|
WAITE – QUARRY WALK Extended Circuit : 2 hours, 7 km |
|||||
|
WAITE >
|
QUARRY
|
|
|||
|
Today's walk is not as scenic as some, but for me it was certainly an adventure. I parked the car at the end of Hartley Grove as on previous visits, and my aim was to explore some tracks which I had seen leading off the main trails. Since this was uncharted territory, I should have expected some adventures!
•1 We walk up the initial climb of the main trail, enjoying the signs, including the invisible grey fantail.
•2 The blackwood sign has a couple of small trees behind it which seem to fit the bill.
•3 Then we come to signpost #3 where the track joins the old coach road. For the main trail, we turn right here; this time I plan to explore the left branch (shown below). I expect it to run quickly into a boundary gate, but no, it links onto another path, and then joins a vehicular fire track down the hill.
•4 I have marked this fire track in brown on the map. I followed it down, wondering whether it might give another access to the Park, but after the best part of a kilometre I find my way blocked by an unfriendly gate just behind the Mira Monte private housing estate. Not worth the walk!
•5 So I return to where my path had joined the road. [Adjust the given time and distance if you plan to omit this return walk.]
•6 Just here there is an open area with picnic tables and seating with a view out over the Plains. I'm still not sure whether this is private land or part of the conservation park. I have passed no warning signs, gates or fences. This open area is at the base of an attractive old quarry face.
•7 Following around we come to one of these mysterious secluded areas which have been quarried in the past, but then grown over.
•8 Continuing past this turn off, the track narrows and descends to meet the vehicle fire track we were on before (although I didn't immediately recognize it!). Another minor track branches off here, ascending steeply straight up the hillside. Reaching the ridge the track seems to disappear, but I keep climbing up through wooded grassland and finally come upon a well defined track. I take the left branch which finally joins on to the main Waite circuit. Some lorikeets were talking to me: perhaps even the same ones I photographed on a previous walk.
•9 I then turn and retrace my steps. There are no signs here. In the photo below, the main Waite trail goes off to the left (returning to #3); I follow back the trail on the right. Can you tell the difference?!
This trail ultimately emerges by the quarry. We make our way back to Hartley Grove via sign #3.
|
|||||
|
WAITE >
|
QUARRY
|
|
|||
