Doonside - Nurragingy Reserve

Nurragingy Reserve is a 90ha reserve between Doonside and Rooty Hill in the Blacktown City area of Sydney.
The name commemorates one of the two aborigines of the Dharruk (Dharug, Daruk) tribe who received the first land grant to natives from Governor Macquarie in 1819.

We entered Nurragingy Reserve from Charlie Bali Reserve. Judith and Jenny led us to the formal garden areas, planted as various International Gardens. I knew lttle about the reserve beforehand, and found the Chang Lai Yuan Chinese Gardens, shown here; quite stunning.

 As well as picnic and BBQ areas with children's playgrounds, the reserve has areas of natural bushland with walking tracks.



Eastern Creek also passes through the reserve, with remnants of original bushland adjoining the creek, which forms part of a north - south reserve and parkland corridor. Lorikeet Marsh board walk (below), is a good location for spotting birds.





Location Map          Reserve map pdf           

More about Nurragingy

Cityrail travel time from Central to Doonside is about 50 minutes.

Murphys Glen walk

The unsealed road leading to the camping ground, near Woodford in the (mid) Blue Mountains, follows a narrow ridge top heathland. I think it is best walked during the week, as it is popular for mountain biking and 4WD on weekends.       Spreading Fan Fern (Sticherus lobatus) (below) on the side of the road.

Murphys Glen is situated in an old volcanic steam vent. The weathering of rocks in the area has resulted in richer soil than the surrounding sand stone derived soils, which supports a tall forest of blue gums and towering turpentines.

We turned off the Murphys Fire trail and followed 'The Turpentine Walk' down to the camping ground.

Corymbia gummifera (right)
(previously Eucalyptus gummifera)
or Red Bloodwood, is seen flowering along the rocky ridge in late summer.


 Note: Murphys Glen campground was closed due to road damage and facilities maintenance when I published this post.

Location map