Innes National Park and Point Souttar

Day 14 - Butlers Beach to Point Souttar

Butlers Beach, Marion Bay, Innes National Park, Formby Bay, Corny Point, Point Souttar

Friday, 1 February 2013
Strong wind all night rocking the van. Left campsite at about 8am as it was too cold and windy to go walking or swimming. Called into the office and handed in the key. Lisa told me that the property covers 5000 acres and is used to grow barley and raise cattle.

Went to Innes National Park with Tuka hiding in the back.  First stop was Cape Spencer and its lighthouse. Then onto Inneston Historic Township. In the early 1900's it was a small self contained village with its own post office, tennis courts, cricket pitch, plaster factory and chalk factory. All centred around the mining of gypsum. Some of buildings have been restored and can be rented.
Next Ethel Beach and then West Cape. Lookout at West Cape has 360 degree views of the coastline and park. Drove into the Fisherman's Village at Pondalowie Bay. Had a look at Shepherds Hut. It is a small heritage building that can be rented. Final stop at Browns Beach. A long beach with large dunes behind it. It has intertidal reefs which would be great for snorkelling when it is sunny. Overall spent over four hours looking at the sites, buildings and vegetation. Tuka was content to eat dog food, drink water and sleep in the van during this time. There are a number of camping areas scattered around the park, generally close to a beach - all of course are not 'dog friendly'.

As no exit at north end of the park I had to drive back to Marion Bay and then turn onto the Corny Point Road. Drove for about 30km and turned off to Formby Bay. Parking area is at the top of cliffs overlooking the bay and beach. Tuka and I walked along the only access track to the beach - a narrow path that follows the cliff and eventually winds down to the beach. As there is no car access to the beach Tuka and I had the beach to ourselves.

Drove onto Corny Point to buy credit for my phone and was told that Optus had installed a tower at Corney Point recently so reception was good. Carried onto Point Soutar where I found a camping reserve next to the beach. Overlooked by beach houses up on the point with stairs giving access to the beach. Set up camp and took Tuka for a couple of walks.

	Coastal heathland and barley fields [Map]		Loco and dobbin trucks used to haul gypsum to port [Map]
	Shepherds Hut [Map]		Brown Beach [Map]
	Formby Bay [Map]		Tuka at Formby Bay [Map]

Day 15 - Point Souttar

Point Souttar

Saturday, 2 February 2013
Decided to stay here and let Tuka rest as he is a bit wobbly today.
We did some short walks along the beach. I did a longer walk to Burner Beach by myself. Talked to some of the locals. One of them has been coming here for 40 years. Another one now lives in Sydney but still comes back to the family holiday house for holidays.
Weather ranges from showers, cloudy, sunny back to cloudy. Tuka and I managed to have swim in the afternoon when it was sunny.

	Tuka at camp [Map]		Beach at Point Souttar [Map]

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