Martin had organised a walk to celebrate some birthdays, and he had chosen Goochs Crater as the destination. We all met at Bell and then proceeded along a ridge system towards the Wollangambe River.
At the start of the walk, we encountered a huge number of flowering Waratahs. Quite amazing to see.
There were plenty of other wildflowers blooming, like this Kunzea capitata –
We left the woodland and walked past a series of pagodas on the ridge top.
We found a number of Spotted Sun Orchids – Thelymmitra ixioides –
The open ridge top was awash with flowers –
We had lunch at shady spot on the banks of the Wollangambe River. Then we crossed on this rough bridge –
Mountain Dragon
Boronia sp.
More Dotted Sun Orchids –
It did not take long to reach the large camp cave at Goochs Crater.
This cave is an Aboriginal art site – with at least 3 hand stencils and other ochre art.
I then wandered off and had a look at the crater and its surrounds.
And then the whole group decided to climb some nearby pagodas for sunset.
We then had a merry evening around the campfire.
On Sunday morning, we returned to those same pagodas, and then scrambled down to the bottom of Billabong Canyon.
And many of us continued around Goochs Crater.
Another orchid – Caladenia sp.
We then packed up and set off back to Bell.
We had lunch at a shady spot on the ridge, and while there, we spotted two more species of orchids.
Diuris sp.
And a different Sun Orchid – Thelymitra sp.
And then more Waratahs –
It had been a very pleasant walk, and it was good to catch up with all the group. Many thanks to John and Chuin Nee for a lift up and back.