Date/Time
Date(s) - 23 Feb 2020
Category(ies)
- Grade 3 Medium
- Leader: Paul Schirmer
- Phone: 0412404770
- Participant numbers:10
- Final booking date: 19th February
Leaving directly from the car park near the information point, this pleasant and accessible walk takes visitors to the top of the dramatic The Rock formation. It begins gently, crossing small graveled slopes between graceful red gums.
As you go higher, the path begins to wind around recessed cliffs hiding cool woolly ragwort plants – a threatened species native to the area that blooms with yellow flowers. Wallabies scatter through the undergrowth, lizards bask in the warm sun, and you may see glossy black cockatoos or wedge-tailed eagles circling overhead. Bird watching only gets better the further you climb so bring binoculars and a camera.
This hike becomes steep towards the end, but it is worth the effort with spectacular views across bush and rolling farmland from the top, providing an excellent opportunity for photography. Galore Hills is often visible to the west, and on clear winter days the snow-capped peak of Mount Kosciuszko rises in the distance.
Instead of returning to the car park along the track I intend to walk along the ridge and descend to the Olympic Way near Braithwaites Lane. Some people may decide to go straight back to the car park, if so, the walk is about 6 kms taking between 2.5 and 3.5 hours. If we go the other way the distance will be about 10 kms and take up to 5 hours.