Sculpture By The Sea – Bondi to Tamarama – 26 October 2017

Posted on November 3, 2017 by Dave Noble

I made a visit to Sculpture By The Sea on the morning of 26 October 2017. I caught an early train to Bondi Junction, then walked down to Tamarama Beach, arriving just before sunrise. Getting up early was worth doing, it was a nice atmospheric sunrise with a big cloud bank adding some drama.

Photographing works of art – the sculptures is perhaps a bit like “meta-art” if you try and make your photos a bit artistic. At an event like this one, just about every visitor is wandering around with either a camera or a phone taking pictures. So it is challenge to try and record the artworks in a way that is a little bit different to a typical record shot photo. Continue reading →

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Nature Along The Cooks River – 25 October 2017

Posted on October 31, 2017 by Dave Noble

I spent a few hours cycling along the Cooks River Cycleway looking for birds and other wildlife to photograph. It was quite a hot day, and that may have meant that a lot of creatures were hiding in the shade.

I first visited the Tawny Frogmouths with their two chicks that I had been observing for a while now. They seemed to be doing well –  Continue reading →

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Canoe Creek – Colo River – Photo Walk 23-24 October 2017

Posted on October 31, 2017 by Dave Noble

David Hufton invited me to join him on a walk to the Colo River via Canoe Creek. It had been a fair few years since my last visit to this area that I was pleased to be able to go along.

On the way up, we made a short detour to visit an Aboriginal art cave. It was one that I had not visited before and it was quite impressive with lots of hand stencils (mainly in white, but also some in ochre), and boomerangs and axes and also some charcoal drawings. Just outside the shelter were several sets of axe grinding grooves and also some small wells. This was a very interesting and special place. Continue reading →

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“Wayfaring in Wollemi” – New Book

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Dave Noble

I was very please to attend the launch of a new book by Andy Macqueen called “Wayfaring in Wollemi”. The book was launched at Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens on 22 October. It tells the stories of 28 people – explorers, surveyors, cattlemen, bushwalkers, conservationists, travellers and other people that have had a deep connection with the greater Wollemi Wilderness.

It is a 352 page hard cover book that has been meticulously researched by author Andy Macqueen. Not only has the historical research been very thorough but also the author, being a very well known bushwalker, has linked the tales of the wayfarers with his own journeys into the Wollemi. So far I am only half way through this excellent book. I will add a full review at a later date.

Copies can be obtained through the Colong Foundation online shop ($40 including postage) or from bookshops in the Blue Mountains.

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The Old Hartley Shale Railway – 21 October 2017

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Dave Noble

A group of us were heading up the Blue Mountains on the weekend to attend a book launch at Mt Tomah the next day. We intended to camp that night at Mt Wilson so we could get to the book launch in time, and wanted to do a bushwalk on Saturday.

We eventually decided to have a look at the old shale railway at Hartley. This is an old railway formation that once operated to service a shale mine in Hartley Vale. The ore (or oil?) was taken up the valley by a very steep funicular  railway and from there it was transferred to another line that joined the main western railway line near the old Grose Valley Colliery.  Continue reading →

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A Wet Walk at Blackheath – Colliers Causeway – 20 October 2017

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Dave Noble

Bob and myself had gone up the mountains and were wondering what bushwalk would be best. It was wet and misty and more rain was forecast during the day. I suggested the walk at Blackheath – through Centennial Glen, then along Colliers Causeway and back up to the tops via Porters Pass. I knew this walk offered plenty of shelter, in overhangs along the way. Bob had not been along the Causeway before and thought it sounded OK, and I was keen to photograph the waterfalls in Centennial Glen.

We started from the trail that goes around the Christian School at Blackheath. A path through their grounds has been signposted for bushwalkers to follow. It soon leads down to Fort Rock. On the way, through the mist, we could see another track that led to Fort Rock from the direction of the top of Porters Pass. We thought it may be a better way to return rather than walking along some of the back streets of Blackheath. Continue reading →

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Royal National Park – Northern Coastline – Photo Essay

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Dave Noble

Here are some photos of another trip to Royal National Park.

This time I was concentrating on the area near Curracurrong and Eagle Rock. I walked there and back from Bundeena. Continue reading →

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Oatley Park – Nature Walk – 17 October 2017

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Dave Noble

This was a very pleasant walk around Oatley Park. It was organised by Brian Everingham for the National Parks Association. In the party were Brian, Ken, Allen, Val, Sue, Esther, Peter, Theo, myself and we were later joined by Digi Dave.

We met outside Mortdale Station and then set off for the short walk to the creek leading into Lime Kiln Bay. After watching a group of Water Dragons basking in the warm sun, we continued along the path on the west side of the creek.  Continue reading →

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The Gap to Bondi Walk – 16 October 2017

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Dave Noble

This was a pleasant walk along the Coastal Track from The Gap to Bondi Beach. I started by catching a ferry to Watsons Bay and then walking the short distance to the reserve at The Gap.

After a bit of time looking for whales, I set off along the path to the south. For a long way it mostly follows the cliffs, but deviates on roads for short sections. Continue reading →

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Birds at Bicentennial Park – 15 October 2017

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Dave Noble

I spent a full day wandering around the wetlands in Bicentennial Park at Homebush Bay photographing the birdlife. There was a lot to see!

Here are some of what I photographed. I have grouped them by species. But also some habitat – Continue reading →

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