Lake near the beginning of the Mt Wondabyne/Rocky Ponds Walk
Under threatening skies, 10 walkers set off for Rocky Ponds and the Icicles from Woy Woy Road in Brisbane Waters NP. On a fire trail softened by recent rain, we turned onto the Wondabyne Track for a detour to Wondabyne trig where we had morning tea about an hour into the walk. Magnificent panoranamic views made the scrambling climb worthwhile.
View from Mt Wondabyne Trig
Morning Tea at Mt Wondabyne Mt Wondabyne Trig Point
Returning to the main track we faced several kilometres of fire trail with intermittent showers but spirits remained high and we were rewarded by a rich variety of bird life which included Dusky wood swallows, a lyre bird, Eastern Spinebills, a large raptor (probably a sea eagle) hovering above us and the usual honeyeaters, wattle birds and lorikeets.
Leader Steve and bird of prey in the distance Bird of prey up close
The turn off to Rocky Ponds led us onto an indistinct, overgrown track in stark contrast to the expansive fire trail. We reached Rocky Ponds after much ducking, weaving and some cursing. The heavens opened as we descended the track next to the lower reaches of the Ponds but the view was again worth the effort.
Rocky Ponds and Leader Steve above Rocky Ponds just before the rain
........and the heavens have opened!
Waterfall and one of the Rocky Ponds
Admiring the "view" over the Hawkesbury from Rocky Ponds and the view over the Hawkesbury from Rocky Ponds taken on the recce the week before
Given the rain, we decided against ascending to the Icicles as the recce had shown the track to be virtually non-existent and the climb steep. Also, the view would have been limited by the low cloud.
. .....and this is the view we missed out on from the Icicles! Photo taken on the recce
Flowering Gum 'Summer Snow' Corymbia
Native Fuschia Epacris longiflora Hairpin Banksia Banksia spinulosa
The rain stopped as we lunched but hit us more times as we made our way back the way we had come. Our return was a damp trudge but we remained cheerful and arrived back at the cars a little foot-weary, quite a bit wet and ready for coffee after around 19 kilometres of effort. 
Return on the Rocky Ponds Track - scribbly gum beauty A welcome drink stop ............and heading home on the fire trail
Wendy C and Steve led eight walkers Nick B, Polly, Martin, Celia, Hazel, Bert, Barbara and Kurt who was tail end charlie.
First Aiders: Barbara and Bert
Words by Steve
Photos by Barbara (1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13, 18, 20), Wendy C (3, 4, 6, 7, 12, 14-16, 17, 19, 22), Steve (10, 21)