Kindly Yours

Thursday, 5 May 2011

Bundeena to Cronulla and back - Boat on the Bay

Captain Ryall ran the first ferry service in Port Hacking Bay from Jibbon Beach in Bundeena Village.

Between Horderns and Gunyah beaches lies the ferry wharf that today provides passengers (image above) a refreshing half hour ride to Cronulla Beach. The boat ride, run by the Cronulla and National Parks Service, is highly recommended. With boats called TomThumb and CurraNulla, they are the link between two different worlds and run every hour (on the half hour) from each destination. Below, the door to the captain's navigation deck.

I was impressed with the orderliness and housekeeping aboard the boat, noticeably the safety float vests stored above the passengers (above image) and the cleanliness of floors and seats. Below, a typical scenery passengers encounter along the ride - stand up board paddlers, swimmers and surfers.

Pets, families and backpackers are all welcomed aboard by the crew - one of whom collects ticket fares once the journey begins.

Above, the boat approaches the wharf at Bundeena Village.

Monday, 2 May 2011

Bundeena Village, NSW

Bundeena lies south of trhe greater Sydney region, just a tip out of the Sutherland Shire and a perfect hideaway from the Big Smoke. It lies on the outer north-eastern edge of the Royal National Park and faces a bay. You can choose to walk along the eastern coast of the Royal National Park for 26km, from Bundeena in the north to Otford in the south. Bate Bay, at the mouth of Port Hacking, is visible from the shore of Bundeena Village and beckons you to the bright lights of Cronulla and the refineries of Kurnell.

Nearby to the west, over a sandspit is the village of Maianbar,which has two wharfs jutting out to its Fishermans Bay. Maianbar has a Simpsons Hotel. Other nearby visists are to Garie Beach and Wattamolla Lagoon and Beach.

Above, a hearty but low carb breakfast at the Manaa Cafe, across from Horderns Beach and the site of the Bundeena markets. Apart from the RSL, there is a Bell's Diary at the corner of Thompson Street; the Bundeena Oval with a community centre; and the Bundeena House heritage site. Sunday markets are held once a month, on the first weekend.

Above, a creek that leads out to Horderns Beach.

Below, an outdoor siren along Brighton Street in Bundeena that leads to the ferry pier.

The foliage in Bundeena is highlighted by the cabbage-tree palms, Port Jackson figs, coastal banksia and the Bangalay eucalyptus. It was the first day of May, and as bright as it could be in weeks, with the perfect blue sky and a promising day ahead.