Rydalmere to Olympic Park

This excursion started with a RiverCat journey from Parramatta to the Rydalmere wharf. We walked along the River Trail from the wharf to the Silverwater bridge.

Rivercat from the Silverwater Bridge

Crossing the bridge to the southern bank of the Parramatta River, we continued along the shared (walk & bike) River Walk to the Blaxland Riverside Park, probably the biggest payground in Sydney. The Park was originally part of the Newington Estate granted to pioneer grazier John Blaxland, brother of the famous explorer Gregory Blaxland.

Section of Blaxland Riverside Park

Newington Armory Gatehouse

A little further on we came to the Newington Armory's original 1897 gate house (above). The former RAN Armament Depot, is situated between the southern bank of the Parramatta River and the former Olympic Village, now the suburb of Newington. We couldn't explore the Armory as it is only open on weekends.
3-ton stationary electric wharf jib cranes (below right), installed on Newington Armory wharf in 1974.

 

We continued walking along the river bank to reach the Sydney Olympic Park wharf.

Olympic Park Maps                                                             Olympic Park Bike hire

Prince Henry Cliff Walk (1)

We started this picturesque walk at the Leura Cascades Picnic Area, around 2 Kms from the railway station.

First of all we walked down to view the cascades (above right & below), then back up the stairs to cross Leura Creek, and follow the Prince Henry Cliff walk, which overlooks the Jamison Valley, around to Gordon Falls Reserve.

Leura Cascades

More photos: our last Leura Falls visit
 and Prince Henry Cliff walk - Katoomba

Location map

Wild Walks Leura Park to Gordon Falls Lookout

Wild Walks Leura Cascades to Gordon Falls Park

Wildwalks Leura Cascades round walk

Our walk was around 7 Km station to station 

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