Wentworth Falls

Wentworth Falls.

Another attractive area in the Blue Mountains is Wentworth Falls. As an extension of the Valleys of the Waters walk I did a month ago, and with the weather quite ordinary, I was determined to get out of the house and explore the varieties of tracks that this area has to offer.


Red Browed Firetail Finch

Commencing at the West Street, I took the Short Cut Track, which is a fire trail, to the Conservation Hut. The weather was foul yet I still spotted Red Browed Firetail Finch and White Throated Tree Creeper as well as Yellow Rumped Thornbill and Wattlebird.

From the Conservation Hut to the falls themselves is a short, brisk walk with spectacular views across the Jamison Valley. Wentworth Falls is in two sections with superb views from the top, the centre and the bottom.


Steep Stairs

The track then crosses the falls and a well defined, steep, rock staircase takes you to the middle section of the falls. These steps again remind me of a Tolkien adventure. Further along you can turn left and walk to the bottom of the falls- the advise from National Parks is only if you are experienced. Whilst I feel that its not too difficult, there are plenty of tourists who could find themselves stressed by being inappropriately equipped- I saw one guy in UGG boots...


Mt Solitary above the clouds.

Its a fantastic walk, as the track follows the cliff line, under waterfalls, over bridges and ladders. Following the track which hugs the cliff face until it reaches Vera falls as mentioned in a previous post. There are quiet dark forests, exposed rocks and cliffs all within easy reach.


More water falls.

There are many tracks and diversions, however follow the advise of the National Parks signs, Avoid the tracks that are marked "Exerienced Walkers Only", and you can get fresh air, great views, exercise regardless of the conditions! Walk distance about 8km.

Birds seen:- New Holland Honey eater, Eastern Spinebill,Red Browed Firetail Finch, White Throated Tree Creeper, Wattlebird, Yellow Tufted Honey Eater, Currawong, Grey Butcherbird, King Parrot, Bell Minor,

This week

Fast section of track during the day.

Since January I have not ridden nearly as far as I would like. This is due simply to sore knees. These have been a problem for a while and so I went to see a specialist about them. The upshot is- I have very little cartilage left and the knees are bone on bone.. Now for some this might come as bad news, but I was delighted to see that the wear on the bones is nice and even. This is because of the years on the bike. The doctor wants me to continue riding as it will ensure that I will not need a replacement knee for a few years!


Sandy sections to be tackled at night

So, with boyish enthusiasm, I chose three very different rides this week. The first being a ride into Wheeny Creek. This 30k night ride is a mix of tar and dirt roads, with a steep decent and return out of the camping grounds. I chose the mountain bike as it is most suitable. I would be riding with fast peak hour traffic and would need the suspension to cope with the occasional escape from idiot drivers, before riding the quiet dirt section into the National Park.

Wheeny creek is beautiful and peaceful. Birds such as rock warblers, lyre birds, pacific duck as well as bell minors and superb wrens can be found here. Upon my return I met some endurance horse riders who were surprised that I could catch up and ride past them. The only difficulty on this ride is the speed down hill can sometimes "overtake" the headlights beam, making for last minute choices re potholes difficult. I was grateful for the larger tyres and suspension on more than one occasion

The Cannondale Prophet at night

The second ride was more technical and again at night, on some of the rougher fire trails in the Blue Mountains National Park. Whilst only a short distance (10K) it is a mix of rock ledges, deep sand, and wash outs. In the evening the "line" chosen to tackle these is far different to the line I would choose in daylight, and sometimes mistakes are made. Spinning faster in the lower gears makes out for a different workout too. In fact with a lot of climbing and balancing the entire body gets a workout.

Night time in the Australian bush without the moon is eerie. The thump of wallaby as well as the screech of the occasional owl makes it so. Sometimes an icy wind would blow and the gum trees would sound like the ocean. You can hear the wind coming from quite a distance away, and it was cold. Sadly the battery on my light failed prematurely, and I had to ride back with the "brown light". This creates a new problem. Without enough light to highlight the edges of the track it was very easy to get off course! Still, a lot of fun and I only just got home before the battery was completely flat!


Brown out! Only a small pool of light in front of the tyre

The final ride of the week was my usual 50km along Comleroy road. A great training ride on the road bike, again a different workout to the mountain bike. Much bigger gears, no suspension mean the power to the wheels is instant and creates a real concentrated workout on the legs, heart and lungs. This ride was pleasant and uneventful. Returning to Kurrajong via Putty road. Where I live the area and its surrounds are beautiful. The smell of fresh cut grass, horses and cattle as well as Wattle trees in bloom makes it heady!!

