This was a pleasant walk to a great swimming hole in Kangaroo Creek. The walk was on the program of the National Parks Association of NSW and organised by Brian Everingham. The party was Brian, Sue, Ross, Helen, Dorothy, Valerie, Chloe and myself.
We met outside Heathcote Station and soon were on our way along the fire road through the fire protection zone behind the houses out to the Bottle Forest. We were all on the lookout for orchids – and we did spot a number of Hyacinth Orchids along the way. Most of them were past their best.
Barb-wire Grass (Cymbopogon refractus) and an insect
Hyacinth Orchid
Native Daisy
Emerging Bonnet Orchid
Woody Pear
There also seemed to be quite a few spiders in their webs.
St Andrews Cross Spider
Eye-patterned Gum Hopper, Platybrachys vidua
Tisiphone abeona
Brian hard at work
Hyacinth Orchid
Fungus
Damsel Fly
Blue butterfly
From there we made our way down the track to Kangaroo Creek. I had been up this track on a previous walk, but had not visited the section downstream of where it leaves Kangaroo Creek.
On the descent, the track passes though very nice Angophora forest.
we also heard and spotted some Rufous Whistlers.
At the creek, we met another party. They followed us downstream for about ten minutes were we all stopped at a huge swimming hole. Here we left our gear on a shady ledge and cooled off in the water. This pool, the largest on Kangaroo Creek was a really great spot. We had morning tea and then another swim.
The outing was only planned to be a morning walk, and we reluctantly left the pool, and headed back upstream.
Brian was walking back the way we had come, but some of us with more time available, went upstream via the Karloo Pool. I was joined by Valerie and Helen for this alternative. I would give us another swimming opportunity in the Karloo Pool. We had a pleasant walk. The creek was is easy along a faint track that follows the true left bank.
At the Karloo Pool we counted about 45 other visitors. After a swim, I managed to spot a rock warbler.
The Karloo Pool is a popular spot and easy to get to. On the walk out, we encountered a lot more visitors on their way down and estimated that there would eventually be about 100 at the pool.
We had a pleasant walk back to Heathcote Station. A lot of Christmas Bush in flower brightened up the walk.
I later found out from Brian, that his party had seen two Goannas fighting and also a family of Pacific Bazas in the Bottle Forest.
Wasp