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Hike Number One - Sealers Cove Wilsons Promontory 27- 29 January 2003.
Wow our first hiking adventure. This was something that has been a dream for quite sometime.
We (Brian (30 something), Rhys (9) & Liam (5) were to be joined by our good friend Ashley (Sunny side of 30) and his eldest son Phillip (18) had all decided to go on our first hiking adventure to Sealers Cove (10.2 km each way) which is located in the beautiful Wilson's Promontory National Park.
After making some calls to the National Park and receiving the information package we made our booking for the one night we were planning to spend away.
EQUIPMENT
Our next problem was the hiking gear. We owned 3 sleeping bags and three closed cell foam sleeping mats but that was about it.
I was able to borrow a back pack and a three man tent from some friends so we had all the gear we needed.
FOOD
As we didn't own or know anybody with portable cooking supplies we decided to plan for cold food for our overnighter. All we really needed to plan for was one evening meal and breakfast so it was pretty simple.
A trip to the bakery for heaps of bread rolls and a trip to the supermarket for some packets of tuna and some bananas gave us all of the food we needed.
We left home at 8.30 am and made it down to Tidal River to check in at the Rangers station and for morning tea just before 11am.
As it was peak season we had to catch a bus to the telegraph saddle car park (there is not enough room for all of the cars at the TS car park) from the Norman Bay car park, which was about 800m from the kiosk. The buses run every half hour so you don't need to wait long before the next one.
At the TS car park we had a quick toilet stop and we were off toward Sealers Cove at 11.50.
The first part of the Sealers Cove walk winds gently up hill for about an hour to Windy Saddle which is a small clearing on top of a hill with a few picnic tables and is a great place for a short break.
From Windy Saddle the track heads down hill and about 20 mins we came across a beautiful running stream at a place called Ferny Glade. What a little paradise. The water was ice cold, crystal clear and very refreshing.
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| Enjoying a nice cool drink at Ferny Glade | A nice photo stop between Ferny Glade & The Boardwalk |
After leaving Ferny Glade the track continues down hill (the track was a bit rough in patches) for the next 40 minutes, eventually coming up to a board walk over swampy ground for the next half an hour.
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Phillip,
Liam, Rhys and I at Blackfish Creek on the boardwalk to Sealers
Cove
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We reached the beach at Sealers Cove where we had to walk along the beach for another kilometer before crossing a river to get to the campsite. We had made it in 2 and a half hours and we all felt pretty pleased with ourselves.
The campsite at Sealers Cove has plenty of small campsites mostly defined by cut down logs and many had stumps which could be used for tables. There is a fresh water creek adjacent to the camp with a pipe of running water constantly flowing. The water was a bit orange in colour but tasted quite OK.
A ranger is stationed in a hut near the campsite during the peak times and they come around each evening to check everyone has a permit and for a chat.
After setting up the tents and a bit of a snack and a drink we all headed to the beach for a swim. Sealers cove is a well protected shallow harbour and we waded out a hundred meters from shore and we were just about hip height in water.
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The
creek running into Sealers Cove nearing sunset.
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Phillip teaching Rhys & liam the finer points of cards |
We all had a few games of cards, did a little bit more exploring and ate a luxurious dinner of tuna rolls (washed down with a nice glass of red wine for Ash and myself). After dinner there was some more card playing and then it was bed.
We all awoke early the next morning to a glorious sunny day and a breakfast of tuna rolls. After a bit of a stroll to loosen up some of the muscles we packed up and headed back over the river and along the beach. During our crossing on the boardwalk we met a couple of guy on mountain bikes heading toward Sealers Cove. We thought this was a bit strange as we had seen signs saying that this was illegal. Another 45 mins up the track we met a ranger who was in pursuit of the the two mountain bikers (the ranger stationed at Sealers Cove was hoping to block their way at that end).
Meanwhile I was finding the hill back up to windy saddle very tough. I just couldn't get any speed up. Ash and Phillip were always waiting for me (they only had light day packs and shared their tent. I had all of our gear and was carrying most of the gear for Rhys & Liam as they only had a back pack with their sleeping bags and mats in them. My pack was slowing me down enormously.
By the time we got to Ferny Glade I needed a rest ( and what a great rest spot). Eventually we got going again and was glad to get to Windy Saddle as I new the rest of the trip was slightly down hill with a slight rise toward the end.
Another 50 minutes had us back to the TS car park and waiting for the bus (we had only just missed it). We were all pretty much stuffed and thought of a hearty meal, ice cold water and several large coffees kept Ash, Phillip and I going and the bribe of fish and chips and icecream got the boys over the last kilometer.
All in all it was a great hike and we were all looking forward to coming back in twelve months to tackle the Lighthouse walk.
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We
made it....now for the drive home.
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CONCLUSIONS
- The tent I borrowed was a great camping tent but weighing in at 6.5 kgs it was not meant to be carried long distances. I have to get a lightweight tent for the next trip.
- Being addicted to caffeine I need to find a portable cooking appliance so I can have a coffee and also to cook a warm meal.
- While our sleeping bags were warm they were also big and heavy (1.9kgs). I saw several people with small looking bags at Sealers Cove which I am sure would be lighter. I need to get us one each.
- I weighed my pack when I got home and it weighed in at 26kgs with no food and empty water bottles. I am going to learn more about lightweight hiking before my next walk.
- Sealers Cove is a great first walk and both of my boys made the trip quite comfortably (after the bribes of the last km) and I would recommended it thoroughly to any family.