SydneyAdventurers40+

This is just the most fantastic and easy trip up to the Central Coast, and an amazingly beautiful wilderness walk with truly epic lookouts and some of the most stunning spring wildflower displays in the region.

• Chill out on the easy 1 hour train trip or drive from Sydney, through the scenic Hawkesbury river valleys and ancient sandstone bluffs.
• Breath deep at gorgeous coastal villages, perfect beaches, and the fresh air of the open ocean.
• And reward yourself with jaw-dropping scenery after jaw-dropping scenery of coast, forest and mountains on this easy walk across the very best of Brisbane Water National Park.

Your head will be spinning with so many epic views that you will need to nap on the trip home!

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THE PLAN

Getting to Woy Woy station

By train:

• Bring your breakfast, a book, head phones, or chat with the group while you enjoy the 1 hour 15 minutes journey through the huge landscapes of Kuringai, Hawksbury, and Brisbane Water.
• Take the Newcastle Interchange via Strathfield service, departing Strathfield station at 8.31am, Epping station at 8.43am, or Hornsby station at 8.56am, and arriving at Woy Woy at 9.29am.
• Important note on track work on Sat 13 Sept: Buses will replace trains between Central station and Strathfield that weekend. So if you are starting from one of the inner west stations between Central and Strathfield, you can either (i) catch a bus to Strathfield and connect with the Newcastle line there at 8.31am, or (ii) catch a bus to Central, then a train up the T1 North Shore line to Hornsby and connect with the Newcastle line there at 8.56am.
• See the trip planner at www.transportnsw.info for public connections from your area.

By car:

• Woy Woy is 80km or 1 hour 15 mins from Sydney.
• Take the Pacific Highway M1 north, then Central Coast Highway A49, Woy Woy Rd, and Railway Parade to arrive at Woy Woy station.
• There is free parking in the commuter carpark at the station.

Formal start
Meet the group directly in front of Woy Woy station (bus stand E) at 9.30am to wait for the Patonga bus.

Bus from Woy Woy station to Patonga
We'll take bus route 54 from Woy Woy station (bus stand E) at 9.50am, arriving at Patonga village (at Patonga Drive, opposite the Patonga hotel and adjacent to the ferry wharf) at 10.21am.

The walk
- At Patonga we take a quick toilet break, and start our walk slowly up a magical forest trail. The ascent is 150 metres, but is very gradual, and we'll stop lots to check out many stunning coastal view points.

- At the top of the escarpment we circle the plateau along flat fire trails full of flitting birds and spring wildlflowers - many waratahs! A tiny secret trail leads to our lunch spot perched on a dramatic rock citadel with seriously impressive 360 degree vistas of the ocean, Hawkesbury river valleys, rich bushland, and mountains.

- After lunch we weave through another secret trail to emerge at more rock platforms with ancient aboriginal carvings.

- Then it's 2km on a good wide trail back over the crags to the escarpment, emerging onto a lookout with the biggest coastal views you’ve ever seen, no exaggeration!

- We descend 2km on an easy and very beautiful forest trail, passing a big sandstone overhang full of ferns, and a lush botanical reserve, to emerge at the idyllic Pearl Beach village. There is a general store here to grab refreshments, ice creams, snacks, water refills, and have a toilet break.

- Finally we take the easy path along Pearl Beach and a short rocky trail around the headland to finish at Umina Beach.

Afternoon bus from Umina Beach to Woy Woy station
Depending on our walk speed from Patonga, we will catch the

• route 50 bus at 4.34pm, arriving at the station at 4.56pm, or
• route 54 bus at 4.49pm, arriving at the station at 5.11pm, or
• route 50 bus at 5.04pm, arriving at the station at 5.26pm, or
• route 50 bus at 5.34pm, arriving at the station at 5.56pm

Trains from Woy Woy to Sydney

• depart Woy Woy at 5.16pm, arriving Hornsby at 5.49pm, Epping at 6.02pm, and Strathfield at 6.16pm
• depart Woy Woy at 5.41pm, arriving Hornsby at 6.19pm, Epping at 6.32pm, and Strathfield at 6.46pm
• depart Woy Woy at 6.16pm, arriving Hornsby at 6.49pm, Epping at 7.02pm, and Strathfield at 7.16pm

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IS THIS WALK RIGHT FOR ME?
This 11km walk on excellent trails is an easy to moderate effort for walkers with basic fitness and mobility. If you have previously done walks of at least 8km with some easy hills, you will handle this one just fine.

