King Island Coastal Hike

Day 6

King Island Coastal Hike – Day Six

Day six began with another early start, but this morning was filled with plenty of laughter as we packed up camp and planned the day ahead. George joked that when he agreed to come for a “dog walk,” he never imagined it would last six or seven days. Safe to say I might struggle to convince him to come on another dog walk anytime soon!

One thing we’ve learnt is that packing up before sunrise gives us the chance to actually enjoy it. This morning’s sunrise over Disappointment Bay was nothing short of spectacular and was the perfect way to begin another big day on the trail.

We set off by tackling the steep sand dune down to the beach before beginning another stretch of rock hopping along the coastline towards Cape Wickham Lighthouse. George occasionally chose what he considered the “easier” route, while I stubbornly insisted this was a coastal walk and we should stay as close to the water as possible. His response had us both laughing: “What actually defines a coastal walk? I can still see the coast from up here!” At times he gave in and joined me back on the rocks.

Reaching the northernmost point of King Island was a special milestone. We stopped for the obligatory selfie, knowing we’d now stood on the island’s southernmost, easternmost, westernmost and northernmost points during our journey.

As we approached Cape Wickham, the golf course was already buzzing with golfers. Neither of us was particularly keen on being struck by a stray golf ball, so we navigated a little further inland before making our way safely around to the west coast. Along the way we crossed some incredible sand dunes before dropping back onto the beach near The Springs.

Waiting for us at The Springs was George’s dad, along with our two boys and our dogs, Bella and Pinni. The dogs were absolutely beside themselves with excitement to be reunited and were more than ready for a long afternoon of walking.

Next came the stretch we’d been dreading, The Springs to Yellow Rock, famous for its soft, sloping sand. We searched for the firmest line we could find while the dogs raced around, completely oblivious to how tiring the sand was beneath our feet.

At Yellow Rock River, the water was calm enough to cross. We had planned to stop for lunch at Quarantine Bay and neither of us wanted to stop just to put our shoes back on for such a short distance. George simply took his shoes off and waded across and changed back into his Crocs 🤭 while I timed my crossing between the waves and only ended up with slightly wet feet. By the time we enjoyed lunch in the sunshine at Quarantine Bay, everything was dry again.

After lunch we were once again greeted by George’s dad, our boys and our eldest son’s friend, Ben, who had ridden their bikes through the paddocks to meet us at Whistler Point. We shared a few laughs, pushed the bikes along for a short section, then said our goodbyes before continuing on.

The afternoon was filled with more classic King Island coastline,rock hopping, muttonbird rookeries, boggy holes and endless coastal scenery. We both agreed that the flat soaks had become our favourite terrain. They were surprisingly soft underfoot and easy to walk across, apart from the occasional hoof prints left by cattle.

As the tide dictated our route, we weaved between the coastline, creek mouths and coastal tracks before passing Red Rock Retreat. One final creek crossing remained, but this time we were able to hop across from rock to rock without getting our feet wet.

Eventually we found what was probably the perfect campsite to finish the day.

By the time we stopped, we’d covered just over 36 kilometres. Despite the distance, it was actually one of the easier walking days thanks to the firmer, some what more even terrain for much of the journey. George was definitely beginning to feel the accumulated kilometres, though. Normally he’s my dedicated “gate opener,” but today there were moments when I had to open my own gates, a sure sign the legs were getting tired!

Tomorrow is the final day. We’ll be up early once again with one goal in mind: making it all the way home and completing our circumnavigation of King Island. After six unforgettable days, the finish line is finally within reach.

As we sit around our final camp fire of the journey, I’m thinking about how it will feel to finish, to complete such a massive goal? Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll let you all know. But for now…I am proud of how far we have come so far, I am thankful for everyone that has supported me along the way and off course to those who have kindly donated to a great cause that is very close to my heart. Thank You! 

Day 5

King Island Coastal Hike - Day Five

Day five began with one of the most spectacular sunrises of the trip. As the sun rose over Council Island, the morning fog wrapped around the coast, creating an incredible scene. It made packing up camp difficult because all we wanted to do was stop and soak it all in.

