Bob and myself, for our weekly bushwalk visited tow places on the Cumberland Plain. First Bents Basin on the Nepean River, and then we visited Mulgoa Nature Reserve near Penrith.
Bents Basin
Bents Basin is a very deep (22m) scoured out pool on the Nepean River. It is a delightful place with a very nice picnic area and a nearby camping area. It is named after a Bent Judge (or is it Judge Bent?). We had planned to visit it a few years ago, but the park, a State Conservation Area, had been closed due to very bad flood damage. It recently reopened.
The deep pool is a grea place for swimming, but it is also somewhat dangerous. There are numerous signs in the park emphasising water safety.
We crossed a footbridge over the Nepean River downstream of the basin and then visited Caleys Lookout.
At the lookout, there are filtered views of the Basin.
We then continued around a loop walk from the lookout, through section of forest, and eventually back to Bents Basin. The first part is the Joy Stacy Walk – which goes through Girl Guide land, and then we followed an old car hill climbing circuit.
Grey Fantail
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
Back at the Basin, we walked back to the picnic area, then climbed up into the adjacent Gulguer Nature Reserve. We followed a fire road up onto a ridge then out to a lookout over looking the Gulgure Gorge of the Nepean River.
Variegated Fairy-wren
Here is the Gulguer Gorge – Nepean River.
Sawfly Larvae
Echidna
Bolete
Back at Bents Basin we saw this very old looking tree –
And another pond –
We had lunch at the Basin, and then decided to visit Mulgoa Nature Reserve. on the way, we stopped to look at this historic obelisk –
It marks the crypt of the Shadforth family.
Mulgoa Nature Reserve
This small reserve south of Penrith has remnant Cumberland Plain vegetation.
We had time to complete a loop walk on the eastern side of the reserve.
Superb Fairy-wrens
Most of the reserve is very nice woodland.
We visited this old stock dam.
Some parts have been degraded by illegal trail bike and mountain bike riders.
On the right of the fire road, you can see an illegal trail bike trail –
Eastern Grey Kangaroos
This valuable bit of bushland needs careful management. The green vegetation below are patches of lantana. There is a fair bit in the Reserve, but unless it is managed, this problem will get much worse.
It was good to visit these two very special area.