Going Bush at Bankstown

I have decided that I will start bushwalking.  There are already some walks planned that maybe aren’t true bushwalks but should be labelled as ‘Sydney’s Best Harbour & Coastal Walks’.  This is also the title of an excellent book published by the Sydney Morning Herald of which I have a treasured copy.  But I am getting ahead of myself as usual.

Yesterday I planned to wake up early this morning and go to the local Bankstown Native Garden – Sylvan Grove – admission free!  Well, waking up early was OK and then after breakfast I have second thoughts – bad decision.  Early afternoon I think oh blast just go so with my trusty camera in hand I set off for the 10 minute drive to Sylvan Grove.  Yes I could have walked - but by now the temperature had risen considerably and it would be about a 45 minute walk.. 

Bankstown Council does not really publicise this place well.  From what I had read I thought it would be a small allotment of earth with a few native trees and shrubs that are tendered by a group of ever loving horticulture enthusiasts.  How wrong was I?  Read on.

The entrance is just a normal driveway – blink and you will miss it which is what I did.  Turning around and entering the pebbled driveway there are spaces for about 4 cars which was OK for me as I was the only one here!

Leaving the car and walking down the path there is an amenities building on the left with toilets and a water bubbler.  This bubbler was useless – hardly a trickle so bring your own water with you. 

The path is marked with red arrows and signs so there is no chance of getting lost – unless you are the bewildered type and then you shouldn’t venture from the front door.  The day is fine, the sun is shining and off we go.  I notice a lot of numbers along the trail – I really should have paid more attention to the brochures on offer but in my eagerness to get moving I completely overlooked them. 

This place is a treasure - if you don’t mind the occasional spider web whacking you in the face.  There is also a sign advising that snakes are found in this area.  Great!  My two biggest fears – but undaunted I press on after finding a dirty big stick that I wave around in front of me like the Great White Hunter. Works a treat – no more spider webs.  There are lots of little native flowers in bloom but for the orchids I should have been here in September.  A mental note is made to return next year. These flowers are so cute and I am now passing through the Acacia area heading downhill at an ever so slight decline. 

There are houses that border the gardens and also a Caretaker that lives on site so that should deter any no good-doers from ruining such an oasis and anyway who on earth would want to do that? Nevermind.  As you walk along you cannot help but tread on some of the plants (especially when you are keeping an eye out for out leggy or slythery friends) and the different