All posts by Effie Howe

Ten walkers met up near Central to take a bus to the Randwick main gates of Centennial Park, where we picked up our eleventh member.

The plan was to walk the main inner loop of the park, and then take a more ad hoc perimeter loop in the reverse direction. The inner loop was heaving with runners, walkers, dogs, bikes and at least one horse. By Busby’s Pond, we moved in to the pond, where we started to see lots of birds and it was much quieter. We mostly stayed inward from the main loop from there. The views were better, too.

We had a pause while we reported an injured goose to rangers, and then tracked around the ponds. The ranger later caught up with us to let us know WIRES had taken the goose into care, and also to tell us we were walking too fast lol.

Taking the reverse direction, as close to the perimeter as possible, gave a quieter experience, with some beautiful old trees. Despite the heavy use, there are some beautiful views through different areas of the park. We had lunch back at the cafe and Fearnley Grounds picnic area.

We finished by walking around the Kensington Pond to the bus stop. We saw quite a few birds around the water: Eurasian coot. purple swamphen, whitefaced heron, Pacific Black duck, black swan (nesting) crested pigeon, dusky moorhen, pied cormorant willy wagtail, bin chickens and a very big gaggle of domestic geese.

Eleven walkers met at Abbotsford Wharf on a beautiful clear day. We walked to the old quarantine centre used up until the 1980s, then followed the shoreline around the east side of the bay where we saw a number of wading birds on the tidal flat.

The walk follows the shoreline for quite a way until we hit the golf course where we had morning tea at the entrance. No access is provided through the golf course so we had to cross the road (Path works). At this point, 9 walkers crossed back after the golf course and 2 (including one leader, Effie) proceeded on engaged in conversation.

Eventually all came back together and we headed along the west side of the bay through parks and street walking. We had a leisurely lunch at Cabarita Park and a very short ferry ride back to Abbotsford. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Seven walkers, including visitors Alice and Joe, met at Kurnell near the entry to Kamay National Park. The weather was beautifully fine and calm with temperatures suited to walking.

We did a turn around the historic Cook’s landing site, which is being extensively refurbished, and then over to the Cape Solander track for a walk through the angophora, palms and banksias.

Arriving at Cape Solander we turned south and followed the track down to Cape Baily Lighthouse, with morning tea at one of the clifftop rock platforms on the way. We took in the view back to the city and south down the coast from the lighthouse, and then headed back to Cape Solander.

We took a quick look at the whale watch information station and then went back along the Yena firetrail and Cape Solander track  to the historic site for a bit of lunch. The walk finished with us going back along the foreshore to the starting point, where five of us headed to drinks at the 1770 café.  

6 walkers met at Bass and Flinders Point South Cronulla on a cool cloudy day. After a quick chat we started on our walk picking up a 7^th walker on Cronulla esplanade. We continued the walk past Elouera and Wanda beaches noting the rough seas and the degree of beach erosion. There were many walkers and dogs but not so many swimmers. We continued through Greenhills, through the restored dune vegetation and stopped for morning tea at the rehabilitated sand mining pond which is now home to fish and birds observing a large fish being caught from the pond.

We had a jovial, professional photographer offer to take our photo. From here we returned the same way pausing at Cronulla beach for lunch. Despite the overcast weather, there was no rain at all and walking conditions were very pleasant. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Eight walkers joined our easy walk around Narrabeen Lagoon. We started from the small reserve off Mactier Street. At Val and Dave’s suggestion, we went anticlockwise for a change, so after walking through Narrabeen and over the bridge, we walked through the reserves on the western side of the lagoon, mainly through sheoaks. There were plenty of birds including swans, and a lot of walkers / runners / cyclists. There was a snack break in Middle Creek Reserve, and we had a bite of lunch back where we started.

Thanks to everyone for a pleasant walk in good company.

Nine walkers joined in this easy walk that was posted late in the week. We walked along the river from Silverwater Bridge to Wentworth Point along the water (except for a detour around the light rail works). At Wentworth Point we stopped for a coffee before returning through the parklands and the Armoury precinct. Plenty of birds around the wetlands and in the sheoak forest. Seven of us had an early lunch in the park under the Silverwater Bridge. Thanks to everyone who participated at short notice.

After a very last minute shuffle the night before, due to a bushfire in Somersby all registered walkers agreed to a change of venue to do the Spit to Manly walk. We were very lucky with the weather in the low twenties and all walkers enjoyed this easy familiar walk around the harbour foreshore. There were no problems other than an excess of marathon runners and a small detour around some National Park’s works. Spring flowers were in evidence. We had morning tea at the lookout overlooking the heads and lunch in Manly followed by icecream before heading back by bus to our cars. Total distance walked approximately 10km. Thanks to all for a pleasant morning.

Morning Tea at Dobroyd Head