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ANGOPHORAS IN THE KATANDRA RESERVE
It was a lovely sunny day when 17 walkers set out from the lower carpark of Katandra Reserve down into a beautiful palm filled valley! Katandra is the aboriginal word meaning song of birds. This 232 ha reserve is located north-east of Rumbalara Reserve & contains one of the largest rainforest remnants left in the city of Gosford.
Some walkers listening to the leader's briefing
We followed Waterman’s Walk to Seymour Pond. Here a natural creek was dammed in the early 1900’s & used for the farm water supply. The land on the southern side of Seymour Pond was used to grow vegetables for the Sydney market. We followed Waterman’s Walk across a number of small bridges around the pond & came back to the picnic tables where we stopped for morning tea.
Disappearing into the forest No longer the local water supply Morning tea, using our own water
Deep in the forest - vines, bridges, rainforest vegetation
Afterwards we proceeded along Toomey Walk & viewed an enormous Turpentine tree & a magnificent Strangler Fig!.
Roots of the strangler fig Group admiring the huge turpentine A leader for scale! Fungus growing on turpentine
After quite a long uphill climb we finally came to St Johns Lookout & picnic area where we enjoyed lunch & had a lovely view over Matcham, Erina Heights & Terrigal.
On the climb Plenty of steps
Time for a spell! Back to work
The reward - magnificcent view from St Johns Lookout
Lunching walkers Lunching kookaburra
Lunched walkers - typical group photo - backs to the view, faces in shadow!
Following our lunch we headed downhill along Graves Walk back to our cars.
We descended through this lovely forest
As our choice of café was unfortunately full most of us ended up in The Point Café in the Gosford Regional Gallery at East Gosford, while a few dispersed to other cafes. An enjoyable day!
Walkers: Aileen, Annette & David, Diana L, Don B, Don Wo, Ida, John M, Lea, Lilian, Lydia & Tim, Nick, Peter T, Pragati.
Leaders: Christine & Wendy
Photos: Wendy (17,18); Christine McA (5,7); Peter T (3,4,11,12,14,15); Don Wo (1,2,6,9,10,11,13,16,19,20)