Upon learning that this Saturday would be sunny, with highs of 27 degrees, and after a week of torrential rain that was heralded as the wettest seven-day period in NSW since national daily records began in 1900, we packed both beach and hiking gear to do two things we love with this benison of a forecast.
We decided on the Resolute Circuit Walk that harbours the secluded Resolute Beach. We hoped to enjoy both a brisk hike and leisurely beach day before the season plays catch up and we would start to see the gelid temperatures and more gentle sun of an Autumn that you would typically see of Sydney at the tail end of March.
Cheap Eats
Upper Crust is a Collaroy take-away staple and expectedly so – there was a sizable line just before lunch time.
With over 30 different fillings you could umm and ah about, ranging from five different types of steak pies to more fusion flavours like Tandoori Lamb and Singaporean Curry, we end up settling on two of the steak options: Steak & Kidney ($7.30) and Steak & Mushroom ($6.90).
Humble and homely flavours bundled in a golden buttery pastry, that crumbled and flaked on each bite and a viscous gravy that coated the palate with each meaty morsel. Simply said – a solid meat pie worthy of a nine out of ten.
Getting There
Upon entering Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park there is a $12 entrance fee that also covers parking the whole day. Driving through the wonderfully winding roads of the park, there are two parking areas to access Resolute Beach and from where you can start your hike:
- Resolute Picnic Area and
- West Head Lookout
These two walking tracks combine to form the 6km long Resolute Circuit walk and depending on what you want to get out of your walk, you could either choose the leisurely 1km return walk from the Lookout or a more rigorous hike from the Resolute Picnic Area. We choose to go with the rigour.
Though we decided to go with the latter, we did check out West Head prior to our hike. Driving past the Picnic Area, we parked at the West Head as we are never ones to pass on a beautiful lookout point. Brimming in military history as it was a vantage point in World War II, and now a tourist attraction, the panoramic views exhibit a visual feast of Broken Bay on your left, Pittwater on your right and Barrenjoey Headland and Lighthouse in front. We spent only a few minutes taking in the sights before driving back up to the Resolute Picnic Area where we commenced our 5.2km hike.
The Hike
Early into the trail you encounter what was one of the highlights of the hike for me – the Red Hands Cave. Rich in aboriginal history – this large sandstone overhang is a canvas for Aboriginal rock art painted between 500 – 1600 years ago. This gallery has been subject to weather and erosion but there is still a scattering of red stencilled handprints still visible to the discerning eye.
As you continue downhill a series of staircases you cannot help but think of this as nature’s stairmaster that you will have to face on the loop back. Between here and West Head lookout the trail levels out and you trek on leafy mulch softens your step. Its serenity is relative to the pace you keep or the BPM you try to achieve but it’s inarguably beautiful as the light gently trickles through the awning of trees, creating a mosaic of shade that remains cool despite being 28 degrees.
Once you reach the West Head Lookout, you continue down to a steep drop off to your left. A fairly narrow dirt trail gives clearing to the ocean and where you can peek at the waves between trees. A few kms to go and you will reach your mecca – a well deserved tanning session on this little shared oasis of Resolute Beach.
Unless you want to extend your hike by another kilometre and power through some thigh burning stairs, please read the signs. We made the mistake of going straight down a flight of steep stairs to West Head Beach, instead of veering right on the flattened dirt trail to Resolute Beach. West Head Beach is particularly rocky with limited places for leisure – and because of the recent storm, washed up tree boughs and obstructive debris turned our mishap into an obstacle course to where we leap from rocks to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Once we were back on track, we followed the main trail which was more levelled and leisurely as we donned our backpacks and beach umbrella, ready to welcome its use. Our first few glimpses of the secluded beach was a few hundred meters before we reached a descent to another set of stairs.
Resolute Beach is a hidden gem, where the spoils of its seclusion is only heightened by the journey of a picturesque yet enervating hike. Where other beaches in Sydney would be packed with weekenders sharing similar sentiments of making the most of this weather, Resolute Beach was unburdened by this fate.
As we started the hike just after midday, we spent most of the afternoon lolling around and soaking in the balmy sun. Though we would have welcomed a refreshing swim after our hike, this wasn’t possible as the ocean was squalid with untreated stormwater that can carry sewerage, oil, bacteria, parasites, and viruses that cause a variety of diseases.The sun was much preferred over vibrio and aeromonas.
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage recommends to avoid swimming at ocean beaches at least one day after heavy rain but seeing as the sunny weather was fleeting we still decided to embark and chose to enjoy the sand and not the sea.
If there was ever a criticism it was derived from the intermittent wafting pungence of sewage and debris, that is expected after a week of the most rainfall Sydney had ever seen.
Despite all this, this was easily my favourite trail in Ku-ring-Gai Chase National Park as it was an amalgamation of everything to be enjoyed in a hike. From a breathtaking lookout point, to beautiful bushland and a clandestine little beach – is it definitely a hike and beach that we will revisit come Spring or Summer, on days that don’t succeed in deluge rainfall.
