Taronga to Middle Head Walk – 31 March 2025

This was another walk led by Brian Everingham for the National Parks Association of NSW. The main aim was to check out the new track from near Chowder Bay to Middle Head.

Most of the party met at the wharf at Circular Quay and travelled over on the ferry to Taronga Wharf. Then we set off along the track.

I spotted this White-faced Heron on the wharf –

The weather was a bit damp – with some light drizzle. But it improved during the walk.

We passed the small beach near the Zoo –

Two White-bellied Sea Eagles were circling above us –

Brian pointed out some Pittosporum –

This is Pittosporum revolutum – commonly known as rough-fruited pittosporum, and it is not found south in Royal National Park.

We continued along the foreshore track to Athol Hall –

By now there were four White-bellied Sea Eagles circling above us. Here are three of them –

We continued along the track, now a boardwalk –

And here is the more common species of Pittosporum –

This part of the track, out to Bradleys Head is quite marvellous with its amazing Angophora forest.

Here is some Blueberry Ash fruit –

At Bradleys Head, we had great views of the city –

The Head is the location of the Navy memorial –

There is also a single Doric Column out in the sea nearby.

This was once a support at the GPO in Martin Place before the building was demolished and replaced. Some of the old columns were relocated. The one head at Bradleys Head and another near Fort Denison were used as nautical distance markers.

There are also some old gun emplacements –

And small lighthouse –

And there are memorials to all the navy ships lost in war –

We continued along the track and encountered a Brush Turkey –

Looking ahead –

We could look out to the Heads –

Another Brush Turkey –

Taylors Bay  –

There is a very weedy section of track behind houses –

Jelly Fungus

Clavaria fragilis

We reached Chowder Bay –

Another White-bellied Sea Eagle –

We stopped here for morning tea.

But just after this we had to get wet feet walking around this small bluff. It was high tide.

Looking out at Chowder Bay –

Laughing Kookaburra

While waiting for people to get around the bluff and put on their shoes again, we decided to stop for elevens’s  at a nearby cafe –

This was only 100 m further on from where we had stopped for morning tea!

We continued on past some old heritage cottages –

We then visited the Georges Head World War II Battery. Here is the observation post –

This would have housed observers and the range finders for the guns.

Jelly Fungus

Here is one of the gun emplacements –

We were now on the impressive new track.

Auricularia cornea

Middle Head and North Head –

Jelly Fungus

Manly Ferry –

WWII Observation Tower – Middle Head Battery

There is also a famous Obelisk –

The Heads –

We then passed a 1801 Battery – Built by convict labour. To keep out French and Spanish invaders.

Hornby Lighthouse – South Head

There are a lot of weeds along this section of the track.

Landing craft –

We then reached the Middle Head Battery.

There are very impressive WWII forts –

Heritage cottages

This Grey Butcherbird watched us while we had lunch and waited for the bus.

We caught a bus from Middle Head to Mosman and then another bus to the City.

Many thanks to Brian for putting on this interesting walk.