On arrival, the bay is smaller than I expected, and first impressions are that it is not very pretty. However, the smell of fish and chips greet us as we disembark from the ferry. The wharf has the famous Doyle’s fish and chips franchise situated on the exit with a take away section as well as a café. The aroma is a tasty reminder that it is nearly lunch time. A snack shared of barramundi and chips, under the shade revives us, and then we’re off to find the lighthouse, which is one of the reasons we travelled here. It was one of the first lighthouses to be built on the inlet into Sydney harbour. A paved walk along the sea edge takes us to a road, which when followed, leads us to another beach around the small headland. The is Camp Cove. Now, this is a much better proposition and it is very busy with families enjoying a day out at the beach. A quick toilet break (you never know when you will find another one!) and we are off up the hillside, following the heritage trail. We traverse large, stone cobbles awakening memories of walking through Roman Streets in Pompeii. We continue to walk upwards, stopping every now and then to look at the vistas from the cliff side edge; a turquoise sea speckled with huge orange rocks. The whirling sea crashes onto the rocks, reminding us of just how treacherous this inlet of water must have been to early travellers. Excitement is around the corner however, as steps down to the rocky bay lead to a pencil thin beach, which is a nudist beach! Voyeuristic snatches of naked bodies appear through the greenery. The women lie supine hiding their wares by lying front down on towels, whereas the men stand tall facing any passer-by. They parade in all their glory- browned birthdays suits are the order of the day! We move further up the hill until the lighthouse appears. A light keeper's cottage has been preserved and the information about the shipwrecks add colour to the scene. The lighthouse reminds me of a traditional helter-skelter slide that you find in fairgrounds; red and white candy stripes with a conical top. It is a popular spot for taking photographs and I am amused and amazed at the seriousness, in which some holiday makers consider their poses. One Japanese lady utters strident instructions to her long- suffering daughter on where, and how to sit! She doesn’t give up until she is satisfied. Standing next to her are two young girls in black shorts and black bikini tops. They are ultra-tanned; not super slim but their snapshots could provide a portfolio for an aspiring model. They are provocative yet innocent at the same time. We move on, no place for us to take our photographs however, we can take snapshots further up where the views are just as spectacular. We move round the headland and make our way back down to Watson Bay. An enjoyable couple of hours has passed by. Time for a drink and a snack I think!
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