La Perouse to Little Bay Coastal Walk

La Perouse to Little Bay Coastal Walk

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Posted 2013-03-12 by Giuli follow
Just at a stone's throw from Sydney CBD, this great and quite unknown coastal walk is a wonderful destination for a relaxed yet active sunny afternoon!

Pack your swimsuit and a light picnic and catch the first bus to La Perouse. It takes about 45 minutes from Taylor Square.
From Anzac Parade Terminus cross the street and take the concrete track down a series of stairs, passing the Congwong Beach Walk sign. Follow the sandy track that takes you to the western end of Congwong Beach, a tranquil paradise both for families and paddle surfers



White sand and blue still waters make it an exquisite destination for whom prefers "Mediterranean sea" to the ocean's big waves!
Have a swim to refresh yourself before starting the coastal walk.

At the other end of the beach there is an intersection leading to Henry Head and Little Congwong Beach. If you don't have your small kids with you don't hesitate to leave the signed track and go to this tiny beautiful beach, a Caribbean-like jewel famous between nudists.

Little Congwong Beach, often described as the last oasis in Sydney, is a very quite strip of sand, the water is as blue as you can only dream and the trees and wind-shaped rocks around it provide a natural shelter during the hottest hours.



Walk along the shoreline towards the rocks and follow them until the very end. Here you will find a narrow and steep track cutting across the bush - mind that it could be hard to see - leading to the Browns Rock sign. This is a rock and concrete platform very popular between fishermen, with nice views of Botany Bay even though it's a little bit ruined by litter.







Climb the path up back to the main coastal track and turn left following the sign to Henry Head. Pass the first WW1 post, a small concrete bunker hidden in the bush. After a few hundred meters you reach a belvedere with stunning unexpected views onto the CBD. There are two benches where you can rest while reading about the history of Henry Head Battery, a guarding post built between 1892 and 1895, closed before 1910 and used again for the last time during the World War 2 as an observation post to Botany Bay.





After a short visit to the bunker take the newly renovated coastal track that descends to Shelly Beach and Cruwee Cove. Exposed rock platforms are perfect for a swim or a picnic with views on Cape Banks, Henry Head and the south coast. Shelly Beach, as the name suggests, is a small strip of sand and crushed shells with pristine waters and many flat rocks where you can read and sunbathe in peace, as it is always almost deserted!



On the east side of the beach the track seems to disappear. Look around for the white sign and walk up the hill toward the golf course. The next 2km or so cut through the golf course, with a nice detour, not signed, just after Cape Banks. You will notice a very narrow fissure in the rock, follow it with the sea on your right, after 100 m you will find yourself on a windy rock platform where a funny shaped rock above the angry ocean will soon become a favourite spot for your FB profile picture.



This portion of the walk is not signed so just keep walking on the rocky platform till you find the closed gate of the Sydney Pistol Club, turn left and follow the road that lead to the Rescue Helicopter Base, turn right and after a few minutes turn right again reconnecting with the coastal track. Another little stroll through the golf course and finally you reach the lovely Little Bay.





When we arrived to the beach it was too late and cold for another swim, so we settled on a rock for a well deserved picnic. The sun lasts long on this side of the bay and you can easily find a nice corner well protected from the wind.

From Little Bay take the stairs and follow the street that leads back to Anzac Parade, where you can find your bus back to the city.

The coastal walk actually continues to Maroubra Beach, passing through Long Bay. We couldn't make it all because the path was partially closed at its very end. If you fancy challenging yourself in this 13km adventure find the instructions here .

The whole track takes about 5 hours and is considered moderate to hard.

There are no tricky passages so it is basically suitable for everybody, kids included. Just make sure you have plenty of water with you because you wont find any shop on the way.

#walks
#la_perouse
#fun_things_to_do
#family
#beaches
%wnsydney
190938 - 2023-06-16 03:30:49

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