North Head Sanctuary

North Head was the home of the Army's School of Artillery until the late 1990's. The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust opened the Sanctuary to the public in 2007.

Sydney Harbour from North Head

The sanctuary provides protection for for the flora and fauna of North Head, which includes an endangered population of  Long-nosed Bandicoots.

 

Bandicoots were once common in Sydney where they foraged in parkland and back-yards but now are declining in numbers, due to numerous threats, including collision with vehicles and predation by dogs, cats and foxes.

Hanging Swamp, North Head

To reach North Head we caught a Manly Ferry from Circular Quay, then a 135 route bus from West Esplanade, near Manly Wharf. Our bus went as far as the entrance to the Old Quarantine Station, so we needed to walk further along North Head Scenic Drive, to North Fort (former artillery museum).
- see the map for Sydney Buses Route 135 (quick search in right hand column)

              Location Map                   North Head Sanctuary info.              Extra photos & frog call video

North Head Sanctuary Foundation -  Flora Walk Brochures

Warrimoo to Sun Valley

On this walk we followed fire trails through the valleys near Warrimoo in the lower Blue Mountains.

Sun Valley is a small, somewhat hidden semi-rural community, not far from Springwood.

Sun Valley Oval & Reserve

Sun Valley Oval (above) is an open area used by the local pony club.  Sun Valley is an unusual landscape, the result of a volcanic vent. The very rich soils have provided excellent native grasslands and magnificent stands of Mountain Blue Gum trees. Reference: Bruce Cameron, Sun Valley, 'The Dictionary of Sydney'

We started this walk at Warrimoo station and walked along Rickard Road, then followed various firetrails through the valley to meet Rosenthel Lane, Sun Valley. We returned to Valley Heights station following a rough reserve track (above) uphill to 'The Chase', then 'The Valley Road'.

Thanks to Judith who showed us this less well known walk.   

                                                        

Location map

University of Sydney

The University of Sydney Quadrangle Building is glimpsed in this photo from Victoria Park Camperdown. (near the intersection of City Rd. and Parramatta Rd.) 

Lake Northam, Vistoria Park, Camperdown

Sydney Law School moved from its Phillip Street building to a new building (below) on the main campus near Fisher Library. It was completed in 2009.

Sydney University's Parramatta Road Gate Lodge (also known as Baxter's Lodge) and gates (below). The Gothic revival style gatehouse was constructed in 1939 - 1940, when the University entrance was changed from the original location, which is now part of Victoria Park.

Hawkesbury River Postman

For this excursion we joined a group of sightseers for a cruise of around three or four hours along the Hawkesbury River, with the ferry skipper giving us a commentary.

Hawkesbury River

On weekdays, 'The Riverboat Postman' provided milk, mail and other supplies to homes along the Hawkesbury River, 50Km north of Sydney.  The ferry service we went on finished in April 2012, but a new operator was expected to take over.

Dangar Island

The train took about one hour from Central Station, with the town (Brooklyn) only a few minutes walk from Hawkesbury River railway station.

      Location Map