EARLY morning strollers holidaying in the Uvongo area are often surprised by the heavy pedestrian traffic along Saint’s Walk, one of the Hibiscus Coast’s favourite coastal paths. It is amazing how many local and visiting walkers, joggers and trail runners step it out along this route every morning, come fair weather or foul. And it is not only humans who make use of it. There are many canine regulars, too. They are polite dogs and tolerate each other well.
Saint’s Walk is a lovely, scenic walkway, meandering along the rugged shoreline through bushy vegetation, well-watered coastal grassland and sea-sculptured rocky outcrops between two pretty beaches, Uvongo and St Michaels. Below the pathways, about midway between these two beaches, the fishermen cast their lines at the outcrop known as Orange Rocks. The serious keep-fitters stride it out, waving a brisk greeting as they pass their fellow walkers and runners. The strollers usually have time to stop, to chat and to check on the fishing action. During the holidays the walker numbers swell as many regular visitors to the South Coast have discovered this pretty grassed walkway hugging the coast. At peak season, it becomes something of a freeway throughout the day.
It is particularly busy on Saturday mornings when it turns into a parkrun course. These parkrun events are free, timed 5km runs or walks, always held in parklike surroundings, that take place all over the world on Saturday mornings at 8am. The Uvongo parkrun starts and ends at St Michaels and attracts an average of about 140 parkrunners every week. It is also used by local sprightly seniors as a course for the big annual grandparents’ walk every winter. This is a fun event hosted by the Hibiscus Coast Rotarians to honour out senior citizens. While the more competitive among the grandparents stride it out, most prefer to stroll the route to make the most of the lovely sea views.
On a more leisurely note, the sandy coves between the rocky outcrops along this beautiful stretch of coastline offer plenty of shelter and privacy for sunbathers who wish to escape the madding crowds. The rock pools are fascinating little worlds apart and are magnets for curious children. At the end of a long, hot, summer afternoon, the rocky shore is the perfect place to enjoy the cool of the day. Even when the sun is setting, there is still brisk quite traffic along Saint’s Walk during the summer months.
Whatever time of day you visit Orange Rocks there is always some action to watch. When the shad are on the bite or during the sardine run, when there are plenty of game fish about, the rocks are crowded with fishermen and the action really hots up. You have to book your spot early on one of the nearby benches to catch all the fun. Orange Rocks, a dramatic outcrop that overlooks deep sea, gets its name from the bright orange lichen covering the rocks, particularly on their seaward side. It is also one of the many vantage points along the walkway for whale and dolphin watching.
Saint’s Walk changes with the season. The first section, from St Michaels carpark, is a cool green tunnel of fairly pristine dune vegetation. You need to look carefully into the matted greenery to notice which species is shyly flowering there. Further along, the vegetation flattens out and the terrain becomes rockier. Plants flower more blatantly here and shout for attention. The flame lilies herald Christmas, shouldering their way upward through the thick vegetation to make a splash with their brilliant orange blooms. Bright everlastings form a golden carpet in summer and a little purple pea-type flower I have yet to identify.
Thick vegetation over the rocky areas creates a natural rockery and here there is always something in flower there, signalling the changing of the seasons. And wild flowers, including bright red hot pokers, flourish in the grassland next to Saint’s Walk. In winter, it is the aloes turn to shine. They really know how to put on a show – and, many people say their blooms announce the coming of the sardines.
Which brings me to the sardines run and how Saint’s Walk, with its many vantage points, is the ideal area from which to watch the ‘Greatest Shoals’, those shoals of little silver fish that cause such excitement during the winter months. From these viewpoints it is easy to spot the strange purplish bruising of the sea that signals the passing of a shoal. With the sardines come thousands of dolphins, sharks, other game fish and masses of frantically diving gannets. There is never a dull moment on Saints Walk during sardine season – and throughout the rest of the year.
Just ask the regulars.
PS: Saint’s Walk is one of a number of interesting coastal walkways and routes in this area. One of the more recently established walkways that is also well worth trying is the well-maintained 6km Ramsgate Marine Ramble. It mainly follows the old coastal pathway but from time to time it crosses pretty little beaches, some rocky outcrops, streams and lagoons. It starts at Margate’s tidal pool and is well sign-posted. En route, stop and take a look at the attractive Ramsgate whale deck and enviro centre.
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