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With the temperature set to rise in smokey Sydney, nine Plus walkers met at Hornsby Station ready to catch the 7:23am CCN train to Wondabyne for the walk in Brisbane Waters NP to Pindar Cave and the waterfall. Unusually, men outnumbered the women on this occasion. Unfortunately, the rail travel didn't run to the schedule. The arrival of our train kept getting pushed back, and once on it, it moved at a snail's pace before slowing to a complete stop. Eventually, we were informed that we were actually very lucky, because we were going to wait a further 12 minutes to allow the Prime Minister the Honourable Anthony Albanese and his entourage to speed past us on an XPT heading north! We were further delayed by urgent trackwork at Cowan, before arriving at Wondabyne Station 35 minutes later than planned. Eager to get going we headed up the very steep uphill narrow track from the platform, past filtered views of Gosford Quarry, which was in operation, very noisy and producing a cloud of dust. Having got our breath back at the top, we continued up the wide Rifle Range Service Track until we reached the well-hidden and unmarked track towards Pindar Cave.
This track, with numerous varieties of colourful spring flowers soon became a single file track. Much of the time we were pushing past the bushes, ducking under branches, taking care to avoid tripping on the tree roots, stones and rocks that are along this degraded path. After a short stop while leader Hazel removed a spider that had crept into her trousers and was causing some pain, we continued on past tessellated rock platforms until we reached Mt Pindar lookout. We enjoyed morning tea here while taking in the view towards Dangar Island on the Hawkesbury River.
View over Gosford Quarry Magnificent tree at top of climb from Wondabyne
Eriostemon australasius Ricinocarpos pinifolius Waxlip orchid Boronia serrulata 
Xanthorrhoea australis Leptospermum Tetratheca juncea Darwinia fasicularis 
Actinotus heleanthi Kunzea capitata Conospermum longifolium
View of Dangar Is from Mt Pindar Lookout Morning tea at Mt Pindar
We continued on the track, which involved clambering down between rocks and walking through extremely fragrant areas filled with 'Sydney Rose', until we reached Pindar pool. The water level was very low, and you wouldn't want to rely on it if you were camping nearby.
Pindar Pool Approaching Pindar CaveReaching Pindar Cave, we admired the 50m wide sandstone overhang which looked most impressive and about 15m deep. The roof is black from many campfires. Just over another 600m or so further on, having passed a large grass tree in the middle of the track, we arrived at the waterfall where we had lunch. Six of us explored the winding track down to the bottom of the waterfall while some Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos flew overhead. Although there was only a trickle of water on this sunny day, we were intrigued by a tree growing out of the rock.
Pindar Cave, with walker for scale Room for plenty of walkers And a dramatic ceiling! 
Tree growing in rock? Lunch was welcomeThe return to Wondabyne Station along the same route was punctuated by lots of water stops as it was rather hot by this time. Luckily, we were shaded for the majority of the walk. Three walkers decided to wait for the first train back to Sydney, while the other six hailed the first train we could catch to Woy Woy, where we rehydrated, relaxed and conversed over coffee outside the Lunch Bar. We then headed back home from Woy Woy by train.
Mural at Woy Woy StationWords: Hazel
Leaders: Hazel & Pragati
Walkers: Alan, Celia (who also accompanied us on the recce), Dae, Nick S, Louis, Polly, Rick
First aider & Tail-end-Charlie: Rick
Photos: Dae (22); Louis (17,18); Rick (14,20,21,24,25); Hazel (1-13,15,16,19,23)