It
rained ever so heavily the night before, the first time during my stay in
Sydney that I saw the rain come down much like the tropical monsoons we have in
Malaysia.
And
then next morning, there were reports of flooding and damage in some low-lying
areas in and around the city. The skies were overcast and cloudy while
temperatures cooled down substantially compared to the past few weeks of scorching
sunshine.
Craggy cliffs and rocky shores at
Kamay Botany Bay National Park
I
was having breakfast when Malcolm told me that we will go for a drive later.
With the weather forecast for cloudy skies, I was relieved that his idea was
for a drive rather than for a walk.
Last
month, when we met with his friend, Geradine and daughter, Natasha, and visited
St Charbel church, he wanted to take us to the Southern shores to show us the
craggy cliffs at Kamay Botany Bay National Park. However, due to time
constraints, he changed the plan and brought us to the La Perouse beach instead.
Malcolm
was determined to show me this southern part of Sydney which he thinks is raw
and wild yet very scenic compared to the more densely populated Northern
Beaches. 
No pets allowed!
While
La Perouse is the northern headland of Kamay Botany Bay National Park, the
Kurnell area near Cronulla, is at the southern headland of this National Park,
renowned for NSW’s most significant heritage sites and an ideal lookout point
for whale-watching.
Botany
Bay, specifically Kamay Botany Bay National Park, is renowned as it was where
Captain James Cook first landed in Australia in 1770, marking the start of the
history of modern Australia.
The
whale migrating season for humpback whales was June and July as they migrate to
warmer waters but they may also be spotted between May and October. Some whales
have even come as close to 200 meters from the coast.
A panoramic view of Kamay Botany Bay
We
were however, not in any of the whale-spotting seasons, so I was going to be
content just to experience the wild and wonderful natural beauty of this site.
So
we set off for a drive in a light drizzle, heading to Cape Solander in the
Kurnell suburb. Along the route, I enjoyed reading the road names and as I saw
that many were similar to road names in England, Malcolm and I had a chat about
it.
The wind was whipping around me...
He
said that in almost every main city in Australia, there were streets, roads and
lanes named after royalty as in King, Queen, Prince or Princess and their names
like, George, Edward and Elizabeth. We agreed that this was probably because
the British who first came to Australia decided on these names which were
familiar to them.
When
we arrived at the entrance to the Park in Cape Solander, the staff in a
guardhouse said a one-time car entry fee was required. Malcolm remembered that
in the past, cars were allowed to enter and required to pay parking fees at
designated areas but the system has now been changed.
On the comfortable track for a walk
When
we drove in, he discovered that the Visitor Centre was closed while parts of
the Park was undergoing infrastructure upgrades. We parked near the main
pavilion at the lookout point, got out of the car and was instantly whipped by
gusty winds.
Malcolm
told me that this sheltered pavilion as well as much of the paved walkway,
designed with several blocks of concrete benches, were new structures provided for
visitors to be more comfortable while whale-watching.
There
were several walking trails throughout the Park but overlooking the cliffs,
walking tracks have been marked out for a comfortable walk along the coast.
Signs
put up at clearly visible points reminded visitors that these were unfenced
cliffs and people should stick to walking on the marked walking tracks. 
The rocky ledge with an edge to a sheer
drop to the restless sea below
However,
if recalcitrant visitors did venture onto the rocks, it made sense not to walk
close to the cliff edges as the overhanging rocks may be very thin due to
erosion. Any extra weight on these brittle rocks may just cause it to break.
A
rocky ledge looked deceptively safe but over its edge was a sheer drop below to
the restless sea. In the distance, we saw wild waves crashing onto the rocky
sides of the cliffs.
As
we walked along the track, the wind that whipped around us was so strong that
it threatened to knock me off my feet so I walked carefully to keep my balance.
Malcolm
captured some good videos and panoramic photos of the vista and when we
reviewed the videos, we could even hear the vibrating sound of the wild winds.
It
was almost the end of summer in Australia so there were just a few others like
us who ventured out this far south to explore and experience the rugged beauty
of these mighty cliffs.
As
we enjoyed the wild and rustic views, I can understand why Botany Bay is a
popular film location used for productions from BBC dramas to Tamil action
films, along with being the backdrop for music videos and commercials.
A we-fie with the rugged coast in background
After
having our fill of the panoramic views of sea, sky and soaring cliffs, we left
the Park and drove on to Cronulla for a drive-through to see this charming
sea-side suburb.
Then
onward to Hurstville where we stopped for a light lunch* and a walkabout in the
shops before heading back slowly through after-school traffic.
*Only
a light lunch because in these two days, we have family dinners lined up and we
should ‘keep some space’ for feasting together again. My stay in Sydney is
drawing to a close and I would like to dine with the family here before I
leave.
#MyJohorStoriesTravelogue
#MyJohorStoriesFebruary2026
