CLELAND : WINE SHANTY TRACK

WINE SHANTY – BARTRIL SPUR – KIRRANG – CHAMBERS GULLY  Circuit : 2 hour 30 minutes, 9 km

WINE SHANTY


[As this walk involves a small personal drama, I have written it in the first person ... ]


This morning's walk covered the North Eastern corner of the Cleland Park.  Here it is in blue ...

It is called the Wine Shanty Track because of this building on Greenhill Road (Bus Stop 18) at its start. Built as a private residence, it became a 'watering hole' for logging teamsters in the 1890s.  Not much sign of 'water' this morning!

The Wine Shanty Track starts directly across the road.  I turned left and followed it up alongside Yanagin Road.

I investigated the steeply down-sloping Baum spur track, but found nothing to see there (apart from a pylon).  Climbing back to the main track I made the bad discovery that I had come without my water bottles.  After all my walking experience, how could such a thing happen?  After a little thought I decided to continue, but my enjoyment of this walk was tempered by thoughts of my vulnerability (and perhaps imminent doom?!).  

These white flowering weeds are common in the Park, but make a grand display together.

The Wine Shanty Trail forms a short length of the Yurrebilla Trail which has interesting signposts.  This one tells of the fine people who inhabited this area in the early days ...

It is obviously a very thirsty part of the Park.

The Wine Shanty Track is very attractive: undulating with easy grades, and views down into the valleys.

See, it really is (almost) level in places!  The stringy barks make a fine forest, and I enjoyed the numerous little orange butterflies flying rather aimlessly along the track in front of me.

Progress along this track can be measured by the frequent signed side tracks that branch off up to the left.  Now here is a find: Heptinstall's Spring.  In spite of my thirst predicament, I wasn't really tempted to put my face in this slush!

After an hour and a quarter I arrived at Cleland Wildlife Park.

Almost immediately I found myself on the now familiar Long Ridge Trail, and passing a water tank.  Unfortunately, there are signs saying not to drink the water: it is recycled sewage used to water the manna gums for the koalas.  Bad luck!  

I followed down a little way before turning right down the Bartril Spur Track – another special pleasure with its high views over the valley below.

A joy of this walk was the raucous shrieks of many cockatoos which seemed to delight in disturbing the peace ... 

Along this stretch of track I feasted on the many ripe blackberries to increase my moisture level. Bush Tucker Man!

Forty minutes on from entering Cleland I turned right up the Kirrang Track and then left up the Gunbower Track.  Here I found a couple of elderly walkers.  The lady seems to expect rain: perhaps this will solve the problem of my increasing thirst?!


                                                                                      

Finally a right turn onto the Chambers Gully Track with a steep and unwanted climb back to the car.

[In fact, on this 18° morning I didn't suffer from lack of water at all.  It was constantly in the back of my mind though, and it is a lesson well learned. It does make a good story!!]
SUGARLOAF