Walks in Sydney Stephen Lord

Walks in Sydney Stephen Lord SYDNEY HARBOUR N.P.: MANLY TO THE SPIT The foreshore walking track from Manly to the Spit passes through sections of Sydney Harbour National Park and offers an opportunity for a peaceful harbour-side walk. The grade is easy and the track is well defined with many markers - and there are many vantage points to enjoy the views of both main and middle harbours. From Manly Cove walk along the Esplanade and follow the path to King Ave and then to North Harbour Reserve, Fairlight. This is the starting point of Govenor Phillip's four-day inland walk in 1788 to French's Forest - Turramurra - Bungaroo - Middle Head, and is marked by a plaque at the top of the steps. Follow the pathway across the Reserve to Harbour Street. Turn sharp left at Clarence Street to cross a wooden bridge into Goulay Ave. Turn left through Wellings Reserve, an area with Hawkesbury sandstone vegetation, and on to Forty Baskets Beach - a good place to swim. Forty baskets of fish were caught here one day in 1885 for the Garrison on North Head. In 1860, a hermit lived here and flew a white flag each day to show he was still alive. Proceed along the rocks to the boundary of Sydney Harbour National Park. At a track junction, take the track ahead to Reef Beach, then continue on as the track climbs up away from the foreshore. After about 200m there is a track junction. The track south leads to Crater Cove where there are shanty dwellings which date from the 1920s. To continue on, keep on up the steep slope, and follow the sign to Arabanoo Lookout, off to the right of the main route. Follow the roadway SW, then pick up the clearly defined track to Grotto Point Lookout. Beyond the lookout the track drops down. Watch for the marker which shows the way to Grotto Point Lighthouse, due south 400m (20 minutes return). A First Fleet survey party camped at the site of Grotto Point Lighthouse on 28th January 1788. The lighthouse was built in 1911 to guide ships entering Sydney Harbour, when aligned with the Parrawi Head light at Mosman. Return to the track junction and head west down a series of steps. Sandstone formations include a wave-shaped rock and overhanging ledge above an eroded shale lens. Pass Castle Rock and continue following the shoreline pathway for a further 20 minutes to emerge on Clontarf Beach. Continue ahead and follow the beach as it swings around north past the enclosed pool and a shop in a grassy reserve. Next walk around Sandy Bay where there is a sign to guide you up steps and on to the track to Fisher Bay. Walk along a board-walk then through sub-tropical rainforest at the head of the bay. The next 200m follow the old tram route to Ellery's Punt Reserve, the site of the old punt landing. The punt started operation in 1850. A pedestrian underpass can take you to the western side of Spit Road, for the bus to Manly. Grade: Easy, 100m asc. Distance: 9km. Public Transport: Bus to Manly and from the Spit. SYDNEY HARBOUR N.P.: HERMITAGE FORESHORE - NIELSEN PARK The Hermitage Foreshore offers an opportunity for a quiet harbour-side walk. The four small beaches and secluded picnic areas are ideal for escaping from the bustle of the city. Nielsen Park, the walk destination, has a protected swimming area, shady grassed areas, historic

