The plan was to walk down to Werrong Beach in Royal National Park and then walk along under the sea cliffs to The Figure of Eight Pool. I had never visited Werrong Beach before and never that section of the coastline.
I caught an early train to Otford, arriving there at 6:30 am, and then a brisk walk up the hill to the lookout in time for sunrise. The lookout gives good view along the coastline of Royal National Park overlooking the truncated headlands near Burning Palms and Era and towards the cliffs further north. Spectacular country!
It was very cold – mainly due to the windchill from biting wind. So, I packed up my camera and set off for Werrong Beach. Below the escarpment, I was sheltered from the wind. I soon arrived at Werrong Beach. There was no sun, and it was a cold place on the day, but there were some nice grassy terraces above the beach.
I didn’t stay long, and set off along the boulders heading north. At first the going was easy, but after a few hundred metres things changed. The whole area you had to walk through was being plastered by spray from the waves.
I had looked up the tides. The low tide and been at about 6:30 am and it was now around 8 am, so the tide should not have been too high. Perhaps it was a big swell? Anyway, I turned back and returned to Werrong and then back up the hill and back to Otford.
It looks like I will have to return. More photos from the short walk are online on my website here.