Category Last Walk Report

This turned out to be a “Goldilocks” walk which explained the turn out of 21 keen walkers. Goldilocks as in Not too far to drive; Not too far to walk; Not too hot; Not too cold; Not too wet! Bonuses were good chatting (talk about a noisy mob!), early finish and great after walks venue. Negatives were 2 snakes sighted, one red bellied black and one tiger/brown. Both big!!

From meeting point at Mangrove Mountain Store we condensed into 5 cars and made our way to trackhead. First up visit to Mt Olive for expansive views including iconic Mt Yengo, then on to Mt Olive fire trail as far as the turn off for Hominy Creek. At the creek crossing, turned downstream for a short distance to Emerald Pool and the rock platforms beyond where morning tea was enjoyed in the sunshine.

Next up continued on our circuit before taking a left hand turn on 248 Trail to more expansive rock platforms with views to Ironbark Creek. Early lunch here before retracing our steps to the main fire trail and returning to our start point with another rock platform with aboriginal engravings along the way.

Undid car pooling and then proceeded to Mangrove Mountain Memorial Club for refreshments. Thanks John and Di for delicious chips!! Good day had by all. Welcome to Melanie and Marilia. Hope you both enjoyed your day and we see you again soon. Thanks all, David and Val.

Mt Kuringai to Berowra via Cowan Creek and Waratah Bay

A perfect day for bushwalking sunny and cool. 22 walkers extremely punctual arriving at head of track well ahead of time. Leader being last to arrive!
We walked along the ridge a bit then detoured to see the Fireman’s Rest – a poignant. memorial to 4 national parks staff who were killed in 2000 doing a control burn that went wrong. Then descended by rocky stairs to the waters edge . We followed Cowan Creek with beautiful views all the way. After Waratah Bay we followed the rocky zig zag track up about 150 m 
A few people decided to catch the train immediately while the rest trudged over to Berowra RSL for refreshments before catching the train back to Mt Kuringai. Luckily we didn’t hit the Quiet carriage. Always a challenge for the Up and Downers. 

Saturday 23 August 2025
Cedar Brush Walk to Basin Campsite

After a week of solid rain, 8 walkers still signed up to do this walk. 7 met at the designated spot. Very unfortunately, due to a map mix-up and a serious lack of connectivity, 1 walker did not reach the starting line, despite a delay in leaving there for the car shuffle. One beautiful small bird (pictured) seemed keen to join us, flitting around our vehicle for quite some time, apparently looking for a mate in the reflection on our windscreen.

From the car shuffle, we headed downhill on the Great North Walk and soon met our first obstacle. The first creek was higher than expected. Most walkers crossed a bit upstream, using the yellow tape to get across on the slippery mossy boulders. One walker opted for the slightly submerged plank provided, thus ensuring wet feet, but much less chance of a fall.

From here it was steeply up, with another couple of easier creek crossings. Morning tea was at the walkers’ rest area, with some seats provided (the same planks as provided for the creek crossing). All enjoyed the sun and blue sky, but not the multiple small leeches which needed to be removed. Then it was on to lunch, walking on a fire trail now. We found a nice spot slightly off the fire trail, again in the sun but without the leeches.

We had already decided as a group to follow the fire trail down to the Basin Campground and thus avoid the creek section. This would have entailed multiple creek crossings of a much larger creek than the first one. The catchment was much bigger than the first creek with a few side creeks coming in. Everyone agreed that we did not want to get half-way down after a few tricky crossings only to find that we could not proceed and had to go back.

