Dombarton Tunnel, the tunnel to nowwhere - July 2023

The partially built Maldon Dombarton railway line was to transport coal from near Camden to Port at Wollongong.  Construction started 1983, work stopped 1988.

 The tunnel was to allow trains to negotiate the Illawarra escarpment, work stopped with the tunnel less than one hundred metres into the rock, when completed, it was to be the longest rail tunnel in Australia at approximately four kilometres. An operating rail line passes beside the eastern tunnel portal, this line brings coal from further south into Wollongong, the Maldon line was to be parallel to the working line from the tunnel to Wollongong. The Maldon Dombarton line easement is visible on Google Earth satellite images.  

 

Mount Kembla

The Tunnel is directly above the green mound

Lake Illawarra from track side

Track side vegetation

Eastern Tunnel Portal

Looking out

 

Stats, 

distance: 14Km  

moving time: 2hr, 08min  

elevation: 281metre

The Hidden Castle of Calabash - June 2023

There are various stories regarding the origin of these ruins, some suggest it was a hotel, others dispute this. Most agree it was completed in 1900, and habitable for twenty or so years when it was abandoned. Some of the graffiti on the walls is marked 1931. The site can be accessed by water and then scrambling up steep track, or walking down a sometimes steep and rough fire trail. National Parks have installed a gate at the entrance to the fire trail, blocking vehicular access.

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An extremely steep & rough section of track

A rusting Falcon at the bottom of the above section of track

Red Five-Corners (styphelia tubiflora)

Berowra Creek

 

The Ruins

Another view

On the Berowra Waters car ferry

Stats, 

distance: 7.7Km  

moving time: 2hr, 07min  

elevation: 176metre

Deep Pass - May 2023

Deep Pass is a walk in wild camping area near the western boundary of the Wollemi National Park. The Nayook Creek has eroded a gorge into Newnes Plateau. The Deep Pass camping ground is a clearing in a wider section of that gorge. Hard to believe now, prior to being declared national park the previous lease holder used to grow potatoes in the clearing. I noticed horse hoof marks along the entry track. Later at home, further research revealed that wild horse numbers have been increasing in the area lately.

Nayook Creek disappearing underground

Split Rock see my walking poles for scale

Looking into Nayook Canyon towards the pool in the image below

Nayook Canyon as far as I got upstream

Deep Pass Campground

Stats, 

distance: 8.2Km  

moving time: 2hr, 52min  

elevation: 353metre

Macedon Ranges Walking Track - March 2023

Over the years I have driven past Mount Macedon many times, now seemed like a good opportunity to explore. The Macedon Ranges Walking Track does a loop encompassing Mount Macedon summit with the memorial cross, tourist shop and car park. It passes near the Camels Hump on the northern end of the park, there is a side track to the lookout on the Camels Hump with views to the north and west. Hanging Rock of picnic fame, is clearly visible from here. The track passes through several picnic grounds and the rocky summit of Mount Towrong. From Mount Towrong  you can see across the valley to the cross on Mount Macedon.   

The Cross from The Goat Track

The Cross from the tourist path

Red Lichen on dead wattle trees

No Picnic at Hanging Rock today (mid picture)

Sanatorium Lake

Mount Towrong Summit

Looking across to The Cross

 

Stats, 

distance: 18.5Km  

moving time: 3hr, 6min  

elevation: 758metre

Mount Keira & Robertson Lookout - February 2023

There are superb views of Wollongong from Robertson Lookout, this lookout is on the eastern edge of the Illawarra Escarpment. I walked this with walking poles as a test to see how my knee was recovering after injuring it a few days ago. I suspect I injured the knee by overextending it. As the day wore on the sore knee seemed to improve and now it is almost fully recovered. The ginger plant flower pictured below is the Kahili Ginger (hedychium gardnerianum). A native of the Himalayas and one of the most invasive plants of the world. There are many of these along the track. Further along I brushed my forearm against some leaves of the Giant Stinging tree (Dendrocnide excelsa) similar pain to stinging nettles but worse and the pain persists for longer, maybe that's why my knee felt much better toward the end of the walk.

Wollongong

Mt Keira from Robertson Lookout

Native Violet (viola henderacea)

Kahili Ginger  (hedychium gardnerianum)

Stats, 

distance: 8.1Km  

moving time: 2hr, 44min  

elevation: 329metre 

Falconbridge Ridge - January 2023

Another excuse to go bush, just straight forward out and back along the fire trail, with a view at the turn around point. Too hot and humid for anything further.

Lesser Flannel Flower (Actinotus minor)

Looking down the Grose to the Cumberland Plan

The Grose River looking upstream

Stats, 

distance: 13.6Km  

moving time: 1hr, 40min  

elevation: 203metre 

Mill Creek - December 2022

I noticed this track in December 2020 when I camped here on the last night of this three day bike ride from Morisset to Windsor. Not so hard this time, just an excuse to get into the bush. I had the park to myself the whole time I was here. I did encounter a goanna and several lyrebirds. Little else to report.

Mill Creek Picnic Area

Grass Trigger Plant (Stylidium graminifolium)

 

Stats, 

distance: 8.3Km  

moving time: 1hr, 27min  

elevation: 326metre