A roar of engines snarls at me as I enter the Port Hacking estuary, confronting me like a pack of unyielding guard dogs before restricted territory. It’s a stark contrast to the welcoming calmness of Burraneer Bay from where I’ve paddled over. I’m no longer accompanied by gently bobbing sailboats resting anchored to the seafloor, nor by stand-up paddle boarders drifting along in quiet contemplation. Instead, hordes of shrieking speedboats and their jet ski kin prowl the water around me, churning the surface into a bubbling soup of froth.
They stand
towering between me and the village suburb of Bundeena. Located on Sydney’s
most southern outskirts, surrounded by the vast Royal National Park, this slice
of paradise is blessed with five pristine beaches to call its own. But getting
there isn’t so easy. it’s a hefty 70-minute drive from the CBD - or 90 minutes if
you’d rather avoid the traffic by taking a train to Cronulla, followed
by a ferry ride across Port Hacking.
Alternatively, it’s a mere 40-minute drive to the boat ramp in Burraneer Bay
for a breezy kayak across... or so I’d
thought.
The incessant
barraging of motorboat wakes is making me regret my decision. Gripping the
sides of my kayak in a frantic bid for control, I find my cries of protest
drowned out by the howling engines and slamming waves. Their spray blinds me as
I’m swept into a surging current, driven deeper into the heart of the storm.
No longer in
control, all I can do is watch as I’m hurled straight towards a looming wharf
piling, rising menacingly from the sea. The collision comes with a
violent thud, sending shockwaves through my body. Thrown off balance, my kayak
flips, and I’m tossed into the ferocious currents, the world around me transforming into a blur of water and turmoil. Gasping
for air, I cling desperately to the overturned hull, but a watery grave seems
destined to be my end.
Until an
outstretched hand breaks through the chaos.
Grasping it, I’m
pulled - kayak and all – out of the jaws of fate, swiftly deposited on a nearby
sandy shore, all in a rush of motion.
Brushing aside my
stammered thanks with a quick nod, a humble jet skier vanishes back into the
estuary, leaving me alone, breathless and disoriented. Gradually, though, the quiet, sheltered
environment soothes me, providing a peaceful respite from what I’ve just endured.
When I recover, I realise I’m on the Deeban Spit - a narrow sand spit that juts 1.2 km from the coast to separate Port Hacking from the open ocean – and I remember what I’ve come to do. This is Bundeena’s first beach as you approach from the west, and I’m on a quest to visit them all. I’m not going to let a mere near death experience get in my way.
Deeban Spit in background |
So, I’m soon back on my kayak, paddling towards my next destinations.
Up first, just across the bay, is Bonnie Vale. The sheltered beach’s serene atmosphere, with calm, clear, and shallow waters, makes it particularly inviting after my ordeal. Young families seem to think so too. They enjoy dips in the shore and paddles on kayaks and stand-up boards available for rent from the sand. Behind us a grassy picnic area features waddling ducks, fragrant banksias, and smoky barbeques sizzling burgers for big-bellied bystanders.
Bonnie Vale Beach |
It's possible to stay the night here at the Bonnie Vale Campground, but I’m continuing on, around the rocks of Cabbage Tree Point, to venture to Bundeena’s main beach, Hordens. The ferry wharf here is where I would have got off if I had decided to play it safe.
Fringed by residential homes and shaded areas provided by coastal vegetation, the beach’s sandy stretch spans about 600 metres, offering plenty of space for leisurely strolls, beach activities, or setting in for a day by the water. With nearby shops, picnic spots, and public toilets, you’ll never have to leave.
Hordens Beach |
Access on foot is
limited to private stairs descending from a row of beachfront houses or a small
hidden, path from the street above, restricted to those in the know. I myself sneak
in between the resident’s parked boats to pull up on the shore. Small patches
of soft, golden sand quickly merge with the rugged rocky edges of the beach,
upon which I lay my towel. I stay for a while, watching snorkelers in their
underwater adventures under commanding views of the Cronulla Peninsula in the
distance.
Gunyah Beach |
Some yachts have pulled up today among the beach’s tranquil
waves. They’re blaring 70s hits from their decks, enjoyed by older passengers
basking in the afternoon sun, reliving their golden days. Yet, if you listen
carefully amongst Stevie Nick’s high notes, you can still hear the birdcalls of
the eastern yellow robin, superb fairy wren, and various honeyeaters that
inhabit the surrounding area.
Jibbon Beach |
Jibbon Beach serves as the kick off point for various walking trails through the park and around the seaside cliffs. But with the day drawing to a close, I’ll have to save those for some other time. For now, my thoughts turn anxiously to the treacherous waters I still have to paddle back through.
Perhaps, if I’m lucky, a ferry will take pity on me and
agree to tow me across instead.
Total Beaches: 94/178