Ida Bay to Deephole Bay
Ida Bay to Deephole Bay
PUFF-O-METRE
OVERVIEW
Ida Bay walking track is a wonderful picturesque trail that starts at the Ida Bay Station and follows the railway lines all the way through to Deephole Bay. It's a very easy walking track with a slight downhill when you initially start the track but then flattens out for the rest of the walk to the end. On the return leg you are once again on flat until the last half km and then it's a gradual climb up to the car park.
The trail is predominantly following the coastline giving you bay/water views for most of the walk with the occasional section that diverts into bushland and onto a plateau of trees/shrubbery. There are pockets along the trail, while enjoying the views across the water, that give you stunning views of the mountains. Depending on the time of the year these mountains can be either snow capped or barron.
Once you finish one leg of the trail, you are met with beaches covering 180 degrees. There is a flat section of grass that allows you to pitch a tent if you wish to make it an overnight hike and there is also shelter with multiple picnic tables allowing for ease of meal preparation. Note that although the picnic tables do have shelter over the top, this shelter is by no means waterproof as it doesn't have sealed walls and the iron on the shelter has a multitude of holes which would allow water in. The grassy area has room for about 5 two man tents on it comfortably. At this location there are two toilets that are water fed by a tank that has catchment off the roof of those facilities. Be aware that they may or may not be functioning depending on how much rain the area is had.
When sitting on the beach, you are located on the Southern side of Deephole Bay which means as you face North you are overlooking Southport and the jetty in that area. If you follow around to the right, from where you meet the beach, this brings you into a more secluded part of the bay which gives you the impression that there is not a single soul around you. From this location there is also the access to the track that will take you to Southport Lagoon and around to Southport Lagoon Bluff. This section of the track will be discussed in a future post.
While the walk is very easy going please note that your time maybe hampered a little by needing to follow the railway tracks the whole way and therefore it forces you to adjust your pace or step distance. This track spends its whole time in the Ida Bay State Park therefore you need to follow National Park rules and regulations.
Distance: 13 KM
Elevation: 42M
Route Type: Out and Back
Dog Friendly: No
Pram Friendly: No
Toilet Facilities: Yes, at the halfway point
Shelter: Yes, at the halfway point
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