Pippas Pass - Blaxland

Pippas Pass at Blaxland in the lower Blue Mountains, is an extension of the Florabella Pass walk from Warrimoo. Our aim on this very warm day, was to examine/enjoy/photography some of the Spring wildflowers we came across along the way.

The white flowers above are  Philotheca sp. formerly Eriostemon

The orange-yellow pea flowers are

one of many species commonly known as 'egg and bacon' 

Grevillea sericea

We started this short walk near the Blaxland Library car park. Some of us continued on the track and turned off at the Ross Cr. rock outcrop exit (see 'wildwalks') while others returned the same way.
(Returning to the library via Ross Cr. and the Great Western Highway is ~3.7 Km)

 

Wascoe Siding

Preparing the locomotives

Wascoe Siding is a miniature railway situated in a former railway cutting. The deviation and refuge siding between Glenbrook and Blaxland in the Lower Blue Mountains, was in use for twenty years from 1913.

The area was acquired in the 1960s by the founder of the Blue Mountains Railway Society, which celebrated its 50th birthday this year.
The society hold open days running model steam and battery operated locomotives, such as the impressive models shown in these photos, on the first Sunday of the month, (except in January, wet weather & fire-bans).

The open days are quite popular for family outings and children's birthday parties. A charge is made for the train rides, but entry to the grounds is free. All passengers are required to wear "fully enclosed shoes" to ride the trains. 

                              Wascoe Siding Facebook                  Location Map    

 

Florabella Pass - Warrimoo to Blaxland

This interesting bush walk in the lower Blue Mountains was from Warrimoo to Blaxland along the Florabella Pass and Pippas Pass track. We began the 6Km half day walk at Warrimoo station (about 1¼ hrs by train from Sydney), crossed over the highway, turned right and continued past a few shops to ‘The Boulevarde’. Walking along Florabella Street we passed the local Primary school to the start of the walk at the end of the street.

The track was rough and steep as we descended to Florabella Pass, but improved further along the track.

The track followed the Florabella creek, before climbing higher up the side of the gorge and turning more to the east after the junction with Glenbrook creek.

We saw a lyrebird while we stopped for  lunch at the junction with the side track which leads to Ross Street. Our walk continued along the Pippas Pass track, turning off at the exit path which leads up to Blaxland Library.


We passed several cafés on the way to the station, but as the train was due soon we didn't stop for coffee after this walk.

A shorter version of the walk can be done as a circuit starting at Plateau Pde off Bridge Rd Blaxland.
(see Wildwalks 'Florabella Pass Loop')     

 Our thanks to the walk leader John Masser