Beautiful spring day at Manly Dam
Starting the Manly Dam Circuit at Allambie Heights was a refreshing change and had the advantage of free parking and an excellent coffee shop!
The weather was kind with only mild heat and humidity reduced by a refreshing breeze, especially from the late morning.
We met at Allambie Heights tennis courts and negotiated the numerous local tracks to descend to the Manly Dam Circuit, turning right at the junction to do an anticlockwise walk. This also was an appreciated change from most previous HVB walks there. Things look more interesting when going in a different direction!
Morning Tea at the Manly Creek waterfall 
Manly Creek waterfall
Eastern Water Dragon 
...and a close up.
Morning tea was appreciated at the scenic waterfall before we proceeded along Manly Creek to the beginning of the Nature Walk Track. In this area, native flowers were numerous and Patersonia (native iris) and flannel flowers were especially abundant.
On the track beside Manly Creek 
Patersonia and flannel flowers
The steep track up the hill was matched by a steep descent to return to the main trail, picnic area and the dam wall which we crossed to continue on the northern side of the dam.
Lunch was enjoyed beside the dam with a good view of the new boardwalk on the southern shore.
Lunch spot beside Manly Dam 
Lunch time Kunzea
Waterlilies in the dam 
Descending the Nature Trail
The return to Allambie Heights involved a fairly moderate ascent through heathland (with more flannel flowers) and then attractive woodland before the last steeper fire trail took us back to our starting point and an enjoyable coffee experience nearby.
Crossing a Many Creek tributary 
Woodland on the northern side of Manly Creek 
Ferns on the fire trail ascent to Allambie Heights
Walkers before the last descent back up to cars
Leaders: Barbara R & Deidre
Walkers: Carol, Carolyn, Celia, Cleona, Hazel, Leah, Sophie, Sue Kn, Suzanne and Wendy.
Thank you to Sophie as First Aider and Wendy as Tail End
Words: Barbara R
Photos: Barbara R, Leah, Hazel
More Spring Bounty
Carpenter Bee 
Purple Flags 
Flannel Flowers
Trigger Plant Stylidium
Leah 121318, 6120, 6123 Hazel 4969 Hazel 4932,