Watson Bay Walk - A Great Day out in Sydney

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[{"address":"Robertson Park","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-33.843527646615314,"longitude":151.28243847543362},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Robertson Park And The Wharf"},{"type":"audio","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FOOHEydJcFy7sV4EJ2Fjd%2FWatson%20Bay%20-%20Sydney%20Expert%201.mp3?alt=media&token=dafd9937-4337-4e36-918e-d1bd9541e1d7"},{"type":"text","content":"The Cadigal, the First Nations people of the Sydney Harbour area, referred to the area around Watson’s Bay as Kutti. It was a favourite spot for fishing and gathering food and very important to them. They remained here after the arrival of the colonials until a smallpox epidemic hit, and the population was severely affected."},{"metadata":{"width":800,"height":533},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FOOHEydJcFy7sV4EJ2Fjd%2FRobertson-Park-Picnic-Watsons-Bay.jpeg?alt=media&token=49492d62-6997-4440-8dd5-1ac2c8faa6ec"},{"type":"text","content":"The extensive park surrounding the waterfront is Robertson Park; there are several Canary Islands Palms here that grew from seeds the first fleet bought from a stopover in Tenerife, along with some gorgeous fig trees.\n\nWith lots of shade, a playground and lovely views of the waterfront, it’s a great picnic spot."},{"metadata":{"width":800,"height":494},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FOOHEydJcFy7sV4EJ2Fjd%2FRoberson-Park-Watson-Bay-sydney-australia.jpeg?alt=media&token=cd262135-0f0c-476c-8006-08a07d0e0c5f"},{"type":"text","content":"If you have some time, take a stroll south along the beach to the swimming enclosure and the Vaucluse Yacht Club."}]},{"address":"The Gap Lookout National Park","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-33.842530377414874,"longitude":151.28437060705122},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Gap Bluff And The Gap Lookout"},{"type":"text","content":"The Gap Bluff and Gap lookout are directly opposite the wharf at Watsons Bay. If you climb to the high point, you are rewarded with views from Mosman to Manly.\n\nTwo lighthouses in Watsons Bay highlight the danger the sea here posed to early visitors. In 1857, the Dunbar was wrecked off the cliffs below the Gap, killing 121 and leaving a sole survivor, James Johnson, a crewman rescued from the rocks 36 hours later. Divers finally located the wreck in 1955, and you will find the anchor of the ship sitting attached to the cliff near the main lookout."},{"metadata":{"width":800,"height":486},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FOOHEydJcFy7sV4EJ2Fjd%2FThe-Gap-Lookout-Watsons-Bay.jpeg?alt=media&token=d8bc87e1-1e35-4b3e-9be9-86c047501857"},{"type":"text","content":"The ship’s bible was washed up on Forty Baskets Beach on the other side of the harbour and can be found in St Stephen’s Church in Camperdown.\n\nA few months after this terrible accident, a second ship, The Catherine Adamson, was wrecked nearby, resulting in another 21 deaths. This was enough to get fast action on the lighthouse building.\n\nFrom the 1930s, The Gap became known as a place of misadventure, the rocky cliffs drawing the foolhardy and the depressed. As early as 1942, a police cliff rescue unit was established, saving over 70 people a year."},{"metadata":{"width":800,"height":540},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FOOHEydJcFy7sV4EJ2Fjd%2FWatsons-Bay-Lifeline-sign-The-Gap.jpeg?alt=media&token=42c49aa8-ccc0-4f8d-9f19-9fc5b8163a5c"},{"type":"text","content":"From the 1960s, Don Ritchie, a local who lived next to the lookout, watched out for people who appeared to need help. He saved over 160 people, which earned him the nickname “the angel of the gap.” Ritchie was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2006 and passed away in 2012. These days the area is under camera surveillance, and help phones operated by Lifeline staff are in a couple of spots along the cliff.\n\nSo what is”the Gap”? The Gap itself is the wavecut shelf formed between two sandstone cliffs here."},{"metadata":{"width":800,"height":533},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FOOHEydJcFy7sV4EJ2Fjd%2FRock-platform-at-the-Gap.jpeg?alt=media&token=08041e79-e79b-456c-a643-a6bff3761424"}]},{"address":"7 Victoria St","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-33.839425774346964,"longitude":151.2791671551857},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Camp Cove"},{"type":"text","content":"Return to the wharf and make your way along the footpath that follows the beach. Continue past the upturned rowboats and Doyles restaurant until you reach the stairs at the end of the beach. Take these up to the street.\n\nYou will need to walk along the street and head to Cove Street, Pacific Street, and Green Point Reserve. Once you reach Green Point Reserve, you will find Camp Cove Beach to the right."