I joined a large group of Sydney University Bushwalkers and friends for the annual Christmas Walk down to the Coxs River via the Six Foot Track.
On the way down to Megalong, the group I was with stopped off at Coachwood Glen for a short break. This is great place to see fungi in a moist rainforest environment. But at this time of the year the fungi is very limited. Continue reading
This was another very pleasant mid week canyoning trip with Bob. we headed up to Mt Wilson on what was a quite hot day – perfect for a cold canyon like Whungee Wheengee.
We walked out along the fire trail and then took the track down to the Wollangambe River, then up on the other side. This is easy walking – but it was hot in the sun with little shade post bushfires. Continue reading
I took a ferry to Manly and then set out on the circuit walk around North Head. This was a pleasant place to spend an afternoon. The possibility of thunderstorms was forecast – for around 2 pm – and I was going for some good storm photos. The storms didn’t come then, but did come in the evening, but there was was still great views and a lot of nature to enjoy.
I walked to Manly Beach and then set out along the foreshore walk to Shelly Beach. Along the way a nice water dragon was posing for photos. After Shelly Beach, I headed up the track towards the Head. A lot of wildflowers are out, but I couldn’t find any orchids. Continue reading
Another walk organised by Brian Everingham for the National Parks Association. This was planned to be a morning walk from Heathcote to the Karloo Pool on Kangaroo Creek in Royal National Park and then return. There would be plenty of time for photography and the opportunity for a swim in the pool.
Karloo Pool
Brian’s walks attract people with a wide range of expertise to do with nature and they always seem very willing to share their knowledge. So they are like a masterclass to learn about aspects of the natural world. Continue reading
A clean up day had been organised by Alex Allchin, from the Colong Foundation, for the Wollangambe River. I have mentioned earlier about the massive spill of coal fines from a containment dam at the Clarence Colliery into the Wollangambe River and of a visit I was on to the river. The mine owners, Centennial Coal, had been ordered by the EPA to clean up the river, but this was very slow to start. This meant that the coal fines were washed a long way down the Wollangambe River.
A recent visit to the river seemed to show that the clean up work was progressing very slowly and was far from satisfactory. This was despite this press release from the EPA (2 December 2015) saying that 163 tonnes of coal fines so far had been removed from the river. Continue reading
I was heading up the Blue Mountains with friends John and Chuin Nee, and their young sons Jasper and Sebastian. We were heading up to the Wollangambe River Clean Up organised for the next day. We intended to camp the night at Mt Wilson. So that gave us all Saturday for some walking.
On the way up, we stopped at Mt Banks Picnic Area, and then walked up to the summit of Mt Banks. This is a pleasant and short walk with good views for a lot of the way up. There was also a lot of good wildflowers out to enjoy. Continue reading
This is another walk I did in a series exploring the remnant bushland in Sydney. Travelling along the M2 at various times, I had noticed that the motorway crosses what seems to be a fairly good section of bushland a little south Pennant Hills Rd. The sign at the bridge there says “Darling Mills Creek”.
My friend Bob knew the area fairly well and mentioned a series of tracks down the valley. After more discussion with Bob and some internet research ( see here and here) I was on my way by bus (a Hills Bus from Wynyard along the M2) to near the start of the walk. Continue reading
After the nature walk the day before, I headed back late in the afternoon of the 3 December to try and get some better photographs of the flying foxes. I went straight to their camp and then started photographing.
This is the the time of year that many of the female flying foxes have babies. The babies are usually born in October. And a baby flying fox has to hold on tight to its mother for a few months till it gets big enough to support itself. The mother carries he baby on its nightly flights for food. I did see quite a few baby flying foxes – but they and their mothers were often asleep. Continue reading
This was another walk organised by Brian Everingham from the National Parks Association. It was on the walks program as a nature and photography walk. Last week, Brian had led a walk along the nearby Cooks River.
We met at Bexley North station and then proceeded down the Two Valleys Track along Wolli Creek. Continue reading
A very hot day was forecast. It would be a good opportunity to visit Hole in the Wall Canyon in the Wollangambe Wilderness. I was travelling up the Blue Mountains with Bob, and we headed out through the now logged pine forests to the carpark on the Waratah Ridge.
It is quite interesting to see the difference now that many of the pine trees have been logged. The views from the road are far more extensive. We could see right up to Tayan Pic and Mt Coricudgy and also a maze of pagoda ridges in the headwaters of the south branch of Bungleboori Creek. Continue reading
