Lawson Waterfall Walk – 7 January 2016

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Dave Noble

I was heading up the Blue Mountains with Bob for either a walk or canyon. Recent heavy rain had made canyoning unwise, so we had settled on a walk, and on the way up, after some discussion we decided to visit the waterfalls near Lawson. These waterfalls are very beautiful, and are quite impressive after a period of rain.

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After a stop at the Lawson Cake Shop, we headed to the park on the north side of the town and then set off for Dantes Glen. Near the start of the track were a good cluster of Hyacinth Orchids. They did look a bit bedraggled after the rain however. Continue reading →

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A Wet Day at Wolli Creek – 6 January 2016

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Dave Noble

It had been raining in Sydney for a few days, and I was keen to get out. I was constantly checking the  weather radar seeing where it was raining, and on the day, it did look a lot less wet up the Blue Mountains, and that is where I should have gone. But I had left it a bit late to get away, so I did a short trip to Wolli Creek along the Two Valleys Track between Bexley North and Turrella.

Wolli Creek at Turrella

Wolli Creek at Turrella

As it turned out it was raining for the entire duration of my walk. Light rain, but it did not relent. Continue reading →

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Canyoning at Mt Wilson – 30 December 2015 – 1 January 2016

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Dave Noble

I recently spent an enjoyable few days at Mt Wilson in the Blue Mountains. It was also good to catch up with my friend Sarah and her boyfriend Damian. As well during our stay a few others came up to join us to help celebrate the new year and for some canyoning.

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On the first day – I visited Whungee Wheengee Canyon together with Sarah and Damian. It was only a few weeks since a previous visit but the canyon was a different. The water level was a bit higher – making the duck-under sections more interesting. They all had air gaps – but not much of an air gap. Continue reading →

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Boxing Day Canyoning Trip – 26 – 28 December 2015

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Dave Noble

I went with Wendy on a very nice canyoning trip in the Northern Blue Mountains. Since the weather forecast was for cool weather we chose to visit some of the drier canyons on the western side of the plateau.

Wendy in The Dry Canyon

Wendy in The Dry Canyon

It was looking very stormy as we headed out onto the Newnes Plateau, so we decided to camp at the head of the valley at the Dry Canyon. At the second campsite, there is a small cave – a good place to sit if it is raining. Continue reading →

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Red Gum Park and Minnatonka Falls – 24 December 2015

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Dave Noble

Red Gum Park at Bullaburra was one place I had never visited, and I had a few spare hours on Christmas Eve, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to make a visit. I found it an interesting place.

Small Tongue Orchid

Small Tongue Orchid

I got off the train at Bullaburra, and crossed the new bridge over the highway and walked the short distance to Noble Street and down that to DeQuency Street to the track. The track was in good condition and a sign indicted the presence of a local bush care group.  Continue reading →

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National Pass Walk – A Wet Day at Wentworth Falls – 22 December 2015

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Dave Noble

A wet and cool day was forecast, so any plans for a canyon trip were put on hold and a few ideas for bushwalks were discussed. I was heading up the mountains with Bob. On the day – it was quite wet, and the best option seemed to be a walk close to waterfalls, which would be more spectacular than usual and with some shelter. National Pass fitted the bill.

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We started from the Conservation Hut, and walked along the Undercliff Track towards Wentworth Falls. On the way, we deviated down Den Fenella, always a worthwhile side trip. Continue reading →

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Canyon Photography Weekend – 19-20 December 2015

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Dave Noble

Last year, about the same time, I had spent a very enjoyable weekend in the Northern Blue Mountains with a friend Albert and we had photographed some of the showcase canyons. On that trip, we had visited Rocky Creek Canyon, the Dry Canyon and Hole in the Wall Canyon. That weekend had been quite successful from a photographic point of view, so I suggested a return to Albert. Albert was keen to head up, and as well as visiting Rocky Creek Canyon again, on the second day, he suggested we could visit The River Caves and then the Grand Canyon. That sounded to me like a good plan.

Rocky Creek Canyon

Rocky Creek Canyon

Rocky Creek Canyon

The weather forecast was  for fine hot weather – good for canyoning, but perhaps not ideal for photography. Continue reading →

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A few Orchids and a Canyon – 17 December 2015

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Dave Noble

I was on one of my regular mid week canyon trips with Bob. On the way up the mountains we picked up Tom and then considered options. It had been quite wet the day before and it was raining lightly at the time. So we chose a seldom visited canyon with a small catchment.

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On the walk out to the canyon, we spotted quite a few nice orchids – a leek orchid and a large cluster of spectacular horned orchids. Nice! Continue reading →

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Storm Chasing at La Perouse and a Walk to Cape Banks – 16 December 2015

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Dave Noble

I had originally planned on this day to do a walk on the Northern Beaches, but the forecast was poor, so I delayed my departure and sat at home and kept an eye on the weather radar. It looked like some interesting storms were moving up the coast from the Illawarra. So I thought it may be nice to go on a walk to Cape Banks in Botany Bay Kamay National Park. There is some shelter from storms on the Cape (in caves) and on the way there in some old bunkers on Henry Head.

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So I left home, but on the train to the city, it looked like I was too late. The storm was overhead. So instead I crossed the Harbour Bridge and was going to head to Balls Head – hoping got get photos of the storm over Sydney. However, when the train emerged from the underground and started over the bridge – it was raining very heavily, and it looked like I would be too late to get photos from Balls Head, so I got off the train at Milsons Point and considered options. It was too wet to get some photos nearby, so I got a train back to the Wynyard and another to the Quay and then a bus to La Perouse.  When I got off the bus at the terminal – another storm cell was approaching.  Continue reading →

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Wolli Creek – Orchids and Flying Foxes – 14 December 2015

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Dave Noble

This was another short nature walk along a section of Wolli Creek – between Bardwell Park and Turrella. I wanted to see how the Hyacinth Orchids had seen last trip were progressing and also spend  bit more time photographing the flying foxes while some of them have babies.

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The orchids were very impressive. On the last trip – only one had been in flower. This time I counted a cluster of about 10 in that spot – all nicely out in flower. I think they are the Blotched Hyacinth Orchid (Dipodium variegatum).  Continue reading →

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