Haunted Bay Hike

 Andrew and I set off mid morning for a hike South from our anchorage to Haunted Bay on the south shore of Maria Island.  The track was an old convict access road from the Darlington settlement to their farm just south of the narrow neck on the island.  The track steadily climbed up from the beach through eucalypt forest with lots of ferns on the woodland floor.  During our hike up to  the ridge above Haunted Bay at three different locations we saw a large black snake, likely tiger snakes, sunning on the trail.  The snakes moved off into the forest as we approached.

The trail down to Haunted Bay from the ridge is very steep and slippery with lots of erosion.  It was worth the scramble when we arrived at the shoreline.

A glimpse of Haunted Bay from the ridge top


Andrew arriving at Haunted Bay

Haunted Bay - very colourful and beautiful 

We spent an hour or so watching the wave surge pushing the kelp strands up and down the rocks and enjoying the sunshine is a protected alcove behind a large boulder.  After snacking on an apple each we departed the bay to head back to True North. We returned on the same path we hiked in on.  We had not seen anyone until about half way back a group of about eight passed us heading in to Haunted Bay.  They were on a ranger guided hike.  When we reached the Chinamans Bay beach that True North was anchored off of we diverted from the trail and walked the beach back to the dinghy.

The map of our Haunted Bay hike


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