Peter Murrell Reserve - 25 Oct 2022

Today we were supposed to be exploring Mt Arthur and The Lost World on Mount Wellington but the wet weather forecast ensured that we looked for a safer alternative.

Peter Murrell Reserve is one of our local walks and is often visited by members of the group  even when it's not one of our programmed walks.

The day started off wet and was forecast to get wetter but there was still eight willing participants.

Everyone is well prepared for the weather before we set of.

Peter Murrell is well known for its native orchid population but there were only a couple of varieties sighted today.

There were quite a number of other flowering natives on show throughout the reserve.

Lots of raindrops hanging of the trees.

More water drops were on the spiderwebs which were close to the ground.

There are quite a few spectacular trees in the reserve.

There was a bit of discussion on crossing the creek.

We had eight walkers and covered 7.3 kms in 2.5 hours.

It was interesting to note that the fastest walking speed achieved for the day was while walking up the last hill to the cars possibly a result of the heavier rain at that time.

Rather than our usual ramble through various tracks today we only walked the perimeter before retiring because of the inclement weather although all enjoyed the walk.

Sand River Gorge - 18 Oct 2022

 We have done today's walk previously although we hope to explore the area a little further than our previous  walks.

The forecast is for good walking weather.

The one thing that was noticeable from previous visits was the profusion of wildflowers (especially the Black-eye Susan) on the short drive of the road into the carpark.

Black-eye Susan.

The start of the descent to the river.

Zieria Aborescens (Stinkwood) maybe.

Climbing down below the first sandstone cliffs.

Into the river valley floor.

Our first orchid for the day a Maroonhood.

Crossing the Sand River.

Lunch before climbing the gorge.

Looking for the track up the hill.

A bracket fungi.

Native Indigo.

 

We came across this on the track and there was an initial thought it was a large leech.

View back across the gorge.

The first of a couple of groups of climbers on the cliffs.

A Bunnings Owl in a cave.

Following the cliff track.

Pomaderris elliptica - Yellow Dogwood.

Obviously the group were excited about what was happening on the cliff.

 

 

I was trying to convince them to follow me up gully to the top of the cliff.

Instead they returned they way we came. We were stopped just beyond rope site with a sign advising of a nesting Peregrine Falcon so we turned around so as not to disturb them.

Astroloma pinifolium - Pine Heath.

Following a track to the top of the cliffs.

Panorama of the view from the top.

 

 

We found another way down that was easier than the way we went up.

The shapes and the forms of the cliff were all different.

On the way down from the cliffs.

Crossing the Sand River on the return.

Looking a little hassled after struggling to get to the cliff face on the return journey, the old track had been completely overgrown.

Looking back to the cliffs.

Caladenia catenata - Pink Fingers

The track out.

We had ten walkers and covered 4kms in just over three hours.