No doubt heartily encouraged by the forecast of 30° and strong north-westerly winds, eighteen plus walkers turned up at Hornsby station at 6:45am – who knew? An almost two-hour train trip in a definitely NOT ‘quiet carriage’ took us to Adamstown and the start of the walk by 9am. Before our departure, Barb gave us a ‘welcome to country’ because, as it happens, her maternal Great-Great-Grandfather Thomas Adams (1819-1904) purchased some 54 acres of land in the area and it was ultimately named Adamstown after him – again, who knew?
A steady uphill grade from Adamstown on the Fernleigh Track (the former Belmont branch rail line), through the Fernleigh tunnel and by the Fernleigh loop got us to Kahibah and the intersection with the Great North Walk (GNW), which took us into Glenrock SCA and the Yuelarbah track to our morning tea stop by Flaggy Creek.
Historic curved railway tunnel under the Pacific Highway
Morning tea spot..........Flaggy Creek
Suitably fortified, we continued on the Yuelarbah track until we met the coast at Glenbrook Lagoon. On this section of track, Chris McA managed to sidetrack one of the leaders, but after he was found alive and well by Clive, the walk proceeded northwards along the beach to Merewether Headland and our second exciting event of the morning – high tide! Strange to tell, when the leaders did the recce (at low tide and calm seas) they encountered no problem whatsoever negotiating the rock-shelf platform at Merewether Headland. However, on the day of the walk (at high tide and with big seas) it was a different situation – and once again – who knew? Suffice to say, the passage around the headland was eventually negotiated – but not without much time taken, wet feet (for some) and some new-found rock scrambling expertise (for others).
.....and some took the low route and some took the high route
.....or waded through the middle
After Merewether baths we joined the wide paved coastal pathway heading to Newcastle and continued northwards to Dixon Park for lunch, passed Bar Beach (where three walkers tried a quick dip in the ocean – very rough seas, apparently) and onwards to the newly opened ‘War Memorial Skywalk’ (with fabulous coastal views) before passing through King Edward Park and stopping at the historical Obelisk.
Looking south towards Bar Beach then Merewether Beach.......
View from top of the War Memorial Skywalk.......
In something of a complete change of pace for a Hill View walk, we then inspected the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral of Newcastle with Don giving the walkers a very interesting insight into the building of the cathedral over many years (from 1883) before it was finally completed (in 1979) – and the fascinating 26-year involvement of the American Architect John Horbury Hunt in its design and construction.
Unfortunately, with time lost on the walk and the pressing need to catch the 3:17pm train, the much anticipated post-walk coffee had to be in ‘take-away’ mode – but at least all 18 of us caught the train safely back to Hornsby – arriving there at 5:22pm after a most interesting and eventful day!
Perfect day for beach walking......
...... or on a bush track
The beauty of nature......a beetle on the beach and a water dragon spotted on the Fernleigh Track
Don B and John G led sixteen walkers Ros G, Pragati, Lyn, Sheila, Polly, Barbara, Vreni, Anne R, Chris McA, Annette, Wendy C, Kurt, Guenter, John M, Clive, Nick.
Words by John G
Photos by Anne R (1, 3, 5, 6, 12, 14) Wendy C (2, 7, 10, 11) Chris McA (4, 8, 13) Ros (9, 15)