Round Willoughby Walk – 24 July 2017

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Dave Noble

The Willoughby Council have created a “Round Willoughby Walk” that combines bushwalking tracks and roads and provides a large loop walk around the municipality. Details of the walk are available here on their website. It is possible to do the walk in one long day (of over 30 kms) or you can do any of the many stages as a shorter walk.

On previous walks and fungi trips, I had already visited most of the western sections of the walk – along Blue Gum Creek, The Lane Cove River and Ferndale Park. But I had not visited the eastern sections, so that is what I intended to do. During the day I completed the first 5 (of 8) stages. Continue reading →

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The Mermaids Cave and Orphan Rock – 20 July 2017

Posted on July 23, 2017 by Dave Noble

I was heading up the mountains with Bob for a walk. As usual, we had not decided where to go – leaving it up till when we saw what the weather was like – and often over a coffee at the cakeshop at Lawson.

Orphan Rock

The day was quite cold. Just above 0°C and with a considerable wind chill. So a long exposed walk higher up the mountains was out. On my list for a while had been a visit to the Mermaids Cave at Blackheath. This was one place I had never been to and it seemed interesting. I know there was a track to it from the Megalong Road, but that was only a ten minute walk. But I also knew there was supposed to be two tracks to the cave from the escarpment above. These sounded worth looking for. So this was what we decided to do. Continue reading →

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Fungi at Ferndale Park, Chatswood – 19 July 2017

Posted on July 23, 2017 by Dave Noble

I spent a day in the north shore looking for fungi. I first visited a site near Lane Cove – but found the fungi poor, so then headed to Ferndale Park at Chatswood. The fungi were not that good, but better than the other site.

Careful hunting in the leaf litter revealed a number of waxcaps, including the Ferndale Park – Green-pink waxcap. Continue reading →

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Wolli Creek – Fungi and Orchids – 18 July 2017

Posted on July 23, 2017 by Dave Noble

I completed another walk along Wolli Creek from Bexley North to near Turrella looking for fungi. There had been a little rain the week before and I was hoping it would bring some fungi out. But it seems the rai was not enough. The fungi was generally fairly poor. But there was still a huge number of Greenhood Orchids out. These were in two species.

Early on, in the upper section of the two Valleys Track, before Bardwell Park, I did see a few of the interesting Cortinarius Phallarus out. This is unusual for a Cortinarius as it has a volva. Continue reading →

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Starlights Trail to the Nattai River 15-16 July 2017

Posted on July 22, 2017 by Dave Noble

We had two birthdays to celebrate and the nice grassy flat on the Nattai River at the bottom of Starlights Trail seemed a good venue.

So we met at the bakery at Hilltop and then set out along the Wattle Ridge Road to Nattai National Park. At the carpark, we shouldered our packs and set off along the track. The first part of this is a fire road, but you soon leave this and head down into the valley. A short way down, we left our packs and walked out to a nearby lookout which provided good views of the Nattai Valley and Mt Jellore.  Continue reading →

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More Passes of Narrow Neck – Diamond Head and Redledge Pass – 13 July 2017

Posted on July 21, 2017 by Dave Noble

Bob was keen for some more passes of Narrow Neck and as neither of us had been up or down Diamond Head Pass – we decided that this should be one that was visited. It would link up nicely with Redledge Pass.

Here, I am using the name “Diamond Head” for the headland of Narrow Neck between Diamond Creek and Corral Creek. Continue reading →

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Butterbox Point – Photo Walk – 10 – 11 July 2017

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Dave Noble

Pioneer bushwalker, Marie Byles, during Easter 1918, went on a bushwalk with her father Cyril Byles to the Mt Hay area of the Blue Mountains. This was long before there was a road out that way. Her father is credited with naming Butterbox Point on account of the shape of the small flat topped prominence on the top.

The Butterbox

This was one place I thought would be good to spend a night camped near in order to photograph late afternoon and early morning. David Hufton was interested  and was happy to drive out. Continue reading →

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Bushcare at Gordon Creek – Middle Harbour – 9 July 2017

Posted on July 17, 2017 by Dave Noble

The bushcare group I am in spent a nice day weeding at Gordon Creek in Middle Harbour. This area is in Garigal National Park.

We used kayaks, provided by the Willow Warriors (paddling bushcare group), to travel up Middle Harbour from Davidson Park near Roseville Bridge and then a short way up Gordon Creek.  Continue reading →

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Wolli Ck Fungi – 7 and 8 July 2017

Posted on July 17, 2017 by Dave Noble

I visited Wolli Creek looking for fungi over two days. The second visit was a field activity of the Sydney Fungal Studies Group and I also visited the area by myself the day before to get an idea what was out so I could help guide on the day.

Humidicutis viridimagentea

Most of the fungi that was out seemed to be in the lower area between Bardwell Park and near the old quarry near Turrella.  Continue reading →

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Narrow Neck Passes – Carlons Head and Glenraphael Head – 6 July 2017

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Dave Noble

It was a cold sunny day when I set out from the Dunphy Camping Area with Bob and Doug for Carlons Head. We climbed up the track from Carlons Farm and joined the road that leads up to the junction with the Medow Gap Road.

Glenraphael Head is the closest headland

Continue reading →

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