Due to the closure of the programmed Jack Evans Track in the BLUE MOUNTAINS NP, a substitute walk in the closer and hopefully safer BEROWRA VALLEY RP was chosen - the 'Cherrybrook Lakes to Refuge Rock and Natural Arch walk via Blackwattle Trail, and return.'
Eleven walkers met at 9:00am in Macquarie Drive Cherrybrook, and set off after a short briefing. The route first followed the Blackwattle Trail where there are stunning yellow wattles and Heath Banksia.
Then high above the familiar Callicoma Track in the valley to our south, the walk followed more trails to emerge opposite Philip Place.
Leaving the final management trail alongside the houses, the track entered a woodland of Angophora, Red Bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera) and the Broad-leaved Scribbly Gums (Eucalyptus haemastoma), together with a myriad of different Autumn flower varieties. The area is crisscrossed with tracks made both to service the electrical power lines and their associated towers and to provide access for fire fighting vehicles.
We continued on, coming eventually to the end of the high spur between Pyles and Berowra Creeks.We had arrived at the large, flat rock outcrop, the western edge of 'Refuge Rock' with extensive views up north and then east to Westleigh.
Morning tea was enjoyed looking out to Tunks Ridge and Dural and luckily, without the hint of rain.
REFUGE ROCK is an outcrop of several hectares mostly free of large trees and vegetation, but with colourful flowers - one of the walkers, Phyllis discovering the Peach-flowered Tea-tree.The natural feature of REFUGE ROCK came to be used as a safe haven by firefighters when carrying out controlled burns—hence its name.
After exploring Refuge Rock, we made our way on to NATURAL ARCH (aka 'London Bridge'), with Flannel Flowers and bright yellow Goodenia. Geologist Don Wo elaborated on the geological causes of the long sandstone narrow chasms and 'Natural Arch'.
Lunch was... in the dry !... on the top of 'Natural Arch'.
Our return was firstly via two bush tracks, on which more Autumn flowers were enjoyed and photographed, then out to the management trails, where the was a brief spell of light rain.
Coffee was enjoyed at The Brook ( with cakes. thank you Phyllis!) at the edge of Cherrybrook Shopping Centre.
'..eleven walkers met at 9:00am in Macquarie Drive Cherrybrook,'
On the return bush track, a very nice bit of bush, and the small details that come along as well.
Above: Photographer Don Wo tells us that
'Morning Tea was on a soft rock'. (Refuge Rock).
Left: Walkers had lunch on top of Natural Arch,
whose rock is firm.
Leader Sue S checks all the walkers through the narrow chasms that are an access to Natural Arch.
.
Under Natural Arch.
Strange thing,the last HVB track always ends at a coffee shop.
And below: Sue has sent a special portfolio of the fifteen variety of wildflowers seen on the walk:
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15
1 FLAX-LEAVED WATTLE Acacia linifolia; 2 CARROT TOPS Platysace lanceolata; 3 PRICKLY MOSES'Acacia ulicifolia; 4 SILVER BANKSIA Bansia marginata;
5 MOUNTAIN DEVIL Lambertia formosa; 6 PEACH-FLOWERED TEA-TREE Leptospermum squarrosum; 7 FLANNEL FLOWER Actinotus helianthi;
8 VARABLE-LEAVED GOODENIA Goodenia heterophylla; 9 PRICKLY MOSES' Acacia ulicifolia; 10 BACON AND EGGS Dillwynia floribunda
11 HEATH BANKSIA Banksia ericifolia; 12 OLD MAN BANKSIA Banksia serrata; 13 HEATH BANKSIA Banksia ericifolia;
14 VARIABLE BOSSIAEA Bossiaea heterophylla; 15 SUNSHINE WATTLE Acacia terminalis.
For the record:
Sue S and Vreni lead Phyllis, Kas, Dawn, Wendy P, Pragati, Peter R, Lyn, Don and 2nd time visitor Rick .
Many thanks to First Aid Officer Kas and Tail Enders Dawn and Don Wo.
Words: Sue S
Photos: Sue S 1,6,12; Don Wo 2,7; Pete 3,4,5,6,8,9; Vreni 10, Rick 11.