Greycliffe House and an important bushland area. The walk starts from the western end of Bay View Hill Road, Vaucluse. Follow the track that leads off NNE along the foreshore. The track passes Queens Beach, a picnic area near the Hermitage and Hermit Bay. Continue on, past Tingara Beach and Milk Beach to a pleasant lookout point over Shark Island and the harbour. This is also a good point to admire Strickland House, a grand mansion, now owned by the State Government. After 1km there is a track junction (signposted Vaucluse Rd). Turn right here, and walk up to a roadway. Turn right and follow the road for 50m, then branch off to the left towards an NPWS workshop. Walk around the workshop and branch left immediately onto the track to Mt Trefle - from which there are great views. This bushland remnant is very important as it is the only known location of a recently discovered Casuarina species. Return down the Mt Trefle branch-track, turn left and walk down through tall tea tree heath to Greycliffe House. Greycliffe House and the Gardener's Cottage were built in the 1850s, by William Charles Wentworth's son-in-law. Continue on down to the foreshore. After a break, walk north past a small bushland patch to the wonderful rock platform at Bottle and Glass Point, where there are views towards Manly and North Head. Return to the swimming area, then continue SW up some steps to Steel Pt where there are fortifications which date from 1871. Walk south, around the Commonwealth land on a road, then take the track on the right which leads down to the foreshore. Follow this track back to the Vaucluse Road track junction, and take the Hermitage Foreshore Trail back to Bay View Hill Road. Grade: Easy, 50m asc. Distance: 5km. Public Transport: Govt Bus 324 from Circular Quay or Edgecliff station. KU-RING-GAI CHASE N.P.: ABORIGINAL ENGRAVINGS AND FLINT AND STEELE BAY (WHITE HORSE BEACH) The West Head area of Ku-Ring-Gai Chase N.P. offers excellent short bush walks with views of Pittwater and the Hawkesbury River and excellent opportunities for viewing Aboriginal engraving sites. This suggested day trip includes visits to two engraving sites, the West Head Lookout and a short but steep walk to Flint and Steele Bay. From Sydney, travel to the West Head section of Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park via Terry Hills. First, park your car in the car park at the Elvina Track head about 1km north of the junction of West Head Road and General San Martin Drive (the road that leads to Akuna Bay on Coal and Candle Creek). The Elvina Trail leads off from the right (east) side of the road. Walk 100 metres along the trail from the gate and take the side track on the right to one of the best examples of rock engravings by the Garrigal people of the Guringai Nation. This extensive site includes engravings of a large shark figure, mythical creatures, and emu, wallabies and fish. Next drive about 7 km further north along West Head road to the Basin Track head carpark. Walk 150 metres along the trail from the gate and

take the short side track on the right to a more compact but intricate set of engravings depicting human figures and wallabies. Return to the car and drive to the West Head Lookout and the far north-eastern end of West Head Road. Take a break and enjoy the panoramic view over Broken Bay, Barrenjoey and Pittwater here. Next drive back along West Head road for about 2km km to a car-park on the right of the road. Walk through the car-park and take the track which heads off in a NW direction. At a junction, turn right at the sign to Flint and Steele Bay (White Horse Beach). The track descends fairly steeply to a lovely sandy beach with delightful rock platforms worth exploring on both sides. Take a break here, before returning to the car park on West Head Road. Grade: Easy /medium, 160m asc. Distance: 2 km. ROYAL N.P.: OTFORD - BURNING PALMS - GARAWARRA - OTFORD Set in Australia's oldest national park (dedicated in 1879), this walk features panoramic coastal views, littoral rainforest and a beautiful ocean beach. The walk starts at Otford Gap. If coming by train, alight at Otford and take the track that leads off from the eastern side of the station and heads east uphill. Where the track meets a road, turn left and walk a short distance to Fanshawe Rd. Turn right up the hill, cross Lady Wakehurst Drive to Otford Gap. After admiring the extensive views, head north along the track for 300m, where there is a track fork. Take the left branch - the right branch leads to Werong Beach. Continue on this track through delightful bush to a second track junction (2km from Otford Gap). Take the right fork here to Burning Palms via Palm Jungle. After 300m there is a lookout on the cliff edge which offers panoramic views of the coastline as far south as Port Kembla. Continue on the track as it descends through the magnificent Palm Jungle - a large littoral rainforest area on the steep slopes above the ocean. Cabbage Tree Palms, vines, Birds Nest Ferns and Elkhorns are some of the beautiful rainforest plants found here in this unusual jungle community. Where the track emerges from the rainforest onto grassland (1.5km from the lookout above Werong Beach), walk north along the rock platform for 1km around two headlands to Burning Palms - an unspoilt ocean beach, backed by lush vegetation and an imposing escarpment. This is the recommended spot for lunch, a swim and a break. After lunch, walk to the northern end of the beach, and take the track that leads northwards among some huts for 600m to an open grassy area on the Burgh Ridge. From here, there are good views of Burning Palms to the south and South Era Beach to the north. Head west up the Burgh Ridge Track for 900m to the top of the escarpment and Garawarra picnic area and car-park - an ascent of 220m from the beach. At Garawarra, take the signposted Cliff Track which heads off SSW. This is a pleasant level track, but offers few views, even though it runs close to the cliff-edge. Ignore branch tracks to the left and right. At 2.5km from Garawarra car-park you arrive at the track branch encountered earlier in the day that leads to Burning Palms. Continue ahead (west) back to Otford Gap. Grade: Medium/Hard, 240m ascent Distance: 13km. Public Transport: Train to Otford.