There is a short gradual ascent from Patonga of 150 metres over 2km – this is on a good trail of stone steps, and we will stop lots to admire huge views and you can take as many breaks as you like, so you will find it easy.

There is a short 100 metre section of poorly defined trail over uneven ground to reach our our lunch spot on the rock citadel, but no dangerous scrambling or exposed edges.

There is another 100 metre section of poorly defined trail pushing between dense vegetation for a few moments to leave the rock citadel, but nothing dangerous or hard work. Wear long pants through the slightly scratchy vegetation and go slow and you will be fine.

The 2km walk from the citadel back over the crags to the escarpment is on a good wide trail, including 10 minutes of ascending and descending on built steps - take as many rests as you like and enjoy the stunning wildflowers and huge views.

The 2km descent to Pearl Beach is on a gravel fire trail with a significant downslope along much of it, so you might feel it if you have bad knees, but it can be done pretty easily if you go slow.

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GRATUITY
Please contribute $15 to help offset the group's operating costs.
You can either

• bring cash on the day, or
• make a PayID bank transfer to the organiser's phone number 0411 600 717 in the morning BEFORE you arrive to the event.

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BRING

• Opal card for buses and trains
• your lunch, snacks for a full day (you can pick up extras as we pass Pearl Beach late in the afternoon, but have plenty of supplies for lunch and snack breaks on the trail before that)
• water bottle, at least 2 litres (once we start walking at Patonga there are no water sources until we reach Pearl Beach)
• sturdy walking shoes
• short pants are fine, but long pants are better recommended for this trail (we will step through 200 metres of slightly scratchy vegetation getting in and out of the rock citadel)
• hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent
• warm inner layers, jacket and long pants for later in the day (the Central Coast train is often air conditioned way too cold)
• beach towel or pad to sit on at lunch time

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LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
By your RSVP to this event you agree to the conditions of membership and participation which you can read in the "WHAT WE'RE ABOUT" section HERE.

Spring warmth is here, yay! Sunshine + cruising on beautiful waters + lots of fun and an inclusive group + delish food = the perfect day out! Join us for our ever popular monthly social paddle on the protected blue waters, hidden creeks and gorgeous beaches of Narrabeen lagoon, followed by excellent food & drinks and chatting with lovely friends at our favourite mexican bar by the lake. You don't need huge fitness, strength or skills to kayak – the leader gives everyone individual coaching attention and support. And kayak hire is cheap and easy right here on the lagoon.

Places are strictly limited, so only RSVP if you are 100% committed.

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THE PLAN

Meet at 11.00am at the bottom end of Narrabeen Street by the lake. Gather on the lawn next to the Limani cafe and the Prokayaks shop - NOT inside the shop.

• We will go into the shop together to individually pay for our kayak hires and pick up our paddling gear.
• Cost is $50 for a single kayak for the 3 hour session (everyone has to use a single seat boat, no doubles).
• There is secure storage for your bags while we are on the water.
• Do NOT take unprotected valuables (phone, keys, cards) onto the water - store them ashore with your bag. If you want to take things on the water, bring a dry bag or well-sealed kitchen food box to protect them.

We'll spend 3 hours (11.30am - 2.30pm) paddling on the beautiful lagoon and its hidden creeks, islands, beaches.

As we paddle the leader will coach you individually on how to hold a paddle correctly, and how to use your leg muscles instead of your arms for easy paddling - it's definitely about technique rather than brute strength!

