Sydney Walking Camp

Sunday 28 August - Sunday 4 September 2011

Led by: Joan and Bob

Reports by Joan and Donna : Photos by Donna, Karen C, Lesley and Joan

Thirty two bushwalkers joined Joan and Bob for a week in Sydney to walk a selection of the city's historic and natural beauty spots. Eleven Walk Leaders volunteered their services and in all, fifteen walks were offered. The group made extensive use of the Sydney public transport system - all walks were accessed by train, bus or ferry.

Day 1: Three Walks
Thornleigh to Fullers Bridge (Lane Cove National Park), approx 13 kms, medium/hard, led by Betty

Starting at Thornleigh railway station, this walk follows a section of the Great North Walk. We passed through Thornleigh playing fields and wandered down to the Lane Cover river valley floor where the path zig zagged alongside the river, passing Browns Waterhole, Fullers Bridge and a large sandstone overhang. Other highlights of the walk were an incredible moss covered river section, and carvings in the rock face.


Betty's group Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Medium hard walking track Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Lane Cove River Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Moss covered riverbed Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

Fullers Bridge Area of Lane Cove National Park, approx 11 kms, medium, led by Charles

This walk follows the Lane Cove river along a well maintained walking track past historic stone huts and sandstone gorges.

Kokoda Trail, Concord, approx 6 kms, easy, led by Karen C

This is an interesting walk around the foreshores of the upper Parramatta River, bypassing Rivendell Hospital, Concord Hospital and on to Cabarita Wharf.


Lesley, Mike and Robyn Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Sandstone overhang, Lane Cove NP Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Bob and Joone at Rivendell Hospital Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Kokoda Memorial Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

Day 2: Three Walks
Balmoral to Taronga Zoo, approx 7 kms, easy/medium, led by Joan

This walk passes several harbourside historic sites, particularly military, and includes an uphill walk with stairs, and good track to Middle Head, a great place for morning tea with views. Then down to Chowder Bay for lunch, and on around a bushy headland to the end of the walk at Taronga Wharf.

Neutral Bay to Taronga Zoo, easy, led by Karen C

On this walk we explored much of the harbour foreshore linking Neutral Bay to Taronga Zoo Ferry Wharf. The walk was mostly on footpaths or through parkland and along the way we saw Nutcote House, designed by May Gibbs, author and creator of the bush babies, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. We also passed Maccallum Pool, a harborside swimming pool thought to have been originally constructed by Olympic swimmer Frederick Lane.

Morning tea was at Robertsons Point, where we soaked up the spectacular harbour views. The Lex and Ruby Graham Gardens at Cremorne Point are quite remarkable. A chance planting of a tropical Elephants Ear bulb in 1959, led to a lifetime of work for Lex Graham and his future wife Ruby. They worked steadily for decades, clearing weeds and rubbish, improving the soil and building up the gardens with donated plants and cuttings.

We ate lunch at Camp Curlew which was created in 1890 as an artists' retreat. From Taronga, some walkers continued to walk the track around Sydney Harbour to Balmoral Beach.


Joan's group on the Balmoral Taronga track Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Val between Neutral Bay and Taronga Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Lesley, Karen and Robyn on ferry Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Neutral Bay to Taronga Group Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

Rushcutters Bay, Potts Point, Woolloomooloo and Botanic Gardens, approx 6 kms, easy, led by Bob B

The walk left the hotel for Rushcutters Bay and up hill to Potts Point. From there, it's down to the Naval Dockyard and Woolloomooloo with morning tea at Mrs Biggs bathing shed site. Then up again to the wonderful Sydney Botanic Gardens and the NSW Governor General's residence and gardens overlooking the harbour. The walk finished at the Opera House.

Day 3: Rest Day, with optional outing to Rookwood Cemetery, led by Joone

Day 4: Three Walks
Coopers Park and Centennial Park, approx 10 kms, easy/medium, led by Betty

After a walk through the streets of Edgecliff from the hotel, the small group of 5 walkers discovered an oasis in the middle of Sydney. Coopers Park is a large (38 acres) bushland reserve with many walking tracks. The rainforest surrounds of brilliant greens with moss covered stone bridges which cross Cooper Creek, the only significant natural creek system in the eastern suburbs, is a real wonder.

We then continued on to Centennial Park where we strolled through the amazing paperbark forest - some walkers even managed to be on the receiving end of bat droppings!! Centennial Park also features formal gardens, ponds, grand avenues, statues, historic buildings and sporting fields.


Coopers Park Gardens Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Coopers Park stone bridge Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Centennial Park Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Paperbark forest Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

Rose Bay and Vaucluse to Watsons Bay, 8 kms, easy/medium, led by Charles

This harbourside walk passes rugged cliffs, secluded coves, a nude beach, parkland and remnant bushland. There are also historic houses on the way, finishing with fish and chips at the iconic Doyles on Watsons Bay.

South Head and Watsons Bay, 4kms, easy, led by Jean

Starting at Watsons Bay this walk explores historically significant and majestic sections of South Head, including the first landing place of Europeans and the Gap. The walk ends with lunch at Doyles on Watsons Bay.

Day 5: Three Walks
Maroubra to Bare Island, 10.5 kms, medium, led by Betty

Following the coastline of Botany Bay's north side, this walk traverses the cliffline with spectacular views across the Pacific Ocean. The track took us through bushland, past beaches and around two golf courses. Along the way we stopped at the Coast Hospital Cemetery which was established in the early 1880s and now houses as many as 2,000 graves. It serviced the Coast (Prince Henry) Hospital, originally a smallpox hospital, but later treating patients with bubonic plague, typhoid fever and leprosy.

We finished at Bare Island where concerned British colonists built a fort in 1885 as protection against an anticipated invasion from the Russians.


Sandstone cliffs Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Bare Island Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Val and Betty Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Dramatic coastline Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

Milsons Point to Greenwich Wharf, approx 10 kms, easy, led by Jill and John

This walk takes in good city and harbour views, lovely bushland, some hills and steps. Morning tea is at Blues Point Reserve and lunch is at Berry Island Reserve.

Coogee to Bondi, approx 6 kms, easy, led by Ainslie and Mike

This is a popular coast and cafe walk along the cliffs and beaches between Coogee and Bondi.

The Camp Dinner that night was held in an Indian Restaurant in Double Bay, where everyone congratulated Val on her 80th birthday.


Art installations between Coogee and Bondi Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Margaret, Trish and Paul Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Ainslie and Mike at Bondi Icebergs Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Joone and Val with her birthday cake Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

Day 6: Two Walks
The Spit Bridge to Manly, 10kms, easy/medium, led by Bob B

This is a classic bushwalk on Sydney's northern harbour beaches. It follows a well maintained track and provides beautiful views over Middle Harbour. We made detours to the small Grotto Point Lighthouse designed in the early 1900s and to the Aboriginal engravings which depict kangaroos, fish and what appears to be boomerangs.

Parramatta Historic Area, approx 6 kms, easy, led by Ainslie and Mike

From the rivercat wharf this was a short walk to Elizabeth Farm cottage and then on to Old Government House for a one hour tour.


Group at Spit Bridge Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Water dragon Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Group overlooking harbour Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Joan and Lesley Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo


Views Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	More views Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Betty and Lesley with Camp Leaders, Joan and Bob Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Ailza and Bev relax in historic Parramatta Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo