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

Woodford - Transit of Venus

We started this bush walk at the end of Clearview Parade Hazelbrook (below)

The track is so called, because an observatory was set up not far from the Woodford Academy, to house a 114mm telescope and other instruments, needed for the observation of the 9^th December 1874 Transit of Venus.

The passing of Venus between the Sun and Earth, was an important event, as it enabled scientists to better calculate the distance from earth to the sun.
The most recent Transit of Venus occurred in June 2012, and will not occur again until 2117.

Along the way we passed Waratahs (Telopea) in flower, and visited Edith Falls (below right) and a side trip to Mabel Falls, where we ate our lunchs.

 

Our walking track crossed the fire trail (above) in Mabel Falls Reserve. The track ended at Woodbury Street with a steep climb back to the highway. We finished at Woodford station.

Location Map
 
My thanks to Judith and Jenny for showing us this lesser known track, with its historic connections. 

South Lawson Waterfalls

The waterfalls on this popular walk at Lawson in the Blue Mountains, were looking great after recent heavy rain. Unfortunately a bridge over the creek had been washed away, but as we saw stockpiles of sandstone blocks near the track, I expect repairs to the track will not be too far away.

Adelina Falls

Federal Falls

Cataract Falls, Lawson

I have had lunch at Federal Falls before in the summer, but it was too cool and shady on this occasion, so we climbed further up the hill and stopped for lunch there.

The waterfalls circuit can be completed by returning to Lawson along Honour Avenue, or by walking along fire trails and roads to Hazelbrook, as our group did.



location map

My GPS trace 

This walk can also be extended to join the Terrace Falls walk at Hazelbrook.
(see my Lawson to Hazelbrook post)

Lawson to Hazelbrook Bushwalk

    These photos were taken on a walk in the mid Blue Mountains starting at Honour Ave. Lawson. The walk combined the popular South Lawson waterfalls circuit with the Terrace Falls walk to finish at Hazelbrook station.

 Location map

Terrace Falls, Hazelbrook

 

Reference books that cover walks in this area include a book by Robert Sloss, another by Veechi Stuart & one published by the National Parks Association:  'Bushwalks in the Sydney Region' Vol 2

Hazelbrook Walk

The Intercity train journey, from Sydney's Central station to the mid Blue Mountains village of Hazelbrook, (93.5Km) takes about one hour 40 minutes. We walked from the northern side of the station, along Winbourn Road, past homes to the start of a bush walk in Burgess Park reserve.

Burgess Falls, Hazelbrook

The Blue Mountains City Council has recently installed signs for this walk

Oaklands Falls, Hazelbrook

Burgess Falls are not large, but like most mid mountains walks, it is a very pleasant spot to visit in all seasons. It was named as a memorial to a local World War I soldier who was killed in Belgium in 1917

There are several other small waterfalls in the area, such as the Oaklands Falls

North Lawson Waterfalls

For this excursion the train trip from Sydney's Central station to Lawson in the Blue Mountains, took about 1hr 45mins. This walk started beyond the Swimming Centre at the end of St Bernard's Drive, on the northern side of Lawson station.

  The north Lawson walking tracks are quite rough in places, but it is a very pleasant walk even on a cloudy day, as you can see from the photos. The bush walk we did was 7Km, but this will vary depending on the route taken. If you would like a short walk just walk to 'Fairy Falls' and return the same way.

Most of the walking group I was with had a coffee or hot chocolate at this cafe before catching the train home. (It's behind the shops in Honour Ave)