We’ve done a number of walks and drives into the ranges of the hinterland - they are wet and cool and lovely but this day we headed to the sea.
A delicate fragrance snuck up on us as we squelched along the waters edge of Woodland Surf beach, Phillip Island. It was not the usual spicy, briny scent of coastal scrub (which I love) but a softer, more floral scent. Quite delicious and delicate. It had me intrigued.
The sea was a flat expanse of blue with only the merest hint of a wave to tickle the sand. A magical morning - and that was before we climbed the Magiclands steps. I kid you not, that is their name. After walking 1km on the beach, this mechano-tower of wood took us up onto the cliff edge: we were walking the Cape Woomalai track which follows the cliff line of this rather imposing headland reaching out into Bass Strait.
The Magicland steps.
I went is search of the source of the fragrance that had wafted down to us on the beach and found wild ‘honeysuckle’ and wee yellow stars on trailing succulents amongst the lush growth alongside the trail.
Wild ‘honey suckle’
Bower spinach a trailing succulent with wee sweet-smelling yellow star-shaped flowers. This plant is edible but needs to be cooked first.
We saw a number of little land creatures as well as many birds.
Approaching this ‘grass’ plant (no idea of what it is but a little like flax) it looked like it was a mass of white and pink flowers. Very pretty
These are the ‘flowers’! Good bush tucker.
The views were spectacular as we wound our way slowly higher and higher passed the Pinnacles - imposing ancient weathered granite towers jutting out of the sea, to the beacon at the tip of the Cape. It was all gently downhill from there.
Terrific view back along the promontory.
Soooo glad this sign was there because otherwise Lindsay would have been out on that narrow promontory like a rat up a drainpipe. Phew!
The Pinnacles. Ancient worn pink granite that dives down to an unknown depth below the sea
Stepping out onto a lookout suspended over the cliff face, we gazed down to where boulders and sea plants were clearly visible in the crystal turquoise water.
I’ve never seen dandelions so tall. I reckon almost a metre and look at those stalks. Lots of good herbal therapy in there.
Dandelions almost a metre tall grabbed at our legs as we passed, little birds teased us from scrub and trees so our walk was stop-start all the way. So many plants which must have been good bush tucker tempted me, if only I knew more, but I did pick the ‘native currants’. They tasted sweetish and salty.
The scenery was breathtaking and of course I dawdled most of the way sticking my nose into bushes and flowers, taking pic after pic. Lindsay was pretty chuffed because he saw a few birds we hadn’t seen so far on this ‘trip’ - a gannet skimming over the sea, a peregrine falcon that kept us spellbound with its aerobatics. And there were others. On our return to the beach along the ‘Woodlands walk’ we came upon a small flock of Yellow tailed black cockatoos - huge rather regal creatures that kept us spellbound for a while.
Nine km later we were back on the beach for a last hard 1 km hike, dawdling along the way to enjoy watching the surf which by now had awoken with frothing crashing waves and sleek surfers clad in black silhouetted against the afternoon light.
I could watch waves and water for hours. It’s the old surfie chick in me - summers doing the stomp at the Lifesavers’ club dance. Watching gorgeous bronzed surfers taking to the waves - sigh!!
Ever patient Lindsay saying are you coming yet?
But I was looking at tiny things washed up by the waves - krill?
No baby cuttlefish - well I think so. Wow!
By the time we got to the car park, we were completely ‘done in’ - it was the last km in soft sand that did it, but man oh man what an absolutely wonder-filled day. A glorious day of exploration.
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