We spent an amazing six weeks exploring Sydney Harbour, but it was time to start our journey south.
As we exited the heads, we turned right with anticipation of travelling to places we’ve never been before aboard Poseidon.
I created tracks for most legs of our trip from Sydney Harbour to Shellharbour Marina, and you can see our route in this video in about 2.5 minutes.
Perhaps you can spot the one section where I didn’t record the track!
If you want to check out a summary of our major stops and see key photos, keep on scrolling.
Botany Bay to Port Hacking (25 August)
- About 13 nautical miles (just around the corner from Botany Bay)
- Took under 2 hours
- Dropped anchor off Jibbon Beach as all public moorings were in use
- Waited for high tide and then went upstream to Gogerleys Point, within the Royal National Park
- Picked up a public mooring
- Kayaked South West Arm
- Spent some time cruising around Willarong Point
- Spotted another Ocean Alexander!
- Picked up a public mooring at Carruthers Bay
- Returned to Jibbon Beach and picked up a public mooring in preparation for leaving
- Stayed around Port Hacking for 5 nights
The following is an interesting extract I read from the Bundeena Kayaks website:
Aboriginal History
For many thousands of years the area known as the Royal National Park was the land of the Dharawal people and it is thought that around 900 Dharawal lived around the Port Hacking prior to colonialism. It is believed that the members of the Dharawal lived in the Royal National Park as late as the 1870s, making it one of the last areas in the Sydney region to have been occupied by the Aborigines in their pre-colonial lifestyle.
The early European settlers drove them from their traditional lands and introduced various fatal diseases. By the end of the 19th century the Dharawal had all but disappeared, however relicts of their settlements remain with rock engravings, paintings, axe and spear grinding grooves, stencils, shell middens and the remnants of their stone tools are still found throughout the park. Sadly much has been lost due to vandalism, pollution and simply erosion by the elements. Jibbon Point is one site where several rock carvings can still be seen and this area is accessible to the public.
Port Hacking to Shellharbour Marina (30 August)
- About 38 nautical miles
- Took just under 5 hours
- Accessed the new marina just beyond Shellharbour South Beach
- Some maps still showed the area as land (taken prior to all the dredging activity)
- Spent 6 weeks here preparing for Tasmania, sightseeing, and catching up with friends
- There are some great cycleways along the foreshore
- The marina has all new facilities, including free washing machines and dryers, so I washed almost everything!
Sightseeing and more!
We booked a berth at Shellharbour Marina and arranged for some packages to be delivered before we got there. These were part of our Preparations for Tasmania.
But it wasn’t all hard work at Shellharbour as you can see from the photos.
Where to next?
We’ll continue south and will spend a week or two at Bermagui.
6 Responses
The mistreatment of the Dharawal people is a very sad story indeed.
Love the tracking vids. The air looks clean and bright and your photos sparkle.
Excellent as always! Thanks Pam!
So love your track videos! x P and D
Thanks Pam & Robert,
Your wonderful journey continues!
With all the additions and improvements to the boat it must be a pleasure to make it your home.
All the best for your forward journey.
We look forward to your next Blog.
Robyn & Chicka
You’ve certainly had to keep your eyes open for container and coal ships etc.
One thing I had trouble with was the siting of the ShellHarbour Marina on the map. It looked to be in suburbia.
Happy travelling.
Great weather judging by the photos.
Hoping you will have safe journeys as to venture further south.