Green Cape Light, and Disaster Bay

Imagine sailing into unknown waters, with unmarked charts ... you would be glad, wouldn't you, that a place called Disaster Bay was as yet unrecorded and uncharted!

Disaster Bay, Far South Coast, NSW

As Cook sailed up the east coast of the newly discovered Great South Land, mapping everything he saw, he may well have shuddered as his tiny 'Endeavour' passed this place. 

Looking down over Disaster Bay, from the grounds of the Green Cape Lighthouse

Later to become the watery grave of many ships and sailors, Disaster Bay is, nonetheless, an incredibly beautiful place!

Now a National Park, the road into Disaster Bay remains unpaved, and basically, a well-kept, dirt track. But if you wish to visit the lighthouse at Green Cape, then this is the track you must take. 

The scenery though is lovely, the bush pristine, and when I travelled through it in September, there were wild flowers blooming along the sides of the road and wattles glowing overhead.

Home to shy wallabies, I also saw tunnels into the banks ... so maybe also fairy penguins or perhaps muttonbirds? A tiny Willy Wagtail entertained himself and me, as he flitted around searching for insects.

Wattle, pale and creamy, unlike the bolder bright yellow most people think of when they think of this plant.

                                       GREEN CAPE LIGHTHOUSE

The lighthouse itself is stunning! The 'epitome' of lighthouses. Well kept, and situated just on the northern arm of Disaster Bay, it's light would have kept many ships safe that otherwise would have come to grief. Should I apologise for adding so many images of this lighthouse? I just loved them all!

At the end of the road ...

Cottages lived in by the keeper of the lighthouse and his workers.

Very Mediterranean, I thought ...

Window into the past ...

So beautiful and ornate ...

Imagine walking around this ...

The deeper blue of the sky makes this my favourite image of them all ...

There are cottages in the main grounds which now provide accommodation for anyone wishing to stay there. In past times of course, they were occupied by the lighthouse keeper and his workmen.

Huge seas pound the coast at Disaster Bay, and any ship in trouble would have been driven relentlessly onto the harsh cliffs and rocky platforms.

I though, came by car to see the incredible beauty of this still-isolated tiny touch of civilisation on a wild coast.

I spent a lovely few hours traipsing round this place, taking photos and gazing into the past. 

It's definitely on my 'Go-back-to" list!

Why is the journey home never as much fun as the journey in?