A bushwalk in Lane Cove National Park Sydney
On a sunny autumn day a week after Easter my family (Husband & 2 girls and I) visited this stunning but relatively small (670km) National Park. It is situated just 10km north west of Sydney CBD.
There is a small fee of $7.00 (you need to have coins only for the machine) to get into the park and it was worth every cent. As we drove through the gates we were surrounded by great Eucalyptus trees that have seen generations of families visit since early last century.
As we meandered down Riverside Drive the scenery changed at every turn. From large gums and Banksias to native shrubs to pockets of lush rainforest. There were picnic areas filled with happy families enjoying the warm weekend.
Many people had BBQ’s cooking in the facilities available and others, like us chose to buy lunch at the kiosk.
We noticed that many visitors to the park were riding their bikes along the shared roads and footpaths. Some of the more adventurous soles had hired a rowboat and set out on the Lane Cove River.
With hydro-back packs filled with water and snacks (Anzacs biscuits…Yum) the family and I set off for the afternoon to bush walk along the river foreshores. We started at Herons Flat and proceeded up hill along the ‘Great North Walk’. (The Great North Walk links Sydney to Newcastle that passes through this National Park.)
With a clearly labeled track we saw large sandstone hills with many native grasses shrubs and gum trees.
Younger couples passed us some times but we didn’t mind, it was our first serious walk for a very long time. The track was easy for beginners with wooden steps and rock steps. Up in the Scribbly Gums we saw a few native mynahs and some gorgeous little blue wrens in the bushes. We heard some wallabies scampering off through the under-brush. (The wallabies would have heard the two girls come noisily down the track and took off!)
The walk came close to the Lane Cove River and when the bush cleared we could see people rowing small boats along the tranquil water. The bush walk took us into pockets of rainforests where there were many ferns and vines where the great smell of the wet undergrowth teased at our nostrils.
We turned back just before we reached ‘Blue Hole”. We had been walking for 45 minutes and we needed to still have enough energy for the return trip.
On the way back we noticed on the opposite river bank that the bush in parts had been almost chocked with Lantana and other weeds. That was the only disappointing thing we had seen all day.
The walk back seemed much easier (maybe it was a little cooler though). It was almost 3.30pm at the end of our walk when we met a couple of hikers dressed in hiking clothes and backpacks on their ready to tackle the ‘Great North Walk’ all the way to Newcastle.
We all wished them the best of luck and then they were off!
We eventually arrived back to the car and had our coffees from our thermos and the girls had a big cold drink. When we left it was good to know it was not going to be a long trip home.
We thoroughly recommend the Lane Cove National Park, its close to the centre of Sydney, and the walks are suited to beginners. Its wet our apetite for more exploring.
Article supplied by Denise Whatson