Category Last Walk Report

A bright sunny morning but with a touch of winter chill saw 7 walkers gather at Mangrove Mountain to tackle a walk which, at 25 klms, is much longer than our usual walks. After driving as far down Dubbo Gully Rd as possible ( a locked gate preventing further progress), we set off downhill on good fire trail. After 2 klm, we took the left fork at the Y junction and crossed a long bridge over Mangrove Creek.

At the 4klm mark, we stopped to explore the historic cemetery, finding graves dating back to the 1850’s, including one for a former convict.

A short time later, another Y junction marked the started of the Dubbo Gully Loop. We took the left hand track, doing the loop clockwise. The trail loosely follows Mangrove Creek and has remnants of historic embankments and culverts visible at the side. We paused here for morning tea, above the creek.

After passing through a low, swampy area, the track started to climb gradually, but it was a sustained incline.

Just after the half way mark, we encountered the Ten Mile Hollow camp ground, equipped with a toilet, table and bench seats and fire pits. Turning right onto the Old Great North Rd, it was about 1 klm to reach Clares Bridge, constructed in 1830 and named for the overseer of construction. There is no decking on the bridge, but the support structures are impressive and made a good spot for lunch.

After lunch, there was a little more uphill and then started downhill, which was a little steeper than the long ascent. We stopped to admire a good view looking down on our earlier pathway. A lyrebird was spotted on the way, a nice surprise after hearing (but not seeing)several earlier in the day among a lot of other birdsong. We had also seen Purple Swamp-hens and a brown cuckoo dove.

Having completed the loop, we retraced our steps back to the cars, a very welcome sight for some of us. It had been a long walk, but with excellent weather and good spirits maintained, the walk was completed in good time. Drinks at the Mangrove Mountain Memorial Club were appreciated.

Well done all!

16 walkers met at Hawthorne light rail station for the start of our walk.  The Greenway is a mixed cycle and walkway in the inner west. For a Saturday morning it was not as busy as feared

As the walk along the Greenway is only short we had ample time to stop and admire the commissioned art installations, parks, industrial heritage, tunnels and bridges. 

Arriving at Cooks River we ran into a Coffee cart- long awaited by some. Morning tea was had in a picnic shelter and then we retraced our steps back to the Dulwich Hill light rail back to Hawthorne

Most of us elected to walk further north along the canal to the Bay Run where we had lunch

By the time we returned to Hawthorne we had clocked up about 11kms

Chris.

All 20 walkers agreed it was a perfect morning for a walk in the lower Blue Mountains. Clear, clean and just crisp enough! 2 people got the meeting place wrong but soon sorted and all reassembled in a suburban street trying not to disturb the residents’ peace/access too much.

Away we go with a short section of street walking to start and then into the descent from Picnic Point to Magdala Creek. Track then follows Magdala Creek with several crossings and small waterfalls to its junction with Glenbrook Creek at Perch Ponds campsite. All tried to find a patch of sunshine in this area to enjoy a morning tea break.

Headed upstream beside Sassafras Creek enjoying the creek views with huge boulders, sandy stretches, wonderful forest. Some of the many fallen logs to scramble over were soon encountered. After the junction with Glenbrook Creek, as we continued up Sassafras Gully, these fallen logs and trees seemed to multiply! Enjoyed lunch in the sun at a creek crossing before the last couple of kilometres following a side creek UP to Sassafras Gully Rd and our cars.

17 of the group made for The Lapstone Inn at Glenbrook for well earned refreshments. Thanks all for helping out with clambering when required and good spirits throughout the walk. David and Val

After various options on how to get to the start of the walk at Mt Kuring gai station, 15 hikers set off to safely cross over the highway and then start the descent into the valley.

Weather was the best we’ve had for walking so far this year (even some jackets on!) so everyone was very happy with that.

After recent rain, forest was very lush and “clean” and the fungi were putting on an amazing display from caramel coloured to blue to orange to red.

Morning tea was enjoyed at a creek crossing with lots of suitable rocks for sitting on. There were many creek crossings throughout the day and all conquered without too much drama.

The forest changes throughout the walk make it interesting: almost rainforest to salt marshes.

The steep climb up from Sam’s Creek was rewarded with views, lunch and seating at Naa Badu Lookout over Berowra Creek. Final stretch after lunch maintained the upward direction but more gently.

Refreshments at Berowra RSL were enjoyed by all and it was good to welcome our newest members Helen and Alice to the fold and compliment our visitor Tutu on her first outing with us.

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.  

After the high temperatures and humidity of the week, the overcast day and cooler temperatures were welcomed by the 11 walkers who set out to discover this new walk for the club in the Royal National Park.

After meeting at the end of the Forest Path on Sir Bertram Stevens Drive and car shuffling to the Fig Tree Flat picnic area, we learned that Lady Carrington Drive was built in the 1860’s, and then set off along the road. The road is broad and flat, though stoney underfoot. We soon encountered Gibraltar Rock, a sandstone formation which overhands a section of original cobblestone road surface, and later came to Jersey Springs where 2 water troughs were installed to water horses on the drive. The troughs are still filled by the same springs as when they were built.

Without an obvious place for morning tea, we stopped on the road and managed to avoid being skittled by bike riders.

Along the next section of road, a pair of lyrebirds were observed just above us on the sandstone cliffs. Continuing on, we turned on to the track to Palona Cave, a 1 klm undulating bush track to reach the limestone cave and Palona Brook Falls just beyond. After spending a little time exploring the cave and admiring the falls, we returned to the main road and back-tracked a little to the Palona Brook Picnic area for lunch. There was a magnificent Turpentine tree nearby.

After lunch we continued along Lady Carrington Drive . Upon reaching the intersection with The Forest Path, we turned right and followed the track unto a wonderland dominated by Cabbage Leaf Palms and ferns. The track follows a long curve in the river, but is mostly high above the water. Arriving back at the cars, we undid the car shuffle and repaired to the Audley Dance Hall for refreshments.

A few leeches were encountered, but otherwise all finished the day in good shape. It was a thoroughly worthwhile day.

Weather did not look too promising the previous evening, but apart from some drizzle as we were driving to starting point, no rain was encountered.

8 walkers set off for a short section of street walking and then entered the NP on the Carroll Creek track. Whilst track was wet, it was much better than anticipated and creek crossings were all quite do-able.

Onto Lyrebird Track and eventually to morning tea in Davidson Park. Then onwards to Flat Rock Track until it is blocked when we had to go up to streets for another section. Back on track, on to Magazine Track and as the natives were getting restless, lunch was declared in an open forest section.

Soon onwards again via Bates Creek Track and Currie Road track to the turn off to Natural Bridge. All agreed we’d add in this final loop so away we went admiring the Natural Bridge and then the views from Bluff Lookout (photo above). Across to Ararat Reserve via Bluff Track and then down to the oval at the end of Currie Rd and soon back at cars.

2 wallabies sighted, a small goanna, only about 5 leeches for the group for the day which was amazing. Refreshments at Forestville RSL were enjoyed by most of group. All agreed we’d had a great day and walk, even though it was very humid and even a bit hot when the sun came through. Thanks to all. David and Val