April 2011
Our first walk of the year was one we had chosen many months ago: it was only 10 kms so an easy introduction to the rigours of the season; it completed our trek from the mouth of the Minamurra River to Geroa; there were many different terrains to be followed.
Fourteen people braved the early threat of rain in the Valley and met at the southern end of Kiama Surf Beach car park. From there it was a stroll along a concrete pathway beside the ocean to Kendalls Beach, past one of three holiday parks we were to see that morning. The cabins at all three had prime views of the sand, surf and our bushwalking group as we rambled along. There is a marvellous view from Kaleula Head, looking back to Kiama, Blowhole Point and the lighthouse.
Next we took a short road walk along Boanyo Avenue to a laneway that led to the Little Blow Hole where we had our morning tea.
At the right time of the tides and wind this blowhole performs, with a boom, better than its big brother further up the coast. At the picnic area there are two signs that tell the aboriginal story of the hole and some seating with a good view for the performance.
We followed the track from the reserve around Marsden Head down the steps to Easts Beach. The earlier rain had hardened the sand so we walked along the shore to the southern end, climbed the hill and walked around the edge of the cliff to a lovely wooden stile across a rock wall. If you are lucky there will be cows in this paddock, often standing on the craggy rocks, licking the salt. Most of us continued from there along the grassy path between the houses and the ocean all the way to Loves Bay, where we had started the new Kiama Coastal Walk last year, thus completing the last part of the Kiama stretch.
Turning our heads we retraced our steps to the northern end of Easts Beach, climbed the stairs and joined the road for a quick walk to the Little Blowhole Café for lunch. Sitting outside here it is possible to see on one side the rolling green hills and the other the ocean to the horizon.
After a delicious lunch we continued on the roads until we reached the Bonaira Garden – a wonderfully cool remnant rainforest looked after by a local bushcare group.
Here there are specimens of cabbage tree palms and figs with twisted roots following a stream for nearly half a kilometre and again a plaque acknowledging the original inhabitants, the Wodi Wodi people.
Cross the oval at the end of the path and once more walk along Kendalls Beach back up the hill to those first cabins mentioned and back down to the car park at the Surf Beach.
This easy walk takes you along concrete paths, along sandy beaches, across green paddocks, through rainforests, suburban roads and with an optional extra of rock hopping along to Loves Bay. Lee Sharam