Cape Solander is a natural historic site, located near the small town of Kurnell, New South Wales, situated in the Kamay Botany Bay National Park.[1] The location is known for whale watching, the whale species to be seen including the humpback whale, southern right whale, and the grey whale.[1]
| Cape Solander | |
|---|---|
 A view of Cape Solander | |
| Location | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Nearest city | Kurnell |
| Coordinates | 34°0′59″S 151°13′54″E / 34.01639°S 151.23167°E |
| Owner | NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service |
| Website | https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/lookouts/cape-solander |
Fatalities caused by falling from the cliffs have occurred at this location.[2][3]
Overview
edit
Cape Solander is located on the Kurnell Peninsula, on the southern side of the Kamay Botany Bay National Park. The cape was named after Swedish botanist Daniel Solander who landed with Captain James Cook at Kurnell near the cape's location.[4] It marks the start of the Cape Baily Walking Track, that heads over to the Cape Baily Lighthouse. Around the cape, there are several other landmarks such as Tabbigai Gap, Blue Hole Gorge, and Yena Track.[5]
Aboriginal owners
editCape Solander is home to the Gweagal and Goorawal Aboriginal People.[6]
Description
editThe iconic white rocks that surround the cliffside of Cape Solander, that look like the rocks in Wedding Cake Rock, are Hawkesbury Sandstone, which is commonly occurring in the Sydney area.[7][1] At the parking area, there is a $2.5M whale-watching platform for tourists to use when whales migrate in winter.[8][9]
Access
editCape Solander can be easily accessed from the Sydney CBD by driving west on Parramatta Road then heading South on King Georges Road. After, turn on Captain Cook Drive and enter Kamay Botany Bay Nat'l Park.[10]
Accidents
edit2018
editIn 2018, an American Mormon missionary slipped and fell to his death while posing for a selfie at the cliffs.[11][2]
2024
editIn June of 2024, two women died when they were swept off the rocks near Cape Solander while walking. A third woman managed to climb onto the rocks to safety.[3][12]
Activities
editCape Solander is a popular place for whale-watching with 300,000 tourists coming from all around the world for this activity.[8] This place is also popular for bushwalking, with the nearby Muru and Yena trails close by, with also the Cape Baily Walking Track, which stretches down to Cape Baily Lightstation, Voodoo Point and Potter Point.[13][1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Cape Solander". NSW National Parks. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ a b "He Died After Falling Off A Cliff While Taking A Selfie: A Year Later, His Parents Share The Photo". Maritime Herald. 6 May 2019. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
- ^ a b "Sydney's Indian community mourns deaths of women swept off rocks in Kurnell, Sutherland Shire". ABC News. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "Cape Solander | Sydney, Australia - Official Travel & Accommodation Website". www.sydney.com. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
- ^ Chapman, John. Day Walks Sydney. p. 26.
- ^ "Cape Solander | Learn more". NSW National Parks. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
- ^ Chapman, John. Day Walks Sydney. p. 24.
- ^ a b 7NEWS Australia (2022-12-09). Cape Solander's new whale watching platform | 7NEWS. Retrieved 2024-05-22 – via YouTube.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ author (2023-11-16). "Whale watching platform at Cape Solander". NSW Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Chapman, John. Day Walks Sydney. p. 25.
- ^ "Mormon missionary who fell to death while taking selfie was 'bright light'". ABC News. 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
- ^ Rachwani, Mostafa. "Sydney Indian community mourning after two women swept to sea by large wave". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "Cape Solander | What's nearby". NSW National Parks. Retrieved 2024-05-22.