Marion Coast Park Walk

Having acclimatised in Australia has the side effect of thinking more about our upcoming project of walking through Southeast Asia. I catch myself feeling guilty about using a lift or taking the tram, fearing that the missed training might come back to haunt me. I stop at any outdoor shop and ponder what gear we’re still missing, how we could save weight and what the most appropriate equipment could be to tackle the vast number of different climates. Last but not least a 1:250’000 map set of the whole area is ready to be studied extensively.

So, not surprisingly, we chose hiking as our Sunday activity and the Marion Coast Park Walk seemed perfect. The trail is described as "hard", spans 7.2 km from Hallet Cove Headland to Marino Esplanade and leads through two conservation parks. Hikers often walk on boardwalks, which tackle the sometimes rather precarious coastal topography. Impressive stairs provide access to the sea at selected points. The cliffs are close the beach – therefore it is mostly covered by rocks. Since they seldom dig themselves up from the ground but rather tend to fall from above I decided to not try climbing at this location…

Impressions from the trail

 

Nevertheless it has a lot of other attractions. Since Switzerland is a landlocked country being close to the sea is one in itself. Then there are geological features like large, polished slabs of stone telling stories that date back 280 million years – when glaciers covered Australia and polished the bedrock. Continental drift had yet to separate Pangaea and shape the world as we know it today...

Original location of Australia and subsequent continental drift (Image from USGS)

Then there is the flora and fauna which is still very unfamiliar to me – but I am working on it. Finally the two parks have the important function of reining back the approaching settlements, which threaten to topple the equilibrium of these ever so sensitive coastal ecosystems. 

Lovely devotement and getting jumpy at Hallet Cove Beach

 

Now you may ask: A 7.2 km coastal walk on a plank is described as “hard”? Well, we had the same thought. And to be honest: it turned out to be a stroll in the park – but a lovely one. We came up with an explanation of our own: in Australia one has to factor in venomous animals.  Throw in a few Eastern Browns and the trail is potentially deadly – which makes “hard” a gross understatement…:)