Bring snacks and water bottle as we will take a break on a beach to stretch and have a toilet stop.

After we drop off our boats to the shop at 2.30pm, you can grab your bag to change into dry clothes.

Then, if you wish, join us 300 metres further along the lake shore at the mexican bar for awesome tasty food and excellent beer and margaritas.

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DIFFICULTY - IS THIS ACTIVITY RIGHT FOR ME?

This event is fine for beginner paddlers with basic fitness. You don’t need big arm strength or previous experience, but expect to do a moderate amount of exercise, at a relaxed pace, for 3 hours.

We paddle slowly, take lots of breaks, stick together as a group to keep it social, fun and safe for everyone, and look after you individually to make sure you cope. Nobody disappears ahead on their own, and nobody gets left behind.

You will swivel your shoulders and torso a lot, so do NOT do this activity if you have injuries to shoulders, elbows, wrists or spine, a hernia, or any other issues causing pain or immobility.

You must be able to swim 20 metres in the unlikely case that you fall out of your boat and have to swim back to it (but we don't normally fall out).

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GRATUITY

Please contribute $15 to the organiser help offset the group's operating costs.
You can either

• bring cash on the day, or
• make a PayID bank transfer to the organiser's phone number 0411600717 in the morning BEFORE you arrive to the event.

This is separate to the $50 kayak hire cost which you pay directly to the kayak shop on the day.

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TRANSPORT

By car:

There is free parking in the Narrabeen St car park next to the kayak shop and in the adjacent residential streets, but spots can be hard to find on sunny days so arrive at least 30 minutes early.

By bus:

• From Wynyard station (stand B in Carrington Street), take the B1 (City to Mona Vale) express bus departing at 10.01am, and arriving at the B-line stop at Narrabeen shops 10.44am.
• See the trip planner at www.transportnsw.info for all connections and times.
• When you arrive at Narrabeen shops, take advantage of the toilets next to the bus stop, and then walk 300 metres to the left along the lake shore to the Prokayaks shop in Narrabeen Street.

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BRING

• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses (with a cord/strap so you don't drop them in the water)
• Gloves (not mandatory, but prevents blisters - you can use bike or sailing gloves, or cheap leather work gloves from Bunnings)
• Dress in light breathable clothes (tshirt and shorts) just as you would for bushwalking, gym or sport.
• A warm top, as it can get cool if there is a breeze.
• Water bottle (1 litre).
• Snacks.
• A dry bag or sealable plastic kitchen box to keep your valuable things dry in your boat (or leave them stored in the organisers locked car).
• Normally we paddle barefoot and your feet will get wet, but if you want to wear shoes in your boat bring some which you don't mind getting wet.
• Towel, change of dry clothes, and warm jacket & pants for afterwards (there is safe storage for your stuff while we are out on the water)
• Plastic garbage bag for any wet stuff to carry home.

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LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
By your RSVP to this event you agree to the conditions of membership and participation which you can read in the "WHAT WE'RE ABOUT" section HERE.

Be prepared to pick your jaw up off the ground when you see this very impressive scenic place! Ikara Head is a stunning walk on the sandstone plateau between Blackheath and Mt Victoria, free of crowds for true peace, a nice easy flattish track (the only walk in the Blue Mountains with no steep bits?!), and truly breathtaking valley views. Best of all, as it is spring there are billions of beautiful flannel flowers covering the landscape in dense swathes of white.

This day is part of our Blue Mountains adventure weekend on September 20 and 21:

• Sat 20 Sep – 10.45am Blackheath/Ikara Head wildlflower bushwalk
• Sat 20 Sep – 5pm Mt Wilson easy car camp & dinner under the stars
• Sun 21 Sep – 9am Mt Wilson spring gardens tour & Mt Tomah gardens

These events are designed to flow easily one into the next, so join us for some or all of them as you please for a big wonderful weekend away.

