Day out at Le Perouse

I had such a wonderful day out in Le Perouse with Meet Up.  The day stated on a cultural note and then we did a spectacular hike along the coast.

Custom's Tower

 I never seem to grow tired of photographing this tower in Le Perouse. It was built in 1822 with views of the entry to Botany Bay. Troops were stationed in the watchtower to keep watch for smugglers. From 1833 until 1903, the watchtower took on the role of a customs house. The tower is the oldest structure in Botany Bay and the oldest customs house in New South Wales.

 

Bare Island

Our first stop was the military fort on Bare Island, built in 1885.  This island fortress can be gained access from the mainland by a hundred year old wooden foot bridge.  Bare Island was part of the traditional land of the Gweagal and Kameygal Aboriginal tribes. In 1770, it was described as ‘a small bare island’ by early explorer, Lieutenant James Cook, hence its current name.

Congwong Beach

Next stop was this beautiful beach with some lovely sculptured rocks.  I was tempted for a swim but got sidetracked with my photography and then lost the group. I ran to catch up, took a wrong turn and ended on a nudist beach!!  Needless to say, I didn't take any photos there.

A beautiful hike along the coast

Thankfully I caught up with the group eventually and I'm so very glad I did.  The coastal scenery on the 12 km walk we did was absolutely breathtaking.  I can't believe I haven't done this walk before!  It's destined to become one of my favourite coastal walks in Sydney.

As usual, I marvelled at all the beautiful flowers along the way.

We came across these fortifications that were used as defence during World War 2.  I always love exploring old buildings like this, and some of them had the best sea views in Sydney.

Of course, no hike is complete without a leap and I managed to recruit someone to share in the fun!

We came across this cemetery, used primarily as a quarantine cemetery from the 1880’s.  It is home to over 2000 graves.

On return to Le Perouse, we stopped to watch the reptile show which takes place every Sunday. We were shown lots of scary snakes to watch out for on our hikes!

A small group of us went for a bite to eat and them ambled back to Bare Island to enjoy the amazing rock formations, and in my case, do a final leap!

Joyce, Maria, Emily, Siva

The ice cream van at Le Perouse is an institution (at least for me!) and I wasn't leaving without a double with nuts and flake!!  I left happy.  What a great day out with lovely people.

Jo wins trophy at photography workshop

... and what a cracker of a shot it is.

Wingello State Forest and Morton National Park

A lovely weekend camping and hiking in The Wingello Forest on Saturday and Sunday.  On Sunday afternoon, we passed through Bundanoon to visit The Morton National Park where we did a beautiful, short but steep walk to base of The Fairy Bower Waterfall.

Highlights included ...

• Lovely people. Jo and Wendy always seem to attract a laid back, friendly group.
• Hiking along a road with pine trees on our left, and indigenous Eucalyptus forest on our right.
• Beautiful spring flowers still out in force, including some beautiful red ones I'd never seen before.
• The tranquil camp site set in the pine forest with light filtering through.
• Wendy's delicious burritos - she always makes the best camp food.
• Two wonderful encounters with red bellied black snakes, including one swimming across a lake and showing off it's beautiful red belly.
• Yellow tailed black cockatoos in the forest close to camp and getting to photograph them in the air.
• Beautiful cloud formations on Saturday evening.
• Adventurous bundu bashing and clamboring down the walls of canyon to reach a pristine river for a refreshing swim.  Well done, Joe, for finding a way down!!  I felt like an early explorer, going where no-one had gone before.
• An invigorating swim in a beautiful pool at the top of the Fairy Bower Falls. Getting munched by a couple of hungry leeches was a small price to pay!
• A gorgeous walk with great views to the base of the falls. The old forest trees with their gnarled truck and roots were stunning.
• A delicious pizza in Bundanoon.  Food always seems to taste particularly amazing after a camping trip.

All in all, another fantastic weekend!! 

First day hike (Wingello Forest)

Pine forest on our right, Eucaplytus on the left.

Nice wide paths so we could chat while we walked.

Both red flowers above were new for me. So gorgeous.

Nature sure does love yellow.

Some lovely textures on the trees.

What would a pine forest be without pine cones?

Evening stroll to find yellow tailed black cockatoos

Yellow tailed black cockatoos that proved hard to get close to.  Thank goodness for my 400 mm lens.

Beautiful cloud formations.

Camp life

The camp site was set in the trees. A very tranquil place.

Second day hike (Wingello Forest)

Here we are in a beautiful and very secluded river after venturing off path and climbing down a canyon to get to it.  The water was gorgeous.

How beautiful is this snakes red belly?  I'm seen 5 snakes on my last 4 hiking trips!  Not that I'm complaining, I love them.

Hiking to Fairy Bower falls (Morton National Park)

The beautiful rock pool at the top of Fairy Bower Falls. The water was seriously cold!

Hiking down to the base of the falls.

At the base of the falls, enjoying some pristine rain forest.

Wollstonecraft to Lane Cove walk, ending with Live Jazz

Wow, I discovered gorgeous parts of my backyard tonight that I had no idea existed on this great 6 km walk with Meet Up.  The undoubted highlight was close views of a Lyrebird out in the open on the rocks as we headed into Gore Creek reserve.  I literally twitched with excitement!  No photos unfortunately as I didn't have the right lens.

Beautiful views across to Berry Island.

The lovely Maj-Britt

The adventurous way to cross a road, through a large drain pipe!

Great live jazz in Lane Cove

Hike details

Starting at Wollstonecraft Station, we took the Gore Cove track to Vista Street in Greenwich. We crossed Greenwich via a number of streets, before heading into Gore Creek Reserve and Lane Cove Bushland park to Lane Cove shopping village.