Coffin Bay– 24-28 February 2025

Berny, Steve and Rebecca joined Anne and Simon to paddle the coast of the Coffin Bay National Park. We met at the Caravan Park on the Sunday evening and enjoyed dinner at the Yacht Club before retiring to finalise preparations for the trip.

Day 1

We were all so organised that we left early and enjoyed a bit more of the outgoing tide and a gentle tail wind as we left the town behind. The Brothers Islands made a good landmark as we crossed the main boating channel. Steve, Rebecca and Berny went one side and saw seals basking, and one that came out to visit their kayaks. Anne and Simon paddled the other and only saw the cormorants. After lunch on a small beach we continued to Black Springs where we set up camp for the evening and enjoyed a swim. This was Steve and Rebecca’s first expedition in their new kayak so they were very pleased that everything fitted. The great conditions and beautiful scenery gave us all the feeling of ‘I’m on holidays’!

Day 2

This was another great day. We started with a slight side wind resulting in the occasional wave coming over the front deck but we were soon in the sheltered waters of the oyster beds (Coffin Bay’s famous industry). We stopped on Point Long Nose for a short break, congratulating ourselves on judging the tide and not running aground on its shallows. Our next stop was the whale skull, stranded quite high up on the beach. By now the slight breeze had completely dropped and we had glassy calm water as we paddled along the sand hills of Seven Mile Beach. Their colours and shapes make this section of the paddle very scenic.

At lunch time the water was so inviting we had a swim and saw a few very unusual jellyfish as well as lots of small fish swimming in an immense long line near the shore.  With the glassy conditions it was easy to look down into the water at the myriad of starfish and crabs and the coloured seaweeds as we paddled over a small rocky reef. Morgan’s Landing was our destination and after initially stopping a bit short we eventually found the campsite and set up for the next two nights.

Day 3

The sun rise today was magical, glassy calm water reflecting the pink sky. On the way north Rebecca tried some modifications to her seat backrest, foot pegs (again) and the seat cushion. At the end of the day she was so pleased with the new arrangement – comfort for a long paddle at last.

There is a reef just off the point of Sea Sick Bay where a couple of seals were swimming. Even though Simon and Berny were well away from them the smaller one charged over with a leaping display and tail-slapped the bow of Berny’s kayak! Luckily the hit was not enough to upend Berny but it made for a great video. As we rounded Point Sir Isaac we came into a medium swell and saw some very large waves breaking so stayed well out away from them.

The views further along the coast looked very rugged so we returned to Sea Sick Bay for morning tea, where we saw a large sting ray cruse in the shallows near us. At lunch time further down the coast towards our camp Simon and Berny did some snorkelling. This was our first trip in which the weather made snorkelling appealing and Berny and Simon reported that it was well worthwhile. After lunch we had a head wind but nothing we couldn’t manage and we were soon back at camp and enjoying another swim.

Day 4

The day started near perfect, and then the wind dropped further and again we had glassy calm, crystal clear water. The reefs part way along Seven Mile Beach called for another snorkel, rewarding us with lots of different fish. There was a large pod of dolphins feeding near us as we continued along the coast. It was time for lunch when we reached Point Long Nose but we had to eat standing up because the tide was coming in quickly covering the sand. Back in our kayaks the tide rushed us around the point then we headed back through the oyster beds.

Once in the open water again, heading towards Black Springs camp, another pod of dolphins visited; swimming between the kayaks. There was time for a swim then Rebecca, Steve and Anne did the walk across the peninsular to Avoid Bay. This year the Osprey nest was unoccupied, but it still looked magnificent. On the way back a very big goanna crossed our path and hid, almost out of sight, in the short scrub.

Day 5

After hugging the cliffs for the first stretch of our paddle back we headed towards the Brothers Islands into a medium head wind. The shelter of the islands gave us a rest and a good view of a couple of big male seals. Luckily they were not interested in us. We timed our return to Coffin Bay township for the incoming tide so even though we still had a head wind we made very good time. After a much appreciated shower our day concluded with dinner at the Yacht Club again.

Rebecca described this trip as the best adventure ever and Steve said ‘I’ll be back’. We all enjoyed the convivial time together, the calm conditions and scenic National Park make this a great paddling destination. Add to this the frequent sightings of dolphins, seals, the snorkelling in clear water it was a magnificent trip.