Adventure Time: Middle Head Forts

Where: Middle Head, off Chowder Bay Rd
Distance: 5.5km
Duration: a bit over 2 hours

Richie comes up with all the good ideas. Today we decided to go east for a change, heading towards the harbour to explore middle head forts.

Complete with underground tunnels dating back to the 1870s and lots of gun turrets, ammunition stores and lookout points, it was a fantastic place to bring the kids. Very little was 'out of bounds' and they could go in around and over all the old structures, which kept them interested for a couple of hours.

The forts were built in the 1870's, used later during WWII, and the area is still active today with HMAS Penguin naval hospital located at the site.

Although it was mid morning on a weekend, we only saw a handful of other people, and had lots of space to run around and explore.

Apart from a few sketchy cliff edges and former ammunition stores to fall into like the one below, it was a great place for the little people to learn more about history.

And of course, there were dazzling views across the harbour.

When the kids had had enough, we walked back across the car park and up a little hill, past the swanky Burnt Orange restaurant and on towards a little collection of weatherboard ex naval buildings where there was a cafe and a few art studios. We didn't have the best lunch experience at Frenchy's Cafe, but at least we know there is coffee close by if we were to come here again!

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