Milk Beach

Looking for a small private beach today, I stumbled across a hidden gem. In the wealthy suburb of Vaucluse, east of Sydney CBD there is a small walking track called the Hermitage Foreshore Track. It only runs for 2.2Km and is dotted every few hundred meters with tiny beaches all facing towards Sydney CBD. I had been looking for some tranquillity and hoping for a little wildness and I found both of them on this walk. As I stepped into the bush the sounds of human life faded into nothingness and very quickly all I could hear was the chirping of birds, waves lapping below me and bees buzzing. As my hearing became uncluttered my sense of smell opened up. In the cool of the tree’s shade blossoms were opening and filling the air with an intoxicating smell so strong it made me think of the perfume counters at David Jones. Yellow and green finches flitted amongst the flowers and other native birds sang from higher up in the branches.

 

 

 

The trail wound above the beaches, some of them tiny, some littered with dingys, one even had grass, tables and fishermen sitting on a wall. The beach I stopped at was called Milk Beach and was situated between (very small) sandstone cliffs. I shared the strip of sand with a few other couples and watched the scenery. Yachts bobbed in front of us whilst smaller party boats with music blaring and raucous laughter meandered along the coast line. I watched sea planes landing and taking off, from Rose Bay I think?  In the sand glittered purple, green and blue with broken shards of mother-of-pearl and as the small waves lapped on the shore they tinkled as all the shells crashed into each other. Kayakers came andlanded on our beach for a short while and then continued gliding on to the next bay.
 

 

 

 

The sun was setting behind the Harbour Bridge as I left, ricocheting blinding rays off the sails of the Opera House as well as the water. As I walked back to the path I spotted crabs scuttling back under their rocks andstarfish basking in the rock pools. As the path broke from the bush and back onto the road and the sounds of suburbia settled back in around me I realised how relaxed I felt. For 3 hours I had had the perfect getaway and I felt refreshed from the city and ready to take on the night noodle markets!