70 Dobroyd Head, Tania Park, Arabanoo Lookout

Dobroyd Head -  
After parking alongside  Tania Park on Dobroyd Scenic Drive we ambled over to Arabanoo Lookout for truly spectacular views to Sydney, Middle and North Harbours.   Glorious sunny weather was a gift as we wandered down, down the walking track  towards the famous Spit to Manly Walk.   Moira was somewhat astonished to discover that yes, indeed, she had been down there once before when we had walked along that Spit/Manly Track which we joined. Further down were a couple more viewing platforms looking down Dobroyd Head and looking out to North and South Heads and the Tasman Sea taking up the backdrop. The whole of this area affords wonderful views stretching far and wide.  We were so fortunate to have bright blue skies with brush stroke clouds to complete the beautiful Sydney scene.

En route Linzi pointed out the sneaky hidden turn-off to the fisherman shacks which were built from the 1920s onwards now maintained for heritage purposes.  Unless people knew about the shacks few would notice them tucked on the edge of  the Cove.

Once again we were delighted to have Linzi join us from N.Z.  She had carefully planned a late flight back tonight in order to accommodate the Walk today.Wonderful.

For the third time we headed to Belaroma Coffee Centre, Kenneth Street, Manly Vale .

Walkers:  Linzi, Kate, Moira,Pippa, Donna, Carolle

69 Balls Head Walk Loop 1

The last of our 2013 walks took us to Balls Head once again where we did a loop walk (No. 1)   We have yet to complete a further loop walk there.   As always, stunning views of Sydney.  We wound up at the Botanica Garden Cafe in Waverton for coffee.

Botanica Garden Cafe, Waverton

Walkers  :  Marie-Claire, Kate, Moira, Wendy, Pippa, Donna, Jane, Carolle .

68 Lyrebird Track/Davidson Reserve

Lyrebird Track from Northern end of Davidson Park, picnic area alongside Roseville Bridge: 

The walk along the creek (it is called a creek) was gentle, flat, friendly.  We walked happily along an extremely comfortable track until it  suddenly came to an abrupt end where an indicator pointed straight up the hill. Up? Oh no.  Unanimously, all voices agreed that it was  time to turn back with the result that the remainder of the walk remains something of a mystery with unfinished business.  Up to that point though it was calmly comfortable and attractive but now some dissatisfaction lingers in all of us  that the destination was not achieved.  Another time for that then and  when that time is scheduled it was suggested that we wind up at one of the beautiful tranquil picnic spots near the car park for an early picnic lunch and coffee.

Jane led us to a brand new coffee cafe in Hill Street, Roseville  Hill Str Beans for excellent coffee and equally good cookies

Walkers:  Donna, Moira, Jane, Carolle

Unfortunately Marie-Claire was right there under the bridge but parked in the Left car park while the rest waited at the second car park on the Right.

Marie-Claire waited and waited while others waited on the other side!  Finally poor Marie-Claire gave up while Carolle took far  too long to get the phone out!  Missed in more ways  than one.

67 Botanic Gardens and International Photographer of the Year

  A morning in the Botanic Gardens partly viewed from the slightly elevated position of the little red train proved a worthy mode of transport plus a good way of viewing garden spaces. The gardens are strongly green and colourful after  rains.  The offered commentary on the ride was highly informative. 

 Our final destination was the Palm House for the International Photographer of the Year competition where we were able to see some outstanding, beautiful and interesting photographs.   My schoolfriend Gloria King’s photograph has pride of place at the entrance.   I know that she has had other successes and her work hangs in galleries in London.

We had long relaxed conversation  and coffee  in the Gardens Kiosk.

 Walkers : Wendy, Donna Moira, Jane, Kate, Carolle

66 Sheldon Forest Walk

Sheldon Forest Walk is a narrow valley of urban bushland between Pymble and Turramurra.  The area is of high conservation status due to the remnants of Turpentine-Ironbark and Blue Gum high forest.  The leaf littered path enticed as we meandered alongside the creek with caves and rock formations.   Because of a self imposed time restraint we did not complete the whole walk but this can be done another time.

We enjoyed a delightful morning tea at Pippa’s home nearby where not only coffee and tea were offered but a favourite of the Walking Group, iced coffee.   Thank you so much Pippa.....

65 Paddington Reservoir Gardens

The Paddington Reservoir Gardens was a complete surprise for most of us.   Located in Paddington right there on Oxford street one would suppose that everyone knows at least something about this unique space.   We have discovered though that few people do.

In 1866 a reservoir  was  built here to  supply water to Sydney.   It had since passed through several stages, a storage facility,a garage, a petrol station, covered over,   until the present clever transformation which opened in 2008.  It is state heritage listed.

A consultant to the Council who happened to be on site gladly answered our questions with regard to the history, architecture and use of the space and in  particular future expectations and hopes of how the place might be used.   The Reservoir has earned several civic awards.

After a through  inspection we wandered down to Berkelouw Books for coffee. 

Thanks to Kate who did so much planning by driving to the area,  measuring walking distances, checking bus numbers etc .   Although we did not walk through the local streets and on to the gallery as planned  we still  had a most satisfying morning . As always, Sydney continues to surprise us.

After a little absence it was just so  good to have Marie-Claire and Jane back with us.

Walkers:  Moira,  Kate, Pippa, Marie-Claire, Jane, Donna, Carolle 

64 Chinatown

 Chinatown in Sydney -  personally if I entertained any fascination  for the Chinatown visited over 20 years ago here in Sydney that fascination has now been dispelled.  Forever.   We discovered a dreary sameness except for the obvious expansion of small businesses everywhere.  Many shops were closed this Tuesday morning at 10.15. Where was the colour, the hum, the buzz, the people or the smell of yum cha?

 A Celebration of Contemporary Asian Australian Art is the exhibition at the Town Hall was missed because  doors opened  to the public only at noon.   It had looked interesting and enticing …too bad.  The Year of the Horse started less than lucky for us.

Artwork on the street in the shape of rhinos attracted us, two of them  well worth the space they occupied. These Rhinos are all over the city in public spaces.  We wandered around here and there,  a little lost seeking  Chinese red and gold or banners and dragons.  Perhaps visitors and tourists should visit only much later or at night.

Somehow and fortunately  we wound up with a good strong walk from Chinatown to the ever attractive QVB where we had coffee at the excellent Old Vienna Coffee House…………

63 Kalkari and Birrawanna Track

Kalkari and the Birrawanna Track to Bobbin Head. 

After the inevitable car shuffle for a non circuit walk we first visited Kalkari Visitor Centre.  A fire clearly raged through the area in recent times.   The entire place was dismal, starkly lifeless, dry, brown crackly.   No wallabies, roos, python to be seen nor even those delightful little turtles once so prolific in the ponds.   Even the bird life was dismal save for one mynah, a brush turkey and one pied magpie.Dreary me.  One brief but rather exciting encounter though was to spy an enormous goanna which did not wish to be seen rapidly disappearing into the undergrowth.  

THE BIRRAWANNA TRACK has three routes down to Bobbin Head from Kalkari. We chose one which took approximately 50 minutes to descend.   The excellent track is steep in parts, happily down hill all the way which accounts for the Aboriginal name Birrawanna meaning ‘to descend':  One photo  shows something of the descent to the water - steep! 

A million cicadas announced their presence with deafening purpose.  It was so  good to have a really worthwhile bush walk, to feel the breeze through the trees, to see  Angopha, Scribbly gums, casuarina forest and of course heath and fern gullies.

The inevitable iced coffees and coffee (milk on the side) were served to us in the Galley Cafe on the marina.