Eight plus walkers gathered at Artarmon Station, several of us starting the day with a caffeine hit from a nearby café, before heading off on this delightful city walk. We followed a mix of bike/pedestrian paths, parklands, and bush tracks along a ‘green corridor’ taking us down to Long Bay, Middle Harbour – through Artarmon Reserve, Hallstrom Reserve, Flat Rock Gully and Tunks Park. Despite starting ‘beside’ the railway line and the Warringah Freeway, even the beginning of this walk manages to feel far from the hustle and bustle (apart from those bikes whizzing past anyway!). One of the (unexpected for some) highlights was seeing Northbridge (aka Cammeray Bridge, Suspension Bridge, Long Gully Bridge) from beneath framed by a brilliantly blue, cloud scattered sky.
Artwork on the track from Artamon Station The Cammeray Bridge
Although much of the rest of the walk is along streets, the views over Middle Harbour are superb (especially on such a glorious spring day).
We paused only briefly at Folly Point for morning tea as over/underwhelmed by the company of two rambunctious and rather wet dogs,
Morning tea: The leaders gave up the seats ... ... all had the view
At Left:
Getting around Willoughby Bay with the help of
Stepping stones ..
And top:
... there would have been another way
[We] then skirted alongside Willoughby Bay, Quakers Hat Bay, out to Beauty Point and down beside the water to Spit Reserve.
Quite apart from the splendid water views, the jacarandas were absolutely stunning.
As the tide was high, we walked up along Parriwi Road (offering sweeping views across Middle Harbour to South Head) to Chinaman’s Beach to our lunch spot in the shady Rosherville Reserve (where once there were market gardens and salt pans)..
Parriwi Head (Rosherville) Lighthouse and Balmoral Beach and the smell of coffee
As the tide was high, we walked up along Parriwi Road (offering sweeping views across Middle Harbour to South Head) to Chinaman’s Beach to our lunch spot in the shady Rosherville Reserve (where once there were market gardens and salt pans). Then for the final up and over Wy-ar-gine Point to Balmoral Beach,
for a well-earned coffee/ice cream at before wending our way homewards via bus and train.
Thank you, fellow walkers for your convivial company and also mother nature for gifting us such perfect weather.
Leaders: Celia and Polly, joined by Claude, Kas, Cleona, Hazel, Nick S., and Wendy
Words: Polly
Photos: 'Stepping stones across the creek' from Nick, all others from Hazel