We soon reached the cars and after another car shuffle headed to Mangrove Mountain Memorial Club for welcome drinks and a nice hot plate of chips between us. We soaked up the sun on the enclosed veranda, all very pleased that we were able to get out in sunshine to enjoy a walk together in the bush. Thanks to all for attending and making the walk so enjoyable.
Peter’s Photos including the map and altitude profile:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/­dfsSZsp8xv3eLhHc7
Video of Creek Crossing

15 keen walkers assembled at Yallamundi Light Rail Station on good time on a SUNNY morning. This saw us underway before the designated 8.30am start time! Visitors John and Di warmly welcomed by all. Short street walk to join the shared pathway along Parramatta River. Unfortunately several cyclists were not all that impressed with a group of walkers on “THEIR” pathway, but we gave as good as we got whilst trying to keep tucked in!
Female Orphan School and Whitlam Institute were pointed out as a good place to visit. Then onwards to Alfred St Bridge, Parramatta Ferry Wharf, Barry Wilde Bridge (where club’s connection with Barry was explained), view of new Power House Museum, under Lennox Bridge and then to Dodd’s Farm site in Parramatta Park. Crossed the river here and pushed on to vicinity of old dairy, bandstand, Misc Cafe and conveniences for morning tea. Fruit bat roosting trees noted (and avoided!) soon after this and then to the Female Factory site for some more sad colonial history. Parramatta Gaol soon after is another example of a wonderful old building looking for a worthwhile future.
Change of approach next as we pushed up hill to entrance to Lake Parramatta Reserve where we enjoyed the natural scenery on our circumambulation! Lunch with a view of the lake when we had almost completed the circuit and soon back near the cafe where we decided to have our “post walk” refreshments even though walk wasn’t finished!(no suitable venue back near cars). Down to Benaud Oval Light Rail stop to discover some drama with the line due to a broken down vehicle, so kept walking to Alfred Park stop where we saw trains were running again. On and away (with some unscheduled stops as they were still sorting things out)and soon back at Yallamundi station about 2.30pm after a 15km walk (slightly longer than planned!). Thanks to all for their good humour and participation and welcome again to John and Di.

Chilly temperatures, thick enveloping fog and a high potential for rain saw 10 walkers arrive at Wentworth Falls Station well prepared with multiple layers of clothing topped with a waterproof shell. All sensible precautions.

After travelling 1 stop by train, we set off down the Leura Mall and along Olympian Parade to reach Gordon Falls Reserve. Here we located our first black cockatoo sign and joined the Grand Clifftops Walk. 

There were a lot of downs and a lot of ups on this walk, but the track has been solidly made featuring sandstone steps and stepping blocks. At times, the bush has even been trimmed to keep the track clear of overhanging bushes.

The first down was to the Pool of Siloam with an impressive waterfall. From there, it was up to Golf Links Lookout, the first of many magnificent views of total whiteout. Pressing on, we reached the Fairmont Resort where we paused for a damp morning tea beside a giant rainbow slide (not in use at the time). From here, the track skirts around the resort and enters some lovely bush where we were lucky enough to see 2 lyrebirds foraging. 

Crossing Lillian’s Bridge, we marvelled at the depth of the canyon below. A short while later, we could hear Empress Falls thundering quite close by and climbed ladders and steep steps up to the lookout to be met by the same whiteout views from both Empire Lookout and Queen Victoria Lookout.

Next, we made our way to the Undercliff Track and were surprised by the number of walkers we met also out for a walk in the fog and occasional rain/patch of denser fog. We found a dry spot on rocks under a very high overhang for lunch.

Our luck changed when we got to Fletcher’s Lookout, and we were able to see Wentworth Falls, our only “view” for the day.

The official track returns to Wentworth Falls view the Darwin Walk, however a street walking detour is still in place for part of this. The walk does return to the Darwin Walk for the last section, which took us past a delightful waterfall, some rapids, several bridges and a serene creek.

Having completed the walk, we went directly to the Grandview Hotel where we enjoyed hot and cold drinks and delicious chips in the courtyard (inside seemed too fuggly after a day in the fresh air, and we had no competition for space). All agreed that a return trip in fine weather would be worthwhile.

With the late change of leader, it was a team effort that made it a successful day.
Thank you all.

