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Published: September 9th 2008
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Today we were off to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Ku-ring-gai Chase is the second largest public area within the Sydney metropolitan area (the Royal National Park is 171 hectares larger). Lying just north of the city it stretches from Brooklyn and West Head in the north, to North Turramurra in the south and features some of the most secluded coastline in Sydney.
The park is centred around Cowan Creek, Pittwater and the Hawkesbury River, and features many walking tracks. Due to this fact, boating enthusiasts are particularly fond of the park. The park is noted for its historical Aboriginal art works and engravings, and is only a short drive from the centre of the city. We entered the National Park through the Bobbin Head Rd, North Turramurra. As it was a National Park, we had to pay a small access fee of about $3 (£1).
Brief History
At least 10,000 years ago say around the last ice age, the Garigal clan moved into the region. Their language was known as Guringai, which is where the park gets its name. They lived happily in the area until white folk arrived. The park was declared in 1894 and we can
thank one man in particular. Eccleston de Faur fought for many years to protect the forested bushland to the north of his beloved city. 13,500 hectares were initially set aside including much of the southern shores of the Hawkesbury and Cowan Creek. A few pockets of land on the shore of Pittwater were left in private hands most notably West Head.
West Head had been used by whalers and sailors as a burial site in the very early days of the colony. William Lawson, one of the Blue Mountains explorers, was granted 550 hectares in 1834. A road to the Head was built towards the end of the century, which was given to the public in 1927. During World War II, the Navy built several fortifications in order to protect Broken Bay. West Head was finally handed over in 1951.
We went on a walk through trees to the West Head viewing point. West Head is where Pittwater joins up to the ocean. From there, were spectacular views of Barrenjoey Head, which also has a lighthouse, Pittwater, Broken Bay, and further inland Lion Island. An impressive sight was that of Pittwater, with all the many yachts moored at
the shore. It was jam packed with them, for as far as the eye could see. We could also see Palm Beach, where I had visited on my first full day of my holiday. There were seaplanes taking off, and giving its passengers a bird’s eye view of everything.
We then drove along the route of the Hawkesbury River.
Brief History
The Hawkesbury River, to the north of Sydney, is one of the most beautiful rivers in Australia. It played an important part in the early days of the colony of New South Wales. The first settlers arrived in the area in 1794, establishing farms, which had contributed to the survival of the colony, threatened with starvation by the shortage of food. In 1810 Governor Macquarie ordered the foundation of five towns in the upper Hawkesbury valley which became known as the 'Macquarie towns' - Windsor, Richmond, Castlereagh, Wilberforce and Pitt Town - which have preserved many historic old buildings. The surrounding area is still farming country, and the river is flanked for considerable distances by unspoiled woodland and bush.
The Hawkesbury River offers excellent facilities for water sports, particularly in its
lower reaches between Brooklyn and Pittwater, where it becomes very wide. The best way of seeing it is by boat, and boats of all sizes can be hired in Brooklyn, near the Hawkesbury River Bridge, and also at Bobbin Head, Berowra Waters and Wisemans Ferry. There is also a mail boat which sails upstream from Brooklyn, leaving at 9.30am, which also takes passengers. There are also organised boat trips on the intricate river system and to Broken Bay.
At Wisemans Ferry, the river can be crossed by boat. A road on the north bank runs along the boundary of Dharug National Park from Wisemans Ferry via Gunderman and Spencer and through the Mangrove valley to Mangrove Mountain, at a distance of 48 km (30 miles). The freeway from Sydney to Newcastle also crosses the Hawkesbury and its tributary, the Mooney, with its sheer sandstone cliffs and fascinating views.
Four National Parks surround the Hawkesbury: the northern boundary of the old-established Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, the southern boundary of Brisbane Water National Park, north-west is Dharug National Park, famed for its Aboriginal rock drawings, and to the north of Broken Bay is Bouddi National Park.
We stopped off at Berowra Waters, for a drink and a bite to eat. There was a quaint old hut, which was stocked up with iced teas and cakes, so we sat out on he veranda overlooking the Hawkesbury. Like at most settlement points along the Hawkesbury, there were many yachts moored up. Some were quite impressive and looked expensive. There was a dam nearby to here, which could normally be walked along, but today of all days, they were carrying out maintenance.
We travelled across the Hawkesbury on a small car ferry, which was an experience. It was only a five-minute journey, but it took us back a few years. This was a traditional ferry which had been an effective way for the locals of travelling around the area, and cutting out the long journey by land.
Time was again getting on, and as it was my last day before my tour, I wanted an early night. We went to the Harbord Diggers Memorial Club, down Evans Street, tonight for a meal with everyone. Harbord Diggers motto is that it’s ‘a community asset’.
This club is an integral part of the community. The Club features
live entertainment, an a-la-carte restaurant, bistro, coffee shop, bars, games room with snooker, pool and darts, function and conference facilities, a health and fitness centre, indoor pool, saunas, spa as well as 28 sub clubs including bowling, golf and cricket. Gaming facilities include pokies, bingo, TAB, Club Keno, interactive roulette, blackjack and Konami (an interactive, multi-terminal horse racing game). Another feature is that it has world class views of Sydney's Northern Beaches.
A freaky thing happened, as I saw one of the ladies that did the BridgeClimb™ on Tuesday. Her name was Margaret and she was staying in the same area. She was staying nearby as well.
I also played on the ‘pokies’, though lost too many times. We didn’t stay too late tonight though; as I had another early start tomorrow morning. When we got home I show Eileen and Vic all the photos I have had developed so far.
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