Ten walkers set out on this perfect winter's day for this circuit walk in Garigal National Park, replacing the programmed walk which had to cancelled due to track work. Starting at Acron Oval we headed towards the Cascades, turning off onto the Bare Creek Track & then the Heath Track up to the top of the hill near the Belrose Microwave Tower. From here we headed out on a very muddy fire trail to the Rocky Hill Lookout for morning tea. Two of our group waited at the first vantage point while the rest of us went a bit further to the top of Rocky Hill where we had great views towards the city at one spot and over the valley towards St Ives at the other.
The track was still very wet Wattle (acacia longifolia) in full bloom along the track
Morning tea at Rocky Hill Lookout Grevillea speciosa and Boronia ledifolia in profusion
Grevillea buxifolia - 'Grey Spider Flower' Grevillea speciosa Epacris longiflora - 'Native Fucshia' Hibbertia stricta - Erect Guinea Flower
Pool near The Cascades Bossiaea scolopendria Bee on an Eriostemon australasius
Retracing our steps, we then headed through some suburban streets of Belrose before joining the also very muddy and in places very indistinct Frenchs Creek track back to the Cascades for lunch. Frenchs Creek track winds downhill beside the creek and is a pretty bush track along a fern filled glen but has been affected by the heavy rain over the past few months. The pace was slower through here but we all made it safely to our beautiful lunch spot and rest beside the Cascades in the sun.
Fern trees along Frenchs Creek Lunch at The Cascades
The Cascades Crossing Frenchs Creek at the Cascades
It was then only a short but rather steep climb back up the hill to our cars at the Oval.
We enjoyed a relaxing coffee break at Pattisons before heading home. Thank you to everyone who came along.
Walkers: Barbara C, Polly, Celia, Hazel, Steve, Claude & Margaret, Pragati, Nick S, Deidre.
Leaders: Celia and Steve.
Photos: Celia(5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12); Deidre (4, 6, 15); Nick S (1, 2, 3, 13, 14, 16, 17)
