Despite the dire weather forecast of an 80% chance of showers and 2-8mm of rain late morning and afternoon storms, an amazing total of 28 people turned up for the plus walk! After trains to Sutherland, a long string of walkers set out in almost blue skies through the streets of Sutherland and Kirrawee, before entering Royal National Park and descending through the bush to join the Saville Creek track. Luckily, the morning tea stop had enough rocks that even 28 walkers could fine one to sit on. By morning tea’s end the skies were sufficiently dark that Kurt put on the full rain outfit of parka and overpants which, fortunately, had the desired effect of keeping all rain away for the rest of the day until we were all safely in the train and on our way home – hooray! Temptation Creek proved no temptation at all – much too shallow for a dip – but the steep climb up the rubbly fire trail got the pulse rate beating instead. A couple of interesting lookouts along the ridge gave us views of the Hacking River and a distant view of Bundeena and Port Hacking (named by Bass and Flinders in April 1796 – a mere 220 years ago – almost to the day).
A long descent from the RNP office to Audley Weir delivered us to our lunch stop at the interestingly-named ‘Bus Stop Flat’ via the Honeymoon Track – constructed during the 1930’s depression and so named because newlyweds honeymooning at the Allambie guesthouse at Audley used the track to get to the guesthouse from the railway station at Royal National Park (the platform of which still remains). 
After a pleasant lunch in pleasant surrounds, the return journey (what comes down must go up) from Audley traversed the many stone steps of the very steep Bridle Track to again reach the ridge at the top. Having a drink-stop back near the RNP office, one member discovered (on a rock half-covered in scrub) a bronze plaque celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the Royal National Park on 26 April 1979 (Originally called National Park, it was only renamed Royal National Park in 1954 on the occasion of the Queen’s visit).
From there it was ever so gently uphill as we followed the old railway line towards Loftus, deviating on a network of bush tracks to reach the only set of traffic lights on the busy Princes Highway which allowed the walkers to cross in safety. Back in Sutherland of course it was coffee time and with such a
large group of walkers we were even-handed in sharing our custom between two coffee shops. The walk was billed nominally in the walks program as 14 kms – so it was with great disappointment that the leaders found out (via Ron S’s GPS thingy) that the walk was in fact only 13.98 kms. Leader John G steadfastly argued that the missing 20 metres was in fact the distance from the coffee shop to the station and that no HVB members had been shortchanged!
Above on the right, a view of Kangaroo Creek from the Bridle Track and below, 3 types of fungus observed on the walk
The delicate, Native Fuchsia Epacris longiflora ... ... and a real Aussie battler Angophora costata
"The kookaburra is a mug shot of the bird that got Nick's sandwich - in case the police are looking for the suspect!!" - WC
"Fine to be paid by the estate" - DW
On the right "The easy way home" - DW
For the record, leaders John G and Barbara were followed by Bert, Nick, Kurt, Maurice, Robyn F, John B, a visitor, Helen A, Wendy C, a visitor, Mary, Margaret P, Lyn, Annette, Jill, Rhondda, Kas, Claude, Chris B, a visitor, Ron S, a visitor, JL and Clive.
Words by John G; photos by Wendy C(1, 3, 4, 6, 7) and Don W(2, 5, 8, 9). And yes, there are photos of the walkers. A folio is in a separate report.