Duncombe Bay

Duncombe Bay is the opening in the north coast below the point where Cook came ashore in 1774, a rocky bay with high cliffs on both sides and the north face of Mount Pitt rising behind it. The track down from the reserve above is steep and rough. Norfolk pines stand along the cliff edge and the water is deep close in, with nothing but ocean beyond. The bay takes the full weight of any northerly weather, and the sea inside it is rarely still.

What you actually see

• The cliffs - high walls closing both sides of the bay.
• The Cook landing ground - the shore below the 1774 arrival point.
• The pines - Norfolk pines along the cliff edge above.
• The open north - deep water and nothing beyond it.

When to go

September to May is warmer. The bay is exposed to northerly swell. The track is slippery after rain.

Honest expectations

The track down is steep and eroded and the bay is rocky rather than a beach. Swimming is not advisable. There is no shade or facility at the bottom.

Nearby

Captain Cook Lookout is above, and Anson Bay is west.