WILD CREEKS OF LANE COVE - Lane Cove National Park, Chatswood - 12km moderate

Come along to discover the amazing wild forests hidden in the secret creeks carving down through Lane Cove valley. We'll traverse a wonderful diversity of ecological zones:

• from Chatswood station we drop down through a magnificent blue gum high forest and maybe spot the resident powerful owl at its roost,
• emerge at Lane Cove River for lunch with the ducks,
• weave through the peaceful casuarina groves and mangroves along the river flats,
• ascend a second creek through a surreal fern forest,
• explore along a third creek through beautiful dark rainforest,
• and finally loop back out of the forest right next to Chatswood station, and a relaxed afternoon drink at the local pub.

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THE PLAN
Meet the group at 10.00am in Victoria Ave, Chatswood (on the footpath between the Chatswood station escalators and the Chatswood RSL Club, and across the street from the 7Eleven shop). Check the pinned google map HERE to make sure you don't go to similar confusing spots further down in the Chatswood shopping mall.

If you need supplies, there is a super market, cafes, noodle bars, and takeaway food outlets immediately around the train station entrance. There are toilets inside the train station.

Leaving the mall, we are almost immediately into our first bush trail dropping steeply down through the blue gum high forest.

The trail emerges at Lane Cove River national park with a lovely picnic area by the river, and we'll stop for early lunch. Either bring your own lunch, or there is nice food, refreshments and coffee at the cafe.

After lunch we follow the very flat trail along the river through beautiful casuarina groves, mysterious rock walls, and emerge at another picnic spot and a nice viewpoint over the river mangroves.

We then slowly ascend out of the river valley, following a second creek through a really beautiful scene of magnificent king ferns and green mossy rocks hidden in a very surreal location.

The trail emerges into suburbia and we have 800 metres of street walking, with just a short steep section to take us over a ridge, and into our third creek with dark rainforest full of fig trees, thick climbing vines, ferns, and magical bird calls.

This final forest trail brings back to Chatwood with two short steep sections to emerge into the residential blocks next to our starting point.

We'll aim to finish at the station by 4pm.

And if there is interest we can head for a lovely post-walk drink at the Orchard pub right next to the station :-)

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IS THIS ACTIVITY OK FOR ME?
Given the 12km distance and a couple of short steep sections to ascend, this walk is graded MODERATE. It is not OK for absolute beginner walkers, but if you have done at least a couple of 10km walks on gently undulating ground you will handle it just fine.

The bush tracks are well compacted dirt and rock surfaces, not very rough.

The initial descent for a few minutes through the blue gum forest is on steep stone steps - this is not challenging, but avoid it if your knees do not cope with steep downhills.

The ascent back out of the valley is gradual, but has two or three short steep sections on footpaths and stone steps - these are brief, we will take them at a relaxed pace, and you can stop for as many rests as you like - no rush, no pressure, no problem.

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TRANSPORT

Arriving by public transport: there are very frequent services to and from Chatswood station

• metro line from Central, and from Hills District/Epping/Macquarie
• trains on the western/north shore via Wynyard
• buses from North Sydney, Manly, Neutral Bay, Mona Vale, Frenchs Forest

See the trip planner at www.transportnsw.info for all connections and times.

Arriving by car: parking very close to Chatswood station and within the shopping mall is a disaster, but there is free street parking in the nearby residential streets on the other side of Pacific Highway (try Centennial Ave next to Chatswood primary school) which is just a 5 minute walk from the station.

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GRATUITY
Please contribute $10 to help offset the group's operating costs.
You can

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

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BRING:

• your lunch and snacks to last you for the day (or buy lunch when we stop at the national park cafe)
• drink bottle (refills available at several picnic areas along the way)
• warm jacket, pants, hat (the temperature drops fast in the afternoon)
• sturdy walking shoes
• insect repellent is highly recommended (the water-based Off or Aeroguard sprays from the supermarket work very well)

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DISCLAIMER:
By joining as a member of this group, you agree to the following conditions of membership and participation, which you can read HERE.