Sat 26th July 2025
11 keen walkers met at Loftus station for the 8.52 am train to Engadine, where the walk was to start. The forecast rain looked as if it was all past, and this proved to be the case. We had not one more drop the entire day. By morning tea the clouds were clearing, and we ate lunch in the sun, out of the wind. The creeks on the way to morning tea were only slightly up and the more major creek also presented no problem.

The group stuck closely together as we navigated through criss-crossing bike tracks and then gradually down to morning tea at Kangaroo Creek. The crossing of the side creek was achieved with everyone helping each other as well as a spot of bush bashing through creek-side vegetation. It was then up several flights of steel stairs before we wound around to the start of the loop up to the views of Robertson Knoll. This was a side trip off the track which led straight to Audley. There was a bit of grumbling about the decision not to go straight to Audley, but all agreed that the views were worth it.

After Robertson Knoll we walked straight through Audley, resisting the temptation to visit the restaurant or cafe, across the weir and up the Honeymoon Track. This was another lot of stairs, but this time mostly stone. It was decided to have lunch at the top on the sunny steps of the amphitheatre attached to the NPWS education centre. It was here that we decided to vary the walk slightly by going out to a lookout over Audley and leaving out the Temptation Creek section.

After the lookout, we followed the fire trail and then walking track, first along the old National Park rail line and then through the bush. This brought us out the crossing of a major road. We crossed safely by waiting for the lights in various places to create gaps in the traffic. After we returned to Loftus station, we went to Club on East in Sutherland for long and very interesting drinks. We learned about Janus, the Rubicon and the origin of cis and trans, as well as butt implants (a set of these had gone past us on the way up the Honeymoon Track).

Thanks to all for a very enjoyable day with good company and, as usual, all helping each other to ensure a great day.

Sat 28th June 2025 Mt Banks Extended One Trail Loop

With a brisk start to the day at 5 degrees, 7 walkers arrived around 8am for what turned out to be a very nice day, starting with sunshine but clouding over a little bit by morning tea.

Climbing about 250m up the trail on the north side of Mt. Banks from the carpark was our first challenge. At least 2 stops to remove clothing were needed. Stopping at our 1^st lookout offered excellent views to our west. Once at the Mt. Banks summit, more fantastic views offered us a clear view south to the Gross River, Blue Gum Forest, Perrys Lookdown, Junction Rock and Govetts Leap Falls, and to our west, the valley leading to Mt. Victoria. Descending the south east track back to the fire trail was an easier. Now continuing south for 2.2km along the fire trail, we reached a great lookout along Banks Wall for morning tea. Another 250m brought us to our first off-track route to Frank Hurley Head. This ridge was easy to navigate via mostly low plants including some lovely small Banksia species about 1 foot high. Wattles were in full bloom in many areas. The lookout at to Frank Hurley Head offered views extending further to our south and south east, downstream along the Gross River. We speculated which outcrop was Lockley Pylon as its appearance was different from the north. Looking now at the map, it was likely obscured by Du Faur Head. Returning via a shorter off-track route, we returned to the fire trail to continue another 180m before our next off-track route to our 2^nd unnamed headland and lookout. From hear we could peer down into a deep ravine to our east with spectacular vertical cliffs on the other side. After a group photo taken, we now returned via the fire trail that leads to this headland, back to the main fire trail. We quickly realised that this was the end of clear fire trail as we now pushed through overgrown shrubbery along this Explorers Range track to our east. Our aim was to reach Edgeworth David Head for lunch. Finding a suitable exit, we navigated our third off-track route uphill through quite dense bush. It opened up for a while until we reached the first summit but it then got denser for what would have been the last 200m. We aborted this attempt, turning to our west to find an alternate lunch spot. An open grassy patch with views to our west was fine for lunch. Returning downhill to the overgrown fire trail, we quickly returned to the car park over this 6.5km section of this 14.7km walk.
Drinks in the sun at the Archibald Hotel at Kurrajong Heights rounded off a great day.

Walkers: Peter, Justin, Wendy C, Wendy LR, Jas, Annemarie, Karina

Peter’s Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/KKbxFgZk9PBpEgDp8