The hidden shacks

The heaters are on. The big doona is out. We’re swapping seafood and salads for hearty stews. There’s no mistaking it, it’s winter. With all this rugging up going on, those new to the Northern Beaches might be forgiven for thinking this is the part of Sydney that simply waits for the sun to shine. If that’s you, you couldn’t be more wrong. There’s so much more to the area than the sand and sea spray of summertime. Just venture into the bush that hugs this magical piece of Sydney and discover some of its secret wonders. Take for example one of the most hidden treasures of the Northern Beaches: the Crater Cove Huts.

Crater Cove Huts? You’ve probably never heard of it. Not many have. That’s because they’re a tightly held local secret. You may have caught a glimpse of them though as you hiked the Manly to Spit Bridge walk. If you’re standing at Davey Point taking in the fantastic view of the harbour, look out to the left. There, clinging to the edge of the Balgowlah Heights clifftops are a cluster of gorgeous old timber huts.

These charming humpies date back to the 1920s and are now part of the Sydney Harbour National Park. They were originally built by fishermen who used them as weekend shelter while they collected crabs, molluscs and fished from the rocks below. By the 1960s they took on a new life as young hippies took to the bush seeking a new kind of lifestyle. There, the hippies knocked up a few more shacks, built veggie patches and created a little cliff-side community. These humble shacks may have been made on a shoestring, cobbled together with driftwood and whatever was lying around but there’s no denying the view is worth millions!

The huts were also popular with local artists who made their way through the bush to capture the beauty of the Northern Beaches and the charm of Crater Cove. But by the 1980s the huts officially became part of the National Park and were left abandoned.

Today, the path down to the shacks is unmarked and virtually impossible to find. This is for a good reason. The shacks, though maintained by National Parks Caretakers are dilapidated. Their stunning position has taken its toll on the fragile structures. Their foundations have sunk and walls sit at odd angles.

But inside each little hut, it’s like time has stopped. A kettle remains on the stove, a collection of books nestled in a handmade bookshelf, it’s like the occupants have just stepped out. To preserve this remarkable piece of Sydney’s heritage, those in the know admire them from afar.

So next time you’re on the Manly to Spit Bridge walk, take your binoculars. Stop for a moment at the breathtaking Davy Point view and see if you can spot these hidden treasures clinging to the cliffs of the Northern Beaches for all to enjoy.