A long walk to Middle Harbour, Sydney
Middle Harbour, Sydney
Our holiday in New South Wales
September 2007
While staying with our son in Artarmon, North Sydney, he led us on a long walk from his home to Middle Harbour. This was a walk of some 3-4 kilometres and it is mostly all downhill on the way to the harbour. This meant mostly uphill on the way back. We did it in just short of four hours. My son thought we’d take longer; he does it in two hours but then he is used to the hills around here. He and his wife do a lot of walking around this district.
Flat Rock Creek, Northbridge, Sydney
It took us through some nearby suburbs along a walking and cycling trail through this part of the city. The path kept us away from busy roads and streets, sometimes passing under very busy streets and motorways.
Flat Rock Creek, Northbridge, Sydney
At one point the track dropped quickly to the creek and here we followed Flat Rock Creek until it emerged from the gully into Middle Harbour. It was very peaceful following the creek, with dense vegetation on all sides. It was hard to believe we were about an hour’s walk to Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was so peaceful along that creek you could not imagine being in the heart of Australia’s largest city.
Northbridge, Sydney
Near Middle Harbour one of the local roads passes high over the creek bed. The magnificent bridge over the creek is very inspiring and a wonderful subject for the camera.
Northbridge, Sydney
Walking around Artarmon, north Sydney
Garden flowers in Artarmon, Sydney
Our holiday in New South Wales
September 2007
While we were staying with our son and daughter-in-law in Sydney we did quite a deal of walking around the nearby suburbs. This seemed easier than driving in an area that is not all that familiar to us. Walking is good for our health too, and this holiday was an opportunity to get out walking on a regular basis.
Garden flowers in Artarmon, Sydney
While in Artarmon for ten days we walked into Chatswood several times. This is about a twenty minute stroll from our son’s home. Everywhere we walked we took great delight in looking into people’s gardens. We delight in this activity wherever we go. It is very cheap entertainment and the exercise is good for our health.
Garden flowers in Artarmon, Sydney
Around Artarmon we were constantly amazed at what people had growing in their gardens. Many of the plants we saw would be very hard, if not impossible, to grow in the much harsher conditions at home here in Murray Bridge in South Australia.
Garden flowers in Artarmon, Sydney
We even struck up a conversation with several people, and one kind gentleman gave my wife some orchid flowers.
More photos of flowers can be seen in my photo gallery (click here).
Lunch at Salt Creek, South Australia
A salt lake, Coorong National Park, South Australia
On our way home from our recent holiday in Robe, South Australia we stopped at Salt Creek. We took a short diversion road from the main highway and drove into the Coorong National Park. We stopped at a small picnic ground there so we could sit down at a picnic table in the scrub. While we were there I took a short five minute stroll along the walking trail shown in the photo. This is one of many walking tracks in this national park. We have often talked of camping here for a few days and doing some of the walks.
Walking trail, Coorong National Park.
Beacon Hill, Robe, South Australia
During my recent holiday in Robe in the south east region of South Australia I did quite a bit of walking. I find walking to be the best way to investigate an area, as well as lending itself to extra photo opportunities.
Road to Beacon Hill, Robe, South Australia
One day I decided to go on an extended walk through some of the nearby bushland. My immediate target was the lookout called Beacon Hill. This slight hill overlooks the whole town and gives extensive views to the east and south over nearby farming areas as well as Long Beach to the north. It took me about an hour of solid walking to get to the top from the cottage we were renting. It was easy going along a road leading to the top.
The view from Beacon Hill, Robe, South Australia
The view from the top was not as good as I had hoped because of the overcast conditions. I had not only untaken the walk for the exercise but also to go birding. I also hoped to get some photos of birds not normally seen here at home. The walk was good exercise taking over three hours, but the birding was quiet and the photos disappointing. This is just a good excuse to return another day.
Pub Lake, Robe, South Australia
After leaving the lookout on Beacon Hill I followed a well marked bush track east through some dense bushland. The vegetation was beautiful but the birding was quiet. I eventually made my way out to the main road and followed this back to Pub Lake.
Encounter Bay, Victor Harbor
Victor Harbor and Encounter Bay
The lovely seaside town of Victor Harbor south of Adelaide in South Australia is situated on Encounter Bay. This beautiful bay owes its name to the chance meeting of two explorers in 1802.
British explorer Matthew Flinders and French explorer Nicolas Baudin were both charting the coastline of South Australia when they met in this remote location. The meeting was amicable, despite their respective countries being at war at the time.
Kayaks and yachts on Encounter Bay, Victor Harbor
Today, Victor Harbor is a bustling town with a rapidly growing population. Many people come here to live in retirement and many more come to visit, thousands making this their annual summer destination for holidays. Water activities such as kayaking, sailing, fishing, swimming are prominent. The town is also popular with people who like to walk or ride their bikes. Whole families walking or riding their bikes along the specially designated sealed tracks are a common sight.
Yachts in Encounter Bay, Victor Harbor