BLUE MOUNTAINS N.P.: ECHO PT - THE THREE SISTERS - FEDERAL PASS - THE SCENIC RAILWAY - PRINCE HENRY WALK Echo Point is perhaps the most famous lookout in Australia. The view of The Three Sisters and over the Jamison Valley and out to Kings Tableland in the east, Mt Solitary in the south, and Narrow Neck Peninsula to the west is rightly world famous. Tens of thousands of people visit this lookout every year but few venture far from the concrete paths nearby. This easy-medium walk takes you on a delightful circuit that includes marvellous lookouts and sections in temperate rainforest below the cliffs. A return to the cliff-tops via the scenic railway would make this an easygrade walk. Start from the northern side of the Information Centre/Kiosk at Echo Point by taking the path to The Three Sisters. These eroded sandstone pagodas, whose name is derived from an Aboriginal legend, are the last vestiges of a peninsula which juts out from the plateau. From the lookout at The Three Sisters head down The Giant Stairway which descends to the foot of the cliffface. Here, it meets a contouring track - Dardanelles Pass. Turn right (south) and follow Dardanelles Pass for 500m around the base of The Three Sisters to where it joins with the Federal Pass [track]. This track continues to contour below the cliff-line and heads north then NW through Coachwoods, Tree Ferns and other temperate rainforest plants. Take a break on the large rock slabs beside Kedumba Creek. Beyond Kedumba Creek the track turns SW. After 400m there is a branch-track on the right. You can take this convoluted track back up to the cliff-tops, but it is easier and more fun to continue on another 250m and ascend the 270m by catching the Scenic Railway. One back atop the cliff line, follow the track which heads generally NE through parkland and bush for 500m to a kiosk on Cliff Drive. From the western side of the kiosk, descend on a track to a 4-way junction, and turn left (east) onto the Prince Henry Walk. Follow it past The Cascades where it turns SSW to Echo Point. Along the way stop off and admire the marvelous views from Cliff View, Wollumai, Allambie and Lady Darlies Lookouts. Grade: Medium (if returning by scenic railway), 300m desc. Distance: 5km. Train to and from Katoomba Station, and taxi to and from Echo Point. BLUE MOUNTAINS N.P.: EVANS LOOKOUT - GRAND CANYON - NEATES GLEN Some of the most outstanding scenic features of the Blue Mountains are the deep canyons, although most are remote and very difficult to negotiate. The Grand Canyon, near Blackheath, is one of the few that is easily accessible with only medium grades. The track through the canyon is clearly defined and signposted and is a very popular walk. At Blackheath, take the Evans Lookout Road for 2.9km to a parking area on the right (about 1.3km short of Evans Lookout). There are signs "Neates Glen" and "Grand Canyon" at the trackhead here. Leave the car here. Walk along the road to Evans Lookout where there are spectacular views of the Govett Gorge. At the lookout there is a picnic area and shelter shed. Walk to the right hand side of the lookout and follow the track as it steeply descends. After 200m there is a track junction. Take the right branch which leads down to Greaves Creek and the Rodriguez Pass walking track - a descent of 270m from Evans Lookout. On the way down, as you pass through a lush rainforest with a canopy of Coachwoods, look for grey barked Sassafras, Lillypilly, giant ferns, thick mosses and tangled masses of vines and creepers.

At Greaves Creek there is a sign "Beauchamp Falls" pointing to the left, the right hand track leads to the Grand Canyon. Take the very pleasant short walk to the falls where you can sit atop huge boulders, have morning tea and enjoy the waterfall and surroundings. Return to the track junction and continue toward the Grand Canyon where you can see Greaves Creek flowing far below. In places the creek has cut a narrow chasm 30m deep and only a couple of metres wide right beside the track. You will see ferns, small waterfalls and moss covered overhangs. Floods have piled up logs and other debris in the creek. Along the way you will pass through a short tunnel and into an open area where there are Cedar Wattles. Cross Greaves Creek in Neates Glen and climb the steep track through Banksias, Tea Trees, Sydney Golden Wattle and Casuarinas to the parking area on Evans Lookout Road. Grade: Medium/Hard, 300m asc, steep and slippery in parts. Distance: 7km. Public Transport: Train to Blackheath. Note it is an extra 4.7km from Blackheath station to carpark on Evans Lookout Road.