Cockle Creek - Magic by day and night
- Carmen Friend
- Dec 21, 2017
- 2 min read
Cockle Creek is the southern most tip of Australia by car. South Cape - a 4 hour return walk is the southern most tip and is easily accessed from Cockle Creek as it is right on the Southwest National Park. Driving into Cockle Creek is a dirt road - about 25kms from South Port. The road in here is very good - lots of campervans come in.
There are about 5 different camping areas but we wanted to be at Cockle Creek to be able to fish! Camping is very basic and is a first in best dressed as you must search for a spot to stay in - drop toilets and no water so everything must be bought in. And remember what you bring in must be taken out! Camp fires are also allowed here and there is lots of wild life too. We had a very unexpected up close and personal visit from a Padymelon (sort of like a Wallaby but smaller).
Cockle Creek does actually have a creek - the creek is on one side and the ocean on the other. The creek is tidal and after chatting with a local who has been coming here for over 50 years, he tells me you can catch eels and also pick up oysters off the rocks - be cautious with the current algal bloom issue.
Ocean side is relatively protected but of course it can be hit with the wind. Fishing here is brilliant. We caught a number of flathead from the shore in the evenings - 8:30 onwards was the best fishing times! Of course we did follow the rules and released some back which were undersize. There were also plenty of people out in kayaks fishing not to mention boats - man were there some amazing boats come and moor close to shore overnight! You can also see the fishing boats going out in the evening so you know you are out at the right time!
The water here is crystal clear and also relatively shallow. Georgia loved her swim times, even going crazy and running and jumping in at times! (those who don't know who Georgia is, she is our 8 year old Spoodle - crazy puppy)! Great place for families as there are not real waves to speak of.
Small crabs are also abundant here popping their heads out when the tide goes out on the creek flats. One minute there are one or two, them the whole sand is suddenly moving! It is an amazing site to see when you are not expecting it.
There are lots of locals who come to Cockle Creek as well. Many caravans were parked down at Cockle Creek for the summer holidays. There is a 30 day limit which is monitored and you are moved on if you over stay.
Trent helped a guy out who had pitched his tent up near our site. He had got himself stuck in the soft sand and needed a tow. Trent pulled him out and he returned the favour by giving us some local Tasmanian gem stones. These can be found in the creek beds around/near to Cockle Creek and Hastings Caves. Lots of locals fossick for them and sell them.
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