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THE PLAN
Meet at Blackheath train station (in the Station Street carpark) at 10.45am. If you need to contact us for any reason, the leader is on 0411 600 717.

If you arrive early in Blackheath, there is a supermarket, grocer and bakery for supplies, and the Altitude Cafe is fantastic for breakfast.

We'll use the cars present to move everyone on a 15 minute drive to the trail: 5km along the Great Western Highway, turn right onto Victoria Falls Rd, and proceed another 4km on the unsealed road (hard packed dirt and gravel) to the start of the Ikara Head Trail.

The walk will be out and back, following a small bush trail along a rocky cliff line with big vistas across the mountains. We thread between pleasant eucalypt forest with waratahs and bottle brushes, around mysterious stone pagoda formations, out onto the open ground of the promontory covered in flannels flowers, and stop at the cliff line huge plunging views of the Grose Valley before us. The only thing you will be able to say is 'wooowwww'.

After a relaxing lunch at this lookout, we'll double back along the same trail to our cars by about 3.30pm.

You can head home directly from here if you drove, or if you came on the train we will drop you at either Mt Victoria station or Blackheath station for a relaxed trip home.

If you are staying with us after this to walk for the rest of this weekend's Blue Mountains program, we'll pause at the truck stop in Mt Victoria to grab a cold drink (and hot food if you want some easy takeaway instead of cooking dinner at camp), then continue from there for the 20 minute drive to Mt Wilson for the car camp at cathedral reserve, and sunday's walk around Mt Wilson.

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IS THIS ACTIVITY OK FOR ME?
The Ikara Head walk is rated as EASY as it is largely flat with a very gentle ascent in the furthest section to the lookout, and a total walk distance of 7km out and back.

The trail is a narrow unformed rocky path with gentle undulations, but is not very rough (no scrambling over boulders or ledges) and can be handled quite well by beginner walkers with basic fitness.

The pace will be relaxed, we will take a substantial lunch stop, and you can take as many pauses along the trail as you need to catch your breath and enjoy the huge scenery.

At the Ikara Head lookout there are unfenced cliffs - everyone must take care not to approach the edges.

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GRATUITY
Please contribute $15 to help offset the group's operating costs.
You can either

• bring cash on the day, or
• make a PayID bank transfer to the organiser's phone number 0411600717 in the morning before you arrive to the event.

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TRANSPORT

Arriving by car:

• Blackheath is 112km (1 hour 40 minutes) from Sydney.
• Take the M4 motorway, and continue on the Great Western Highway all the way to Blackheath, then turn left at the railway crossing, and right right into Station Street and the carpark.
• Allow some extra time for Saturday morning traffic through the mountains.
• Once we meet up at Blackheath Station to car pool, it is 5km further along the Great Western Highway, then another 4km along the unsealed Victoria Falls Rd (hard packed dirt and gravel) to the walking trail.
• The section of unsealed road has some potholes and ruts, but is ok for a 2WD city car - we'll drive together at low speed to the start of the walking track.

Arriving by train:

• Take the Blue Mountains Service from Sydney Central at 8.24am, passing Strathfield at 8.37am, Parramatta at 8.50am, Blacktown at 9.00am, and Penrith at 9.16am, arriving at Blackheath at 10.40am.
• See the trip planner at www.transportnsw.info for all connections and times.

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BRING

• Opal card for public transport
• your lunch, snacks for the day
• drink bottle (at least 1 litre, no refills on the trail)
• sturdy walking shoes
• hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
• insect repellent
• walking stick (not mandatory, but helps alot with ascents/descents)
• warm clothes for later in the day
• rain jacket, just in case
• towel or pad to sit on at lunch time

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DISCLAIMER
By your RSVP to this event you agree to the conditions of membership and participation which you can read in the "WHAT WE'RE ABOUT" section HERE.

Join us for a relaxing night of super easy car camping, picnic dinner, good company, and a gorgeous logfire, at one of the most beautiful places in Sydney ... Cathedral Reserve in Mt Wilson. This is a beautiful peaceful camping area with no fees and no bookings required, it sits amongst the shaded greens of plane trees and fern groves, and is right next to the elegant beauty of Mt Wilson's stunning private display gardens, epic Blue Mountains scenery, and swathes of stars at night.

If you are not usually a camper, or you don't have a tent and other camping gear, it is very easy to just use your car ... if your car is large enough (say a moderate SUV) to fold down the back seat and create enough space to lie down, just bring an inflatable mat or other soft layers to lie on, warm bedding and your pillow, and you have a very comfortable, convenient and secure camping set up. Viola!

This day is part of our Blue Mountains adventure weekend on September 20 and 21:

• Sat 20 Sep – 10.45am Blackheath/Ikara Head wildlflower bushwalk
• Sat 20 Sep – 5pm Mt Wilson easy car camp & dinner under the stars
• Sun 21 Sep – 9am Mt Wilson spring gardens tour & Mt Tomah gardens

These events are designed to flow easily one into the next, so join us for some or all of them as you please for a big wonderful weekend away.

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THE PLAN
After the Saturday morning walk at Ikara Head/Mount Victoria winds up at about 3.30pm, we will head to Mt Wilson for the night.

If you arrive there before the group, just set yourself up and enjoy the peace :-)

We will set up camp on the lawn, probably at the lower end of the reserve (near the shady trees, fireplaces, and toilet). You can choose any spot you like.

The camping area is simple and beautiful - it has no facilities other than toilets - so bring your water, food (you can cook, or bring takeaway dinner, or have cold meals), a torch, and chair to sit on.

If there are no fire bans, we will bring a bag of wood to have a lovely log fire to sit around.

If you feel like an evening or morning walk, the Cathedral of Ferns trail is right next to our camping spot - it is a very short and easy stroll looping through the mossy forest of giant ferns, beautiful if it is misty conditions. Insect repellent highly recommended in the forest.

Enjoy dinner and great conversation with the group, a peaceful sleep in the mountain air, and on sunday morning we will have a lazy start and breakfast.

If you are staying for the sunday activities, pack up your camp and be ready at 9am to head off with the group for the 8km walking tour around Mt Wilson finishing at about 2pm-3pm.

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TRANSPORT

By car:
Mt Wilson is on the north side of the Blue Mountains, 125km (2.5 hours) from Sydney directly via Richmond, Kurrajong to Bells Line of Rd and Mt Wilson Rd.

Or along Bells Line of Rd and Mt Wilson Rd of you are coming from Mt Victoria (21km) after the saturday morning walk, or from Pierces Pass (12km) after the saturday sunset walk.

You can post in the Comments section on this page if you want to offer a car pool and share fuel and highway toll costs with others.

There is NO access by train:
You can get a train as far as Mt Victoria (see the trip planner at www.transportnsw.info), but there is NO public transport from Mt Victoria to Mt Wilson.

You can post in the Comments section on this page if you want to seek a car pool with others, but you will need to make sure that you have a ride both ways between Mt Wilson and Sydney (or a convenient public transport point).

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GRATUITY
No contribution needed for this one - just looking forward to everyone's lovely company at camp :-)

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BRING

• torch (head torch, hand torch, or just use your phone light)
• your food (Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast and lunch, you can choose to cook or just bring cold meals in a chiller box)
• water/drink (3 - 4 litres to last you for 24 hours, there is no clean running water at the camping reserve)
• insect repellent
• a good warm jacket, pants, and beanie for your head (the temperature drops fast at sunset in the mountains, and sometimes it is windy here)
• sturdy walking shoes
• towel or pad or folding chair to sit on at camp
• your camping gear (tent, mat, sleeping bag) or sleep in your car with normal bedding and pillow
• toiletries

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DISCLAIMER:
By your RSVP to this event you agree to the conditions of membership and participation which you can read in the WHAT WE'RE ABOUT section HERE.