Wednesday 22/03/2023 Pearl Point Track – Pearl Point – Binn Beach
Cape Conran Coastal Park, VICTORIA
Brabuwooloong Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Undeterred by our morning walk to Yerung “Gorge” we decided to check out the “spectacular sedimentary formations” at Pearl Point. This had been listed as a 25km return hike from East Cape and one we had seriously considered doing until Sue checked out the “All Trails” site for reviews. She could only find two, the main comment being “I hate sand!”
Max elevation: 33 m
Total climbing: 50 m
Total descent: -31 m
Average speed: 4.02 km/h
Total time: 00:32:06
With that review in mind, I checked my maps only to find you could drive there from the other direction, leaving a very short walk.
Interestingly striated sedimentary rocks at Pearl Point
Our circumnavigation of Pearl Point proved underwhelming. The park’s brochure description of “spectacular sedimentary formations” at Pearl Point would have left anyone completing the described 25km walk from East Cape extremely disappointed at the least with what they saw. The vertically layered grey sandstone did form very interesting patterns, much like a shrunken version of corrugated cardboard. But you need to look closely.
Wednesday 22/03/2023 Pearl Point Track – Dock Inlet – “Pearl” Beach – Pearl Point Campground
Cape Conran Coastal Park, VICTORIA
Brabuwooloong Country
Why give up on the day when you have had two pretty ordinary walks? For our last effort, we thought we might try out the land-locked Dock Inlet, replete with plentiful birdlike and unique vegetation.
Max elevation: 56 m
Total climbing: 163 m
Total descent: -146 m
Average speed: 4.45 km/h
Total time: 02:29:47
We parked along Pearl Point Track at its far point. Again this walk was on the Parks brochure as a 20km return walk from East Cape. Again we found access to it was much closer from the other end.
We walked the power line service track on the way to Dock Inlet, as a service track it wasn’t very interesting. Apart, perhaps, from the heavy, clearing machinery parked about 500m in. There were plenty of sandy sections, which always make the walking a little tougher.
Dock Inlet itself is a body of dark water surrounded by low coastal shrubs and small trees. The birds were not about for our visit with just one duck spotted. The dead trees did, however, make some interesting reflections on the dark water.
Dock Inlet
Sue was starting to get a little tired and really had no desire to return via the service track. Fortunately, there is a rough track around the edge of the inlet that takes you over the foredunes to “Pearl” Beach.
With the tide well on the way out we were hopeful of some firm sand to walk on. Today, however, that was not the case, didn’t seem to matter how far up the beach we walked it was still pretty soft.
Along the 4km or so of beach, I sighted two pairs of little terns and a White Sea Eagle resting in a tree. As I approached the eagle it took flight and quickly disappeared from sight.
The beach walk turned into another trudge, much like the service track we walked to get to Dock Inlet. So we can only sympathise with the “All Trails” persons’ “I hate sand” comment, especially imagining them walking all 25km as suggested by the park’s walk description.
We were able to complete our circuit with around 1km road walk back to where we had parked the car. Our day in total was now at 16km we were very pleased to be heading to camp at Bemm River.
Information on NSW National Parks signage along the way
The local flora, fauna, geology, history and some other walks (ChatGPT)
The Cape Conran Coastal Park is a stunning natural reserve located in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. This park has a rich history, encompassing both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives.
Indigenous History:
The Indigenous history of Cape Conran Coastal Park is rooted in the traditional lands of the Gunai/Kurnai people, who have lived in the area for over 60,000 years. These Indigenous peoples are also known as the Gunaikurnai, Gurnai-Kurnai, or Kurnai, and they have a deep connection to the land, sea, and waterways that surround the park. For the Gunaikurnai people, the park is a significant cultural site, and it holds a great deal of spiritual significance.
Prior to European settlement, the Gunaikurnai people lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle, moving throughout the park and the surrounding areas in search of food, shelter, and water. They had a complex social and cultural structure, with strong ties to their ancestral lands and an intimate knowledge of the natural environment. Their traditional practices included hunting, fishing, and gathering, and they lived in harmony with the land for thousands of years.
White History:
The history of Cape Conran Coastal Park also includes the arrival of European settlers, who established a presence in the area during the 1800s. These settlers brought with them a different worldview and way of life, which would have significant impacts on the Indigenous peoples and the natural environment.
During this time, the park was used for grazing, logging, and farming, which had significant impacts on the local ecosystems. The arrival of Europeans also brought diseases that had a devastating effect on the Indigenous populations, leading to a decline in their numbers.
In the 1960s, the park was established as a protected area, with efforts to restore and preserve the natural environment. This led to the closure of grazing and logging operations, as well as the establishment of hiking trails and campgrounds for visitors.
Walks:
Cape Conran Coastal Park offers visitors a range of walking trails that showcase the park’s natural beauty and cultural significance. One of the most popular walks is the East Cape Walk, which takes visitors along the coast to East Cape, offering stunning views of the ocean and surrounding landscape. This walk is approximately 5.5km long and takes around two hours to complete.
Another popular walk is the Banksia Bluff Walk, which takes visitors through a beautiful forest of banksia trees and offers stunning views of the coastline. This walk is approximately 1.5km long and takes around 45 minutes to complete.
Finally, the Wildflower Walk takes visitors through a beautiful meadow filled with wildflowers, offering a unique opportunity to see the park’s diverse plant life up close. This walk is approximately 1km long and takes around 30 minutes to complete.
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