Saying "G'day" to the locals!

The knees? Well they are still there! I hope to be able to ride 4 times a week and get back to the distances I was doing last year... we shall see! BTW to my English friends- I am off the beer and ales......

Part of a health and fitness program is a good "cool down" after a ride....Ha ah!

Victoria Falls

Fog and Sleet

The plan was- To go to Coolah Tops National Park. The reality was- It was too wet, too hit and miss, so instead I chose to walk down to the Victoria Falls.

Situated west of Blackheath, but in the same network of valleys as Blue Gum Forest, I was curious to see just how the landscape had recovered from the bush fires. Like Perry's Lookdown, it requires a drop into the systems of creeks and gullies that ultimately form the Grose Valley, and Grose River. I had hoped to improve on the bird list as well. But with heavy fog and rain, it was unlikely.


Early section of the track.

The drive to Mt Victoria is uneventful and pleasant. Once arriving the road to the falls is easily signposted and the average sedan would cover the 12k of dirt road with ease.
I was surprised to see quite a few other dedicated walkers and campers in the area. It was good to see other enjoying the mountains despite the weather. Parking the troopie, its a decent into the valley. Not as extreme as Perry's it is a pleasant mix of steps, rock overhangs and forests. The fire here must have been intense as much of the undergrowth has vanished, replaced by succulent new growth. In opening the canopy too, new growth is rapid, as native species compete with weeds that seemed abundant.


The rain and wind were reasonable and most birds seemed absent. Not that it mattered, my binoculars fogged up and my books got soggy in the process.So I pushed on. Within a short time I was at the falls.


Victoria Falls
They looked great! Rock pools were full and the sound of falling water and Bell Minors filled the forest floor. In the pools were HUGE Yabbies! For my OS friends these are similar to a lobster or many other crayfish, and are delicious eating for sure! Some are pale blue in colour, yet these were a brilliant red. Simply boil water with salt and drop them in head first. Sadly these ones are protected in the national park, so I had to content myself with a stale biscuit!.


Yabbies with white wine and a cheese and garlic sauce........
After taking several photos I headed pack towards the car where a hot cup of coffee was most welcome. It was a most enjoyable walk.

Billy Boiling.

Even though birds were quiet, I still spotted Pied Butcher Bird, Pee Wee, Bell Minor, White Headed Pigeon, Currawong, White Browed Tree Creeper, Yellow Rumped Thornbill, Galah, Rosella, Australian Magpie and Wood Duck.

Kurrajong Hills Ride

This weekends bike ride would take me along the familiar roads from Kurrajong, to East Kurrajong, south  along the Putty  road to Wilberforce and back Via Kurmond. 

Although the Hawkesbury is developing, it still has a wonderful rural feel to it, and the air was fresh  and clean. The ride itself is about 60k and with a few hills thrown in is a good training ride for mountain biking.

Using the road bike has its advantages. They are faster and more responsive than  a fully  sprung mountain bike.  The idea of the road bike is the "put steel in your legs". Thats is, develop more power so that, when you  are on your Mtn Bike you  can stay  in higher gears. The fact is, you  can  get fitter on a road bike quicker.

The only  problem  with a road bike is that there is no opportunity  to get off the road and onto the gravel.



Sadly  the lack of road maintenance  means much  of the edges of the road have broken away. The result? The occasional brush  with a car or truck. So a road bike is more fragile should you have to bail out!

Bird life abounds and I  observed  a white bellied sea eagle being mobbed by magpies. Whilst I know that this bird lives on or near the river, it is always surprising to  see it. Other birds such  as Lewins Honey Eater, Brush Wattlebird and Red Wattlebird, were seen in the bottle brushes that were flowering.

In some areas the sound of Bell minors and Whip birds could be heard.



After 2 and a bit hours I returned home. Its always good to get out and about!

Glossy Black Cockatoos

Yesterday, I took the mountain bike out along one of the trails behind our house. Just after entering the national park, there is a small section of rain forest with casuarina trees dotted about.

I was very excited to see three Glossy Black Cockatoos. These birds, whilst not on endangered lists, are regarded as rare as the sightings must be reported to the National Parks and Wildlife service.

They are an interesting bird, feeding on casuarina, and if so are easily approached. Should they fly off, the do so with low swooping action, and a distinct "Caw" Caw" cry. They generally only fly to an adjacent tree. A splash of distinct red on their tale feathers. Also help with the identification.

