I thought it would be nice to walk down Sassafras Gully at Springwood. I wanted to get some photos of fungi that I thought may be out and also photographs of Glenbrook Creek. Showers were forecast and I thought that may provide nice soft lighting.
As it turned out – there was a lot of fungi out, but the weather was fine and sunny for most of the day. So – not many photos of the creek (the flow was quite low anyway), but I did manage to get lots of photos of fungi. In some places I did have to shade the fungi with my pack or myself to get indirect lighting.
I entered Sassafras Gully via the track at Sassafras Gully Road at Springwood. This was about a ten minute walk from the station to the track-head. I then followed a very good track down into the valley. The fungi began right from the start.
Most of the fungi was fairly drab, dull white mushroom types, but there was enough other stuff out if you look around.
At the junction of Sassafras Creek and Glenbrook Creek I stopped for a swim in the big pool. The water was refreshing.
I then continued downstream to the Perch Ponds. I stopped many times on the way for more fungi photographs.
I wanted to return to Springwood via Magdala Creek, but when I arrived at the junction I continued downstream for a few hundred metres to the junction of Glenbrook Creek and Western Creek. Above this junction on the ridge leading to Lost World Lookout lies the Sharks Head Cave. I had never been there before and wonder what it was like.
Looking up at the Sharks Head Cave
I left the track and crossed Glenbrook Creek. On the other side was a large rock slab. On the far side was a duck that indicated the start of a very rough route up to the cave. Five minutes later I was in the cave. It is quite sheltered with good views of Glenbrook Creek. There was a pile of firewood stashed there and a more sheltered area behind a rock wall. The name “Sharks Head” is painted in the back of the cave. There was a logbook of sorts there.
I then clambered back down to Glenbrook Creek and back up to the track and then back to the Magdala Creek junction. This was a good place to stop for lunch.
My return route was up the very pleasant Magdala Creek following a good track. A few more stops for fungi photographs on the way. The last bit was through Fairy Dell and I soon arrived behind the Springwood shops.
More photos of the walk are on my website here.