Lindfield - Echo Point, Roseville and return

We met at The Seven Little Australians Park (Lindfield) - this was named in honour of Ethel Turner who was living in nearby Werona Avenue when she wrote this ( and other) books.

We made our way down the steps then came to the official start of the Two Creeks Walk - the signpost informed us that it was 6 kms one way. We went under the Eastern Arterial Road via the tunnel - always an hilarious adventure!

Our path then took us beside the Gordon Creek. Further along there is what appears to be a permanent detour - this required a climb. We passed through a coachwood forest and when we were lower down, a Sydney sandstone gully. After recent rain, the bush looked lush and there were many grass trees in this area.

Walking beside the upper reaches of Middle Harbour, we could look across to Davidson Park.

Our lunch spot was Echo Point, Roseville - Denise’s photo shows Middle Harbour looking eastwards.

Our return walk was pleasant and although the day was cloudy, the temperature was quite mild and no rain fell.

Berowra to Mt Kuring-gai via Apple Tree Bay

Due to lack of work on the track, our 11km walk became not moderate, but moderate plus. We found the track could be negotiated, but it was made more difficult by the need to clamber over or under fallen trees. The downs and ups sections were not particularly difficult.

The bush was very beautiful and our morning tea and lunch breaks were both taken at spots with lovely water views (see Di's photo)

Just after completing the main ascent, we made two short detours – the first to view a really beautiful cave, and the second to the memorial for the four firefighters whose lives were lost (in 2000)when they were trapped in the valley. Unfortunately neither of these detours is signposted , so local knowledge is required to view them.

Victory Walk Springwood

Faulconbridge to Springwood.

This was our only Blue Mountains walk scheduled for this year.

Luckily, the weather was quite mild for May, and there was no sign of rain.

The majority of the 17 in the group travelled by train - some boarding at Central, others at Strathfield. All enjoyed the chance to catch up on the previous week’s activities.

We alighted at Faulconbridge and met those who had travelled by car. We set off on the Victory Track - the start is a very short distance along the road, on the southern side, walking east.

The track is a reasonably steep descent into the Sassafras Valley - not difficult, but those with walking sticks found them useful. It is beautiful bushland - not a lot of flowers, but lovely trees, shrubs and ferns, and a creek in the valley. We passed the Clarinda Falls. Lunch was eaten sitting under a ledge - a gentle trickle of water coming down through one of the huge rocks. We continued along the valley and then came the “up” bit - groups of well formed steps and plenty of places to stop for a drink on the way. A short walk on streets to the station - some beautiful autumn leafed trees showing all their glory.

The train timetable left us time to purchase a takeaway coffee, and then an enjoyable return train trip.

The successful use of public transport has led us to think that perhaps more mountain walks could be done using this method. We would, of course, need to choose those whose entry and finish points are within reasonable distance of a station.