Gill Goes ... Trekking The Bibbulmun Track End To End Again... Day 6.. William Bay to Boat Harbour

---

Day 6

William Bay to Boat Harbour 20.4km

On the track at 07:20, kind of overcast, cool morning. At Mazoletti Beach 20 minutes later, the trail is open but the beach has to be accessed via a drop off onto the beach, the stairs have disintegrated and there is a handy rope to get yourself down. The weight of the pack makes for a rapid descent! Beautiful light across the sand and to the beach and I'm in luck because the sand is only half soft and sinky and half firm as opposed to fully soft and sinky. My other stroke of luck is that there are two ground parrots on the beach- fascinating little bird. There are also a small group of hooded plover. Given the amount of 4WD tracks I always despair that their nests are so easily destroyed as they lay the eggs on the beach. Some beaches are patrolled by DBCA and I'm guessing local conservation groups who rope off nesting areas and erect signs alerting people to take care. It's an enjoyable 8kms or so, completely passable and with Parry Inlet edging ever closer.

https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/rock-parrot

https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/hooded-plover

Third inlet!! I reach Parry Inlet- it's (my) chest deep- Geoff has parked on the beach on the other side before the prearranged time and has already tested the waters. When I arrived he re-stripped back down in order to carry my pack across over his head! I stripped down (my profound apologies to anyone who had to witness this!) and walked tentatively through - calf to waist then swimming for about 3m at chest/neck high. Exhilarating! Fantastic chilly start to a day! He had turned on the water heater in the van and filled a thermos so I got a hot shower and a hot real coffee on the beach!! Without a Geoff there are 2 options- a 20 km road detour (like last time) or sometimes a surfer will help out by swimming the pack across on their board. I walk up to the Parry Beach camp ground and say goodbye from the carpark. It's a great spot and can be a good overnighter built in to an E2E or sectional walk. For me it hasn't worked out that way but I have stayed there before with a car/tent - it's worth considering. The description on the website is as follows:



"Parry Beach WA - 21 kms west of Denmark.
Drive along the South Coast Hwy. Turn down Parry Beach road and drive to the end of the road, where you turn left into the camp grounds.
Fees apply

This large campsite with separate bays is simply wonderful at the far western end of William Bay National Park and merges with Mazzoletti Beach.

Only a short distance from the beach and under the shade of peppermint trees make this a tranquil location. The road through the campsite is excellent.
The Bibbulmun Track winds through the campsite, along the beach to Tower Hill and beyond to Lights Beach.

There are no shops, the nearest town is Denmark 21km away.There are public picnic tables around the campsite.

You cannot make a booking, you need to turn up to get a place. It is busy during main school holidays.
If you are planning to visit during the Peak Period there is a high possibility that there will be no vacancies available in the campground.


• Two flushing toilets
• Solar shower blocks
• Solar night lighting
• BBQ and picnic area
• Bins
• Laundry
• Bore water
• Caretaker on site
• Unpowered sites only
• Boat launch
• Fishing
• Bibbulmun Track runs through part of the park and along the beach.
• Swimming
• Surfing
• Dog friendly (must be kept on a leash)
• Firewood (can be purchased)


Run by volunteers, who keep the place tidy and clean."

Back onto the track! Walk solidly for a couple of hours, actually bump into another walker (Sam), he's on his final couple of days and is walking big km's to get to Albany in time for a wedding. Walking, walking, detouring up to the Mt Hillier Trig Point (views!!!) and into the sand dunes again. Stop for lunch and then push on for the last 5km. Treated to truly stellar views of the cliff faces and churning seas. No whales. The re-emergence of big granite rocks signals that I am close to Boat Harbour, some dramatic sky over the harbour (rain is impending I think). The shelter is deserted when I arrive, the rain arrives too. It's slightly different to others in that it has an adjoining perspex roofed structure attached which is like a sun room (except that it's no longer sunny). Get washed and changed and head up the hill behind the hut to see if there's any reception (there is) and meet my second E2E'er for the day, Cathy. Cathy is exhausted- she said the day had been really tough, she had camped in the free spot in the Peaceful Bay Caravan Park but had a lousy night with rain coming in and flooding the shelter area, not much sleep and a hard day. Given the forecast for tomorrow I decided to try and get a chalet for the night, I messaged the owner of one of them and crossed my fingers I'd get a positive response in the morning when I would be back up on the hill again (in reception). Back down the hill in the rain (I love my travel umbrella!) to get dinner underway ( I figured the time passed would have given Cathy enough of an opportunity to freshen up). My first night of the trip sharing a shelter! We spend a pleasant couple of hours chatting and eating before retreating to our tents to get away from the mossies - massive, biting and swarming!

Snake Count- 0 (0)

Tick Count- 0 (5)

Fall Count- 0 (2)

Other People in the Shelter Count- 1 (1/6)

---

Photos

Boat Harbour Hut
Note Attached "sun room"- fantastic for clothes drying

Up On The Hill
Looking down on the hut, there is phone reception up there