Kuring-gai National Park - Towlers Bay Walk.

This park (established in 1894) is where the Hawkesbury River meets the ocean and was the home of the Guringai people. History tells us that in 1790 a smallpox epidemic almost wiped out this tribe.

We met at the McCarrs Creek car park and then drove about 5 km to the trackhead.

This walk explores one of the ridges in the Kuring-gai National Park and leads down a steep hill to Towlers Bay.

In the first section. we walked on a fire trail, which was bordered by masses of wild flowers and grass trees We saw many wattles and the native roses were out in all their glory. Our first stop ( for morning tea) was at the Morning Bay lookout - this affords walkers wonderful views across PIttwater. (Our photo only shows a small section of the panoramic view.) We continued walking - a reasonably steep descent, but fairly easy going. We took a side track to inspect the local Youth Hostel. Those who had not been there before were very impressed - so much so, that there was a suggestion that the group might consider having an overnight stay up there some time. We continued close to the foreshore, but at this point, our plans were altered as the weather changed quite suddenly - what had been a lovely blue sky turned into a rather threatening one.

Had we continued further south to reach Lovetts Bay, we would then have been able to view the exterior of “Tarrangara” - the sometime home of our beloved poetess - Dorothea McKellar (“I love a sunburnt country....”).

We climbed back up the track and had our lunch at what had also been our morning tea spot. Without the sunshine, the view was still quite stunning, but so very different.

Fortunately for us, we were able to return to our cars, and get part way home before the strong winds and rain arrived.