A beautifully clear, but chilly, winter morning saw 20 walkers assemble at Tempe station for this urban walk, the central part of which was new to HVB.
Crossing Cooks River just by the station, the group took the Cooks River Trail northwards up the western bank of the river, initially through mangroves and then multiple parklands to Undercliff & on to the Lang Rd Footbridge to the Dulwich Hill side of the river, where morning tea was taken in Ewen Park at the start of The Greenway.
Co-leader Sue F stands up to address the walkers 
And the walkers on the western side of Cooks River
Crossing Cooks River just by the station, the group took the Cooks River Trail northwards up the western bank of the river, initially through mangroves and then multiple parklands to Undercliff & on to the Lang Rd Footbridge to the Dulwich Hill side of the river, where morning tea was taken in Ewen Park at the start of The Greenway.
An artwork, not a walker 
Morning Tea and a smile for photographer Christine Mc
After a little street walking, the route entered The Greenway proper, close to the Dulwich Hill public transport interchange.
The Greenway is a newly developed cycle- & walkway from Cooks River to Iron Cove, running alongside the Dulwich Hill to Central L1 Light Rail line (previously the disused Darling Harbour Freight line). The route is essentially flat with wide shared pathways.
Along the way, parks & playgrounds have been extensively refurbished, most road crossings have been replaced with underpasses and various artworks (including murals in some of the underpasses) provide multiple points of interest for walkers (not so much for fast-moving cyclists!).
Artwork seen along the path ... 
... and in a tunnel
As the day warmed up, a stop was made at Johnson Park to remove heavy clothing &, by chance, to meet Tim's daughter-in-law and twin young grandchildren who live nearby.
The next points of interest were the previous Waratah & Mungo Scott flour mills, both of which have been repurposed as residential complexes.
The walk then followed Hawthorne Creek on a new, & impressive, suspended walkway, to a new underpass under Parramatta Rd. From here the walk entered familiar territory for HVB walkers as it passed through the lovely grove of trees on the way to Marian St, Leichhardt, and on down to join the Bay Run where Hawthorne Creek enters Iron Cove.
The lunch spot was on the also-refurbished pedestrian walkway, which used to be the old Lilyfield Rd prior to the City West Link being built on a new bridge alongside many years ago.
Trams 
Posing before lunch
After lunch, it was a 5-minute stroll to coffee, ....
And coffee!
.....sitting in the sun at La Montage (previously the APIA Sports Club), and finally a short walk to Leichhardt North Light Rail station & onwards by the tram to Central station and transport home.
It was a Grand Day Out!
The walkers were:
Michael & Sue F (Leaders), Anne G, Audrey, Bert, Christine G, Christine McA, Cleona, Don B, Grace, Kurt, Leah, Marilyn, Mary, Ros, Steve, Tim, Vreni , Wendy P & Visitor Natalie.
Our thanks, as always, to Mr Red Top Don as Tail Ender & to Mary as First Aider.
Words: Michael F
Photos: Christine McA