a rock pool for Major Morisset's own use. It is a great spot to watch the waves crashing over the rock pool. Then continuing down hill we passed the new skate park, Newcastle Beach and swimming pool as well as the Pasha Bulker sculpture to stop at our lunch spot near Nobby's Beach.
The Bogey Hole, Newcastle Beach and "Grounded" the commemorative sculpture for the grounding of the Pasha Bulker at Nobby's Beach in 2007 by John Petrie
After lunch it was then only a short walk to the station at Wickham walking beside the Hunter River pausing at Queen's Wharf to look at the Map of the last section of the GNW. Some of the group were keen to get the early train but 5 of us stopped at the interesting Biggs Cafe for coffee and a pleasant chat before making the journey home.
The five walkers who opted to enjoy coffee at Biggs before heading back to Sydney
Walkers with Hazel and Celia were Carolyn, Polly, Pragati, Wendy C, Wendy La, Trudy and William.
Thanks to everyone who came along as well as to William for being tail end Charlie and Trudy for first aid which thankfully wasn't needed.
Words: Celia
Photos (and captions): Hazel