I had been on the circuit walk around the Curra Moors in Royal National Park about two weeks earlier. On that trip the wildflowers had been very good. But the flowers come and go as the season develops. So I joined Brian Everingham and other walkers from the National Parks Association of NSW. It turned out to be a very hot day, so we did not do the full circuit.
The group met up at the carpark at Heathcote Station. In the party was Brian, Sophie, Sue, Graham, Deb, Tania, Philip, Elaine and myself. Our first stop was at the south end of Lady Carrington Drive, where we stopped for a short time to check out a few orchids. A few metres along the Forest Path track we spotted a number of nice orchids.
Nodding Greenhood Orchid – Pterostylis nutans
Chiliglottis trapeziformis
Greenhood Orchid – Pterostylis curta
Then it was off to the Curra Moors carpark. A short way along the track we found a lot of Caladenia catenata orchids –
We walked along the track to the fire road, then followed that to the cliffs above Garie Beach, and then returned the same way.
And some other wildflowers – Milkmaids – Burchardia Umbellata –
Here is a Jacky Dragon –
Native Iris
Waratahs
We then found more orchids. A group of three Tall Leek Orchids – Prasophyllum elatum –
A few Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos flew over.
The we found some Bearded Orchids. First Calochilus paludosus –
Calochilus robertsonii
Calochilus paludosus
Thelymitra sp.
Copper-tailed Skink
Great views on the cliffs above Garie.
Thelymitra ixioides
Despite the very hot conditions, we had great walk.
One of the group, Elaine, had told us about some Bootlace Orchids growing near Sutherland, so a few of us went to see them. They were stunning!
Bootlace Orchids – Erythrorchis cassythoides
Many thanks to Brian for another great walk. And also thanks to Tania for a lift down.