Today was all about finding the hidden gems inside the Bay of Islands Coastal Park.
We asked the very helpful lady in the information centre in Port Campbell for some secret spots to photograph away from the crowds and coaches.
She showed us a few spots on the map with the promise that we would be lucky to see another car. Well she was right many of the places we went there was either only one other car or no one else.
We had been to see some of the more well known and signposted spots the day before so skipped past these to take advantage of low tide in the harder to access beaches.
Bay of Martyrs
Our first stop of the day was at the Bay of Martyrs. This beach was easily accesible via a set of stairs. It was low tide and it appeared that at high tide you would have little to no beach access. It was a pretty spot with a few tourists there in the morning.
Bay of Islands
The second spot we stopped was Bay of Islands, it also had a few tourists taking in the views. There are two viewing spots here and both are quite different and stunning. There wasn’t any easy beach access here that we could find. We were also keen to move onto some more out of the way spots while the tide was low and the light good.
Murnanes Bay
Murnane Bay was the first of the hidden treasures we discovered. There was one other car in the carpark but they didn’t come down to the beach so we had the place to ourselves. There was a long steep staircase down to the beach but the view at the bottom was worth the climb back up. This is one of the beaches you can only access at low tide and even then you have to keep your eye on the waves or you will end up with wet shoes.
Childers Cove
Childers Cove was my favourite spot of the day with its bright yellow stones that were very angular. I loved the effect they made through my lens ball. This beach was very narrow and even at low tide and we nearly got wet a few times while taking photos. Again it was worth the long steep climb back up the stairs to enjoy the view from the beach.
Sandy Bay
The last hidden gem was Sandy Bay. No stairs this time just a long walk in along and down along soft sand. Not ideal for someone wearing a moon boot but Corina is a trooper and made it plus a few climbs through the dunes for a better shot.
By the time we had walked in, climbed around the dunes and then back out my legs were aching. I definitely need to work on my fitness for next trip.
We found ourselves off the beaten track with only the odd local on the roads. It is nice to get off the main roads and discover the hidden secrets.
