My daughter Hilary and I ended up in Wine Harbour at the end of a day spent driving around with our cameras. It was late in the afternoon when we arrived. I had a vague idea of where I wanted to go after a blog reader sent me a link to Facebook showing a photo she took (thank you Shelley). It showed the wharf from an angle I hadn’t even realized was possible because my previous visit had been in heavy fog.
The day Hilary and I were there was clear and warm, ideal for two people armed with their cameras. But dusk was settling in and Hilary’s legs went to jelly after hiking part of the way. I thought she was coming behind me but she wasn’t and I ended up by myself far enough along to see where I wanted to get to. However I did not want to become separated from her.
Plus it was getting dark. So I turned around, deciding I could always return to spend more time documenting a complete hike.
So that’s what I did. I went back, except I still didn’t have enough time. Is there ever enough?
The hike is as good as it gets for an area with no marked trails. The scenery is magnificent. There are big broad views here.
Basically, when you get to Wine Harbour, you look for Walter Cove Road (it’s a right) and follow it to the end. The road is rutted with large puddles as you approach the beach – leave the Porsche at home. If your vehicle is low park where the sign says the road ends. If you don’t care much about your exhaust then continue on and park at the beach. My motorcycle had no problem.
All the action is to the left. You cross the beach and can then chose to go straight up the hill to enjoy the panoramic view of the ocean and small island with the single tree or go even more left following the ATV tracks.
I knew from my previous visit that I wanted to follow the ATV tracks. About 300 meters of hiking brings you to the beach that allows you to look back on the wharf. This beach turns out to be a very fine hike in and of itself. It’s not the easiest walking in the world but by going out to the tip you will be rewarded with a micro barren complete with granite ledge and loads of cranberries.
I found myself here with the sun setting in the west and the moon (not quite full) coming up in the east. I couldn’t have asked for more. It was beautiful and because there is no way to become disoriented or lost I didn’t worry about it getting dark. I furiously snapped away taking full advantage of this brief window of opportunity.
Anyone interested in this hike should give themselves a three hour minimum. In my opinion the view from the headland/hill deserves half an hour of sitting and soaking up – you will not want to be rushed.
Derek, your pictures never cease to amaze me, you can make anything look nice.
very nice shots, my husband used to make hay over where u drive to the beach…love the views and my husband and his brother used to have sheep out on the island straight out fr the beach
Correction: My legs did not turn to jelly. This is not why I did not complete the hike. I was concerned about the flies.
Nice post haha
Very nice photo’s of Wine Harbour. My parents reside there, my mom grew up there as a child. Cant wait to go back for a visit after viewing these.
Hi Russ,
Wine Harbour is definitely one of my favorite places in the county. I have no doubt you will enjoy getting back.