A crisp sunny morning greeted the twenty seven walkers for today’s new walk to the program Cherrybook Metro to Castle Hill Metro via Cumberland State Forest and Bidjigal Reserve. The Bidjigal name honors the Bidjigal clan of the Darug nation, the original indigenous custodians who lived off the land.
Leaving Cherrybrook Metro it was a short walk down Castle Hill Road to Cumberland State Forest where we joined the Palm Gully Track to the Visitors Centre. Continuing on the road around the back of the nursery we were soon at Oratava Avenue where we exited the forest walking down Oratava Avenue to Aiken Road where we entered Richard Webb Reserve followed by a short walk crossing Blue Gum Creek to the Murri-Yanna Track. We were now in the Bidjigal Reserve. This section of the Murri-Yanna Track descends gently along Darling Mills Creek and past sandstone overhangs high above the track. We stopped for morning tea on a rock ledge across the creek. The Murri-Yanna Track continues along Darling Mills Creek, which is one of the two main tributaries of the Upper Parramatta River. Murri-Yana means “walking track” or “long walk”.
Walkers gather outside Cherrybrook Metro Heading down the Palm Gully Track to the Visitors Centre
Our arrival at the Bidjigal Reserve and the start of the Murri-Yanna Track. Is it nearly morning tea?
........and twenty minutes later very happy walkers were at the morning tea stop!
Continuing on after morning tea we turned left following the combined Murri-Yanna/Burraga Tracks tracks crossing and re-crossing the Darling Mills Creek. The track passes some sheltered rainforest gullies and Coachwood trees as well as passing by an enormous rock overhang which is a local landmark known locally as the Aboriginal cave as the shelter was apparently described in times of early European occupation.
Onwards in single file while treading with care
Leader Deidre couldn't pass by the enormous rock overhang without taking a group photo
At the junction of these two tracks we leave the Murri-Yanna track turning right following the Burraga Track and the Excelsior Creek until the track heads away from Excelsior Creek to join the Platypus Track passing below the playing fields of Eric Mobbs Reserve and lunch. Burraga is the Darug word for “bandicoot”.
The track crossed Excelsior Creek by either stepping stones or bridge
The last stepping stones as we headed up to the Platypus Track with Tail End Charlie Don B making sure we all crossed safely and two Tail Enders
Lunchtime discussion Intrepid leader and helper
After lunch we continued downhill on the Platypus Track. This section of the track was rocky and eroded before reaching a walkway and stepping stones across Coachwood Creek. Turning left away from the Platypus Track we soon take an unnamed track on the right. This track was steep with some rock scrambling until we exited into Candlebush Reserve on Candlebush Crescent. We then had an interesting 2km street walk up to Castle Hill and coffee! XS Espresso Old Northern Road Castle Hill was well received by all walkers as we relaxed either inside or outside enjoying their refreshments.
Walkers relaxing either inside or outside enjoying their well earned refreshments
As will all new walks the first recce was undertaken by Mary, Ros and Deidre last year to decide whether to put this walk on the program. Subsequent recces were undertaken by Deidre, Cleona and Mary to finalise the walk. A BIG ‘thank you’ to Ros and Mary for assisting with the recces which made today’s walk a great success.
Thank you to all walkers for another great day out with HVB. After lunch we had fun with Lyndy’s singalong as we walked back to Castle Hill.
Walking with Deidre and Cleona were Anne G, Anne R, Audrey, Bert, Carolyn, Chris B, Chris G, Christine M, Claude P, David S, Debbie, Don B, Drina, Grace, Kas, Kerri-Anne, Lyndy, Margaret P, Mary, Robyn Ma, Tim, Vreni, Wendy P and Visitors Christal and Eri.
Words: Deidre
Photos: David S (1, 5, 7, 8,14), Drina (2, 15, 16), Christine M (3, 4, 12), Audrey (6, 13), Deidre (9-11, 17-19), Margaret P (20)