Mt Alexandra

Mt Alexandra at Mittagong. A loop walk from the carpark at Lake Alexandra, up over the top and through the "coke tunnel" to 60 Foot Falls, then under the expressway bridge over the Nattai River and around back under the expressway along Gibbergunyah Creek. About 9.5klm for the loop.

The "coke tunnel" where the tramline hauled coal  out of the Nattai Valley.

Sixty Foot Falls. 

The expressway bridge over the Nattai River 

Crossing the Nattai River 

Back under the Gibbergunyah Creek Bridge

Firetrail along the creek 

Gibbergunyah Creek

Lake Alexandra 

Red-bellied Black Snake hunting in the stormwater culvert at the lake 

The Big Smoke

Saturday afternoon around the harbour. A quick walk past the Opera House and into The Botanic Gardens and then meeting my son and walking through Barangaroo and up Observatory Hill. Then off to Newtown for a beer and dinner with both my children and my sister and their partners. Lovely meal with great service at Pathong Thai for my son's birthday.

Dubbo Gully Overnight

After working a night shift and a few hours sleep I loaded my pack and took off for a walk into Dubbo Gully and a loop out to Clares Bridge on the Old Great North Road. Starting at the locked gate on the Dubbo Gully rd at Mangrove Mountain 5pm I walked to the junction of the upper Mangrove Creek Rd and Simpsons Track where after 8.8klm walking at 7.30pm I set up camp for the night. Up early the next morning  and looping up Simpsons track, Old Great North Rd and Donnys Track back to Dubbo Gully and the walk out back to the car. 18.8klm for the morning and and in the car on the way home for lunch  at 12.30.

Late afternoon and the start of the walk on Dubbo Gully Rd

Mangrove Creek and the bridge.

Upper Mangrove cemetery

One of the lagoons/swamps that form along the valley. The old Fairview homestead can be seen on the hill behind.

Fairview Homestead. 

Mangrove Creek

Home for the night

Dinner cooking. Took a while to boil the water. Tiny stove with not enough air flow to keep wood burning strong. Lots of twigs needed to get enough heat to cook. 

A good way to pass the time away

Morning cuppa

Salute to the sun

Simpsons track heading up to Ten Mile Hollow

Clares Bridge on the Old Great North Rd. The second oldest bridge in Australia

Heading back down Donnys track to Mangrove Creek. An informal lookout over a lagoon on one of the side creeks

Donnys track

Back on Ten Mile Hollow Rd on Mangrove Creek

Another of Upper Mangrove cemetery on the way out.