Stage 17 - Merry Beach to North Durras

We passed through the camping ground at Pretty Beach and farewelled the mob of kangaroos out for their morning repas, before commencing the 280 m climb up to Durras Mountain. The dry sclerophyll forest dominated by spotted gums on the northern slope eventually gave way to a denser more luxurious vegetation as we approached the top. Here there were a few clearings from an abandoned farming venture; these gave glimpses over and through the tall trees of the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean to the east and the lighter shades of blue of the coastal mountain ranges to the west.

mmmmmmm

One last look at the Budawangs

Levelling out near the coast, we could hear a distant sound like a thousand jaffas being rolled down the aisle of a theatre at the same time; we were approaching Pebbly Beach. Arriving at a small inlet we were mesmerised, as the surf surged in to the thick steep layers of pebbles on the beach and tumbled them around as it sucked back out again. The soft rising and falling pitch of water-rattled pebbles is a sound to soothe the troubled soul.

Gimme your sandwich or I'll rip your eyes out!!

It would have been easy to doze off in this idyllic setting, but we needed to move on and crossed the beach to a long rock platform under the tall sandstone cliffs of Point Upright. The relatively high tide and big seas made for an interesting passage along the platform and both of us ended up with saturated shoes, caught out by the surge of an extra-large wave at the wrong time and place.

mmmmmmm

Leaving the platform to pass through a narrow section of banksia forest on the southern side of the headland, we emerged to look over the azure waters of the northern end of Beagle Bay to the long sweeping beach at North Durras. This bay is protected from the large ocean swells and, living up to its name, it was too tempting to stay out of the water. After a refreshing swim, we strolled up the beach to North Durras where we had booked in for the night.

We spent the next two days at North Durras relaxing and catching up with washing, website updates etc. The village of North Durras is a time warp, where most buildings are still the old style beach houses of the '60s era. This is a pleasant change from many of the ultra-modern new developments. North Durras should be heritage listed!

One afternoon, desperation overtook us and we strolled 3 km down the beach to Murramarang Resort to have a glass of beer, taking the opportunity to have a quick swim in their large resort-style pool. Very relaxing, but probably not very correct as we were not resident guests; sorry Mr Murramarang, perhaps this small plug for your nice resort in its peaceful coastal setting will be adequate recompense.

The following morning, we learnt the basic skills of sea-kayaking with Phil from Bay and Beyond Sea Kayaks in Durras. Together with another pleasant couple, he took us on a trip on the pristine waters of Lake Durras and we learnt how the lake was saved from “progress” as the Friends of Durras took on and defeated the developers who wanted to line it shores with more houses and resorts. Now it is protected forever as part of Murramarang National Park – more power to the little person! Any one of us can make a difference.