Balmoral to Middle Head

This blog has looked at North Head several times as well as South Head, but until recently I had never visited 'Middle Head' opposite the entrance to Sydney Harbour.

Hunters Park Rotunda

Our walk of around 3.5Km started at Balmoral Beach, followed the path around Balmoral Oval, through Balmoral Park (map link) then up a long series of steps to the ridge top. (see photos below)

Balmoral Beach

To see the spectacular view from above Obelisk Bay (below), we took the side path that leads down to Chowder Bay and Taronga Wharf (see earlier post), before returning to Middle Head Rd.

Historic gun emplacements, Middle Head

    Location map

Middle Head is part of Headland Park, on land formerly occupied by Defence bases. Tunnels and gun emplacements can be seen at the end of Old Fort Rd. and there are other unfenced gun pits around the site.
The fortifications were mostly built between 1870 and 1911.

See also Rocky Point Is. post                                                       'Wildwalks' info

We caught a 244 (Chowder Bay to City) bus back from Middle Head Rd.  (map link)   Doing the walk in reverse may be easier.           

Australian Botanic Garden (3)

 

Mount Annan was once part of Glenlee estate, acquired by James Fitzpatrick in the 1850s. His descendants ran a dairy farm on the estate until 1978. Beyond the area near the Visitor Centre, Cafe & Restaurant, is an extensive site of over 400ha scatted with feature gardens such as the Banksia & Grevillea Gardens.

Under the shade of a 'Peppercorn tree'

Although the Peppercorns are from South America, they were commonly grown in Australia as shade trees. The gently undulating hills and small lakes add to the charm of the area.

Another feature of interest is the Sundial of Human Involvement.  The person in the photo above is standing on the spot indicated by the date, facing in the direction of their shadow, with arms stretched above their head.