I was delighted to see three as it indicated that one was a juvenile. Glossy Blacks are rare as the nest in hollows of trees. Sadly our domestic honey bee also like these hollows. generally moving in and stinging the young when they hatch. As the parents only lay one of two eggs, the failure rate can be very high indeed. Not only this but other pressures. Research was done in South Australia and when the Honey bees were removed from an area, the Glossy Black population increased.

These are one of my favorite birds.

Of droughts and flooded plains....

Storm clouds gathering at sunset.

As the sun began to set, a whistling kite plucked a fish from the river , and storm clouds began to gather to the west. I thought about this country. There are only two seasons- Wet or Dry. Australia is a sunburnt country , a land of sweeping plains, of ragged mountain ranges, of droughts and flooded plains... On this trip we would experience both.

View of Mungo through the screened enclosure.

As the wind came up, heavy splotches of rain began to fall, the ancient river gums, gave off a heady mixture of eucalyptus oil and honey fragrance. It was stunning. I felt small. It was the outback.

The trip took us from Kurrajong, Orange, Hillston to Willandra National Park. Then pushing further west to Ivanhoe and on to Mungo National Park. Following on to the old river port of Pooncarrie and then Kinchega. Home again via Wilcannia.

Each park is unique. Yet each park is linked with a common thread of boom times and bust, of flood and drought, of environmental disaster and of ancient discoveries.

Washed out road.

As we travelled we enjoyed the wild life spotting and saw:-emu, wedge tail eagle, galah and apostle bird as well as the usual white winged chuffs. The land looked rich, with dramatic greens contrasting with vivid red soils.

A lazy young goanna defied us until I set chase......


Goanna on its toes about to run!

Each park had its own wildlife . At Willandra we saw a Red Capped Robin and Grey Shrike Thrush. Mungo featured Wedge Tailed Eagles and Major Mitchells. Whilst Kinchega featured Whistling Kites and Red Tail Cockatoos. All unique, all beautiful. The Whistling kite, caught the fish right where we were camped. Casually.

The roads are harsh, whilst a small vehicle would cope, certainly a stronger vehicle is advisable. In one section all the lids of the salt, pepper and coffee vibrated off!! It was important, at the end of the day to ensure that the beer was at room temperature (which out here is 30c!!)

Maalie on a previous trip into the desert

I sat and quietly reflected on my friends need for room temperature beer! Ha!

Maalie this VB is for you.

Each night a log fire was prepared by David and enjoyed by all!



The drive out to Wilcannia was to prove a challenge. 150k of "dry condition road only". The day was sunny and the road was firm and undamaged by the rain. We pushed 50k until we were met by a sign which said the bridge was closed (unsafe). The road authority had pushed a side track through the creek below. Under normal conditions, passable. Today a flash flood had made the creek a metre high- Impassable.

Flooded road ways and creeks.

I decided to walk the bridge and check its safety. It had a 5 tonne limit and the Landcruiser is 3.5 tonne. However once on the other side I was greeted by a sheet of running water 100m wide. In order to check depth and the ground underneath I walked across. At about 40cm in the deepest part I deemed it safe, although a challenge to cross.

However, we had a further 85kms of mud and water! the road was completely water logged and the vehicle simply sank to the axles, moving forward slowly whilst throwing clods of black soil high into the air. It was a fine balance between forward momentum, engine revs, and the correct gearing.

After 2 hours we had crossed the worst road conditions I had experienced.

Troopie awaiting the truck wash

It was a great trip.

Fortunatly, the Troopie will be washed and cleaned by our detailing staff and not by me!



Bird list:-Emu, Wedged Tail Eagle, Galah, Apostle Bird, White Winged Chough, Nankeen Kestrel, Black Kite, Magpie, Pied Butcher bird, Pee-wee, Western Warbler, Rufus Whistler, Brown Thornbill, Southern White Face, Grey Shrike Thrush, Yellow Rumped Thornbill,, Red Capped Robin, Little Raven, Australian Raven, Red Rumped Parrot, Little Friar Bird, Coot, Australian Pratincol, House Sparrow, Crested Pigeon, Spiney Cheeked Wattlebird, Mulga Parrot, Common Bronze Wing, Yellow Throated Minor, Willy Wagtail, Major Mitchell, Cockatiel, Diamond Dove, Blue Winged Parrot, Western Warbler, Ring Necked Parrot (Mallie form), Fork Tailed Swift, Ausralian Pelican, White Faced Heron, Whistling Kite, Welcome Swallow, Red Tail Cockatoo, Black Kite, White Plumed Honey Easter, Red Legged Doteril, Royal Ibis, Little Eagle.