},{"metadata":{"width":800,"height":494},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FOOHEydJcFy7sV4EJ2Fjd%2FCamp-Cove-Beach-Watsons-Bay-Sydney.jpeg?alt=media&token=604457df-9566-448a-8c37-aebb4922ce62"},{"type":"text","content":"When the First Fleet first landed in Sydney, they arrived in Botany Bay but quickly discovered that with no fresh water source, this was not an ideal place to build their settlement. Captain Phillip and a small party headed off exploring new locations and sailed through the heads into Sydney Harbour.\n\nThey camped the night here on the beach at Camp Cove before sailing into Sydney Cove the following day. This was the first place that the English set foot on Australian soil.\n\nYou can read more about the area’s history, including its importance to the Cadigal people, on the Dictionary of Sydney listing for Camp Cove.\n\nAt the southern end of the beach is a marble monument reading, “On this beach, Governor Phillip first landed in Port Jackson Jan 21 1788”. It’s easy to walk right by this rather unassuming structure, but you will find it to the right of the toilet block."}]},{"address":"4 Cliff St","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-33.83805333215347,"longitude":151.2790000028286},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Watson’s Bay Canon"},{"type":"text","content":"At the northern end of Camp Cove Beach is a set of wooden stairs that will lead you to the entry of Sydney Harbour National Park and the South Head Heritage Trail Loop. The first highlight is the historic canon."},{"metadata":{"width":800,"height":600},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FOOHEydJcFy7sV4EJ2Fjd%2FWatsons-Bay-canon-overlooking-sydney-harbour.jpeg?alt=media&token=6de9b56f-5e13-404c-a2c3-d0a11234cc39"},{"type":"text","content":"A favourite photo spot is this cannon that points back towards the city skyline and a splendid view over Camp Cove Beach, previously near Hornby Lighthouse. It was bought to the colony from England in 1872 and placed at South Head in the 1890s.\n\nThe path along the road was made of cobblestone and was built during the late 1870s. It’s a gentle reminder of the history of the area."}]},{"address":"1 S Head Heritage Trail","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-33.835494224981275,"longitude":151.27949533399203},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Lady Bay Beach"},{"metadata":{"width":800,"height":591},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FOOHEydJcFy7sV4EJ2Fjd%2FLady-Jane-Lady-Bay-Beach-Watsons-Bay.jpeg?alt=media&token=db400f53-3902-4b46-b077-ebd2b789d2ac"},{"type":"text","content":"This beach, also known as Lady Jane, was granted legal nude status way back in 1976 during Premier Wran’s government. A few things to note, nudity is only permitted on the beach and water, and while you can don swimwear here, it is sometimes frowned upon by the locals.\n\nIt’s also good to note that walkers tend to stand at the top and take photos of the beach and its visitors. If you decide to go off climbing around the rocky point, you may discover some frisky beachgoers."}]},{"address":"South Head","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-33.834684071099815,"longitude":151.2801198434781},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# South Head Heritage Walk"},{"type":"text","content":"This easy 30-minute loop walk is a leisurely stroll with 5-star views. If the long walk from Vaucluse is a bit much for you, this is a great alternative. It is a mix of boardwalk, concrete, and cobblestone with a few stairs."},{"metadata":{"width":979,"height":650},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FOOHEydJcFy7sV4EJ2Fjd%2FWatsons-Bay-Walk.jpeg?alt=media&token=5d354165-3205-4876-919a-89262b5c085e"},{"type":"text","content":"You will come across the lighthouse keeper’s cottage as you reach the head, the sole survivor of the Dunbar; crewman James Johnson and his brother went on to become lighthouse keepers here and then later in Newcastle."}]},{"address":"Hornby Lighthouse","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-33.83354910529671,"longitude":151.280978658673},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Hornby Lighthouse"},{"type":"text","content":"Just around the tip of South Head is the candy stripe lighthouse that marks the entry to Port Jackson. It was the third lighthouse built in NSW; you can learn more about it here."},{"metadata":{"width":1000,"height":641},"type":"img","version":1,"content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FOOHEydJcFy7sV4EJ2Fjd%2FHornby-Lighthouse-Watsons-Bay-.jpeg?alt=media&token=900a9844-5529-4ce2-94fa-22f5c83a97eb"},{"type":"text","content":"Once you have finished your visit, you need to retrace your steps back to Camp Cove. Take the street to the side of the Kiosk and wander past some of the lovely homes, old and new, on the roads back to the hotel and the wharf."}]}]