Hidden gems + local history · Vaucluse · 7 April 2026

The Japanese explorers who camped at Parsley Bay

In 1911, a Japanese Antarctic expedition set up camp at Parsley Bay after being turned back by brutal southern conditions. The crew stayed at Vaucluse as guests of the Wentworth estate while their ship was repaired at Double Bay. It's a surprisingly touching piece of local history worth thinking about next time you're walking the Parsley Bay reserve.