Knowing the tide was at its lowest, we set off early towards Sea Elephant River, hoping it would be shallow enough to cross. When we arrived, we were met by my youngest brother, Justin, and my niece, Amelia, who had driven out in the buggy. The fresh fruit they offered had our eyes wide open with excitement. Before we committed, Justin bravely tested the crossing in his shorts, if he got wet, he could simply head home and dry off. We didn’t have that luxury! Thankfully, the plan we sought was a manageable route. The current was surprisingly strong, but the water wasn’t too deep. We took our shoes and pants off, carefully crossed together, joking the water was so cold we couldn’t feel our sore feet. Once safely on the other side, dried our feet, put our shoes and socks back on, and continued north.

The next challenge was the famous Nine Mile Beach. For most of the walk, we were treated to beautiful flat sand that made for easy going. As the tide gradually crept in, the final quarter became more angled, making it a little tougher on the ankles. Walking a long, straight beach for so many kilometres can play tricks on your mind, so we passed the time making up songs and laughing along the way.

George’s biggest rival of the day quickly became Martha Point. Hidden in the fog, it seemed like every time we thought we were getting close, it moved further away. When we finally reached it, he couldn’t help but celebrate.

At Martha Lavinia we were greeted by my in-laws and our three children, who had set up a barbecue in the back of our ute. There is nothing quite like being welcomed with a hot hamburger after a long morning of hiking, 22km down. We took the opportunity to dry out our tent, which was still damp from the previous night’s condensation.

Just before we set off again, Tom, Katey and the girls arrived with the perfect surprise, refreshments! Lollies for George, blueberries for me, and fresh coconut water that tasted absolutely incredible! Katey also noticed I was limping from the ankle I had sprained on day one, having some leftover sports tape from football the previous day, kindly taped it up before we said our goodbyes. It made a huge difference.

With another 14 kilometres ahead of us, we continued towards Disappointment Bay. The tide was still low enough to stay on the shoreline, allowing us to skirt around Bold Head before making our way to Three Sisters. From there, it was a combination of bush bashing, rock hopping and climbing over sandy headlands before finally reaching the coastline again.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see the giant boulders at our entrance to Disappointment Bay. They marked the final rock hopping section of the day before we stepped onto the beautiful beach that, despite its name, never disappoints.

As darkness settled in, we climbed into the sand dunes at the southern end of the bay and pitched camp for the night. We lit a fire, cooked another dehydrated meal, probably our least favourite one of the trip so far and spent some time stretching. We’d discovered that taking the time to stretch before bed made a noticeable difference to how we felt the following morning.

It had been one of the biggest days of the hike. We crawled into the tent exhausted, sore, and ready for a well-earned sleep, knowing we’d earned every kilometre.

Day 4

Day 3

Day 2

King Island Coastal Hike – Day Two

As we were walking today, I reminded George that I’ve been wanting to do an overnight hike with him for pretty much our entire 20/21 years together. In true Jess and George style, we’ve finally done it with minimal to no planning, absolutely no training, and by simply going all in.

Day two began before sunrise. We were up at 5:45 am, packed and on the trail by 7:00.

Our morning started with Ian Allen from King Island Walks, who guided us from Fitzmaurice Bay around the rugged headland to the start of the Copperhead Trail. We probably could have found our own way, but Ian’s local knowledge made the journey far safer, much quicker and far more enjoyable. His hiking poles quickly became our favourite piece of gear (and they’re now coming with us for the rest of the trip!) while his Garmin tracker became my family’s favourite as they followed our progress from home.

The scenery was simply breathtaking, Mother Nature at her wild, raw best. It’s something words or even photos, can’t truly capture. Thanks, Ian! You absolutely made our morning!

The morning wasn’t without its challenges. Bella’s 14-year-old hips struggled on the steep climbs, and after a few tumbles I spent much of the morning catching and guiding her. When the climbs became too much, George somehow carried her up several of the toughest sections while still wearing his 17 kg pack.

After saying goodbye to Ian, the Copperhead Trail offered a welcome break before we stopped at the Calcified Forest to refill water, patch blisters and give the dogs a drink.

From there, the adventure really began. Thick scrub, muttonbird rookeries and hidden burrows turned every kilometre into a puzzle. There was plenty of bush bashing, a few unexpected stumbles and lots of careful footwork, but thankfully we all came through generally unscathed.

We reached Surprise Bay later than planned, but right on the perfect tide. We celebrated the small win with a quick snack before I changed my footwear and made a solo water crossing to King Island’s southernmost point at Stokes Bay while George put the kettle on for lunch.

The final stretch towards Red Hut was relentless. Storms and big seas have stripped away much of the beach, forcing us over rocks, through dunes and across what felt like the longest stretch of soft sand imaginable. We finished with a wade across the opening of Big Lake, thankfully the dogs ended up wetter than we did, and all our gear stayed dry.

We arrived at Colliers Bay after dark, where the kids and my mum greeted us with a roaring fire, a cheese platter, fresh fruit and dinner waiting. Being able to tell the kids about our day and read them a bedtime story was the perfect finish.

A huge thank you to Mary-Ann and Andrew for so generously letting us use the house as our meeting point, refill our water and spend that precious time with the kids. Your kindness meant more than you know.

Day two was tougher than we expected, but it reminded us that the best adventures are rarely the easiest. Every challenge was rewarded with another spectacular piece of King Island’s wild coastline… making every one of George’s sore muscles completely worthwhile. 

Day 1

The Journey Begins

Today marked the beginning of our coastal walk in support of youth mental health through the Black Dog Institute.

The morning didn’t quite start as planned. Between some last-minute organising and taking the time to say goodbye to the kids, we didn’t leave home until 7:25 am. As it turned out, that extra time with family was well worth it before setting off on what promises to be an unforgettable journey.

We left our house on Charles Street and made our way through Devils Gap, around the harbour, past Netherby Rocks and into Half Moon Bay. The cool windy morning air and low tide made for a gentle and enjoyable start, allowing us to settle into the rhythm of the walk. 

From there we continued along British Beach. By then, the tide was already making its presence known. The sand was soft, making every step that little bit harder, but the scenery more than made up for it. Reaching Badger Box Creek was a pleasant surprise. We’d expected a difficult crossing, but instead managed to make it across without even getting our feet wet.

The coastline soon became more adventurous, with a section of rock scrambling leading us towards Sandfly. With the tide pushing high against the dunes, there were stretches where the beach almost disappeared, forcing us to climb through the sand dunes before returning to the shoreline. Millers Bay offered a welcome change of pace, despite the shoreline being covered in sea weed and kelp.

After crossing the Ettrick River via the bridge, we passed down Brian Youd place to continue on the coast, where the character of the day changed dramatically.

Dripping Wells certainly lived up to its name.

The track became slow, wet and demanding. Springs flowed across the ground, boggy patches seemed endless, and rocks hidden beneath the water made every step one that needed careful thought. The higher tides only added to the challenge, turning what looked like a straightforward section on the map into one of the toughest parts of the day.

We when stopped for lunch. The difficult conditions continued through passed Kittawa, where countless soaks and muddy sections meant there was little chance of keeping our feet dry. Progress slowed as we carefully picked our way through the bogs, knowing that rushing would only make things harder.

By the time we reached Fitzmaurice Bay, the tide was at its highest for the day and the sand incredibly soft.

As the afternoon drew to a close, we climbed the hill at the southern end of Fitzmaurice Bay and found a sheltered spot amongst the bush to pitch our tent, protected from the wind and with the sound of the ocean below. It was the perfect place to reflect on the first day.

Today reminded us that even the most beautiful journeys come with unexpected challenges. Every bog, every soft beach, every climb and every extra step is part of the experience—and every kilometre walked is helping raise awareness and funds for youth mental health.

Tomorrow we’ll be on the move again at first light, making our way through Seal Rocks with our sights set on reaching Red Hut by tomorrow evening. Hoping to continue to gather 3 for the Sea at every bay! 

One day down. Many more adventures ahead.

We truly do live in a beautiful wild part of the world.