Harbour Walk 8      

  

BALLS HEAD BAY                 

August 2012

approx. 5 km 
almost 3 hours 

This time I started and finish my walk at a train station. 

I walked from Wollstonecraft Station down Shirley Road to Berry Island Reserve, all around Balls Head Bay and along Balls Head, then up Balls Head Road to Waverton Station. 

8.1  

It is always nice to go back to where I finished my last walk and start the next one.

From Badangi Reserve it is clearly visible that Berry Island was once an island.

Walking directly around the northern edge of Balls Head Bay is only possible at low tide, unless one takes off shoes, rolls up pants and takes good care around slippery rocks. 

I came across what looked to me like an old Aborigine mitten, exposed by erosion.

 A well sign-posted trail through Bangandi Reserve leads to Wollstonecraft Bay.

There a little off the track I stumbled across a humpy. Maybe some kids practised their bush skills and what they had learned in school about traditional Aboriginal shelters.

And through the bushes I could see the modern housing development where once the North Shore Gas Works stood.

8.2   

The new housing complex at Wollstonecraft Bay is massive and looks from the distance almost oppressive.

 But when you walk through it’s extensive park ways and recreation facilities - one of the old buildings is now a gym and has an in-door pool as well as an out-door pool adjacent and tennis courts - and with the marina in front, living in a flat with a big balcony at ‘Wondakiah’ might be quiet comfortable.

It least the waterfront is now accessible to the public. 

Right next to it is the Naval Base ‘Waterhen’. 

A path with many steps leads up to Balls Head Road.

If you had enough for the day with a one hours walk,  from here it is not far to walk to the railway station. 

8.3    

Few minutes further along Balls Head Drive is the old Coal Loader Depot with it’s huge- now derelict - berth 

and three long tunnels.

There are many signs with detailed information about the history of this interesting place. 

The Coal Loader operated till 1992 and was declared a public open space in 1997. 

The Care Taker Cottage is now a Centre for Sustainability. 

It’s motto ‘Learn from the Past - Embrace the Future’. 

There is also a community garden.

From here too it is easy to get to Waverton Railway Station.

8.4    

Balls Head is one of the largest bushland reserves in North Sydney. 

In 2010 a new path from the Coal Loader was created linking the network of trail on Balls Head. 

This track is most beautiful with great views. 
I like to look from a different perspective at places I have been before.

Not many people seem to know about it, or prefer not to venture far from the picnic  area.  

Quiet a few wild flowers were already out, making the walk even more enjoyable. 

8.5   

The Coal Loader Link Track and the Harbour View Walk go most the time real close to the water’s edge. 

There are great harbour views. 

Soon I was around the headland and at Berrys Bay.

 It is only a short walk to the start of Balls Head Drive. 

And there I was outside the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability again, but this time at the upper level entrance.

After a 10 minute walk up Balls Head Road I got to Waverton Railway Station.

This was a beautiful long walk, again full of surprises.