A local rite of passage: exploring The Gantry in Bawley Point. This one’s a secret, alright? I’m not officially recommending this local spot in Bawley Point, but if you’re looking for an off-the-record experience on your next trip to the South Coast, this might be it.

Tucked into the southern corner of beautiful Bawley Beach is The Gantry. One of the last remnants of the local timber mill, which burnt down in 1922, the old platform was used to load timber from local sawmills onto ships bound for Sydney in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Storms washed the old structure away back in 2016, but a new one was built a few years ago.

Officially, it’s a fishing platform…. but stick around long enrough and you’ll likely see someone jump from the platform into the cool, clear water below. It’s become something of a rite of passage for local kids.

Not game to jump? That’s OK. I’m not officially encouraging it. But if you did, well, consider yourself initiated.