This week, Rover was thinking about places which are perfect for taking Mum for a picnic or wander. Sydney had many beautiful places to visit and discover, and Rover loves to discover them all. One which he has visited and which he particularly enjoys is Cape Solander. He decided it would be the perfect place for an Autumn picnic - as long as it isn’t too windy!
If you would like to visit Cape Solander it is located in Kamay Botany Bay National Park. To get there, follow Captain Cook Drive towards Kurnell and then turn right into Cape Solander Drive. Follow the drive right to the end and you will soon reach Cape Solander itself. The views at Cape Solander and the landscape is amazing, but there are plenty of other things to do in the park and also a Visitor Centre, which provides a small kiosk and an interesting exhibition, as well as visitor information. The park is the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic and there are plenty of picnic areas available.
Cape Solander is named after Daniel Solander, a Swedish naturalist who accompanied Captain Cook and Joseph Banks on their voyage to Australia. It is a place of wind swept beauty, and during the whale migration season, a fantastic place to watch for whales. One of the things which Rover thinks is most spectacular about the area though is the cliffs. The cliffs at Cape Solander are rugged and beautiful, but they are also unfenced, so just be a little careful, especially with children!
The cliffs at Cape Solander are just a section of the cliffs and rock platforms which form the eastern boundary of the Kamay Botany Bay National Park. They reach up to 40 metres above sea level, and are made of exposed Hawkesbury sandstone - the dominant rock type of the Sydney basin. Weathering of the rock has created fascinating formations to be discovered on the platform, including caves and overhangs which were, during the Great Depression or soon after the Second World War, were used to make homes for campers and permanent ‘squatters’ alike. If you look carefully, you might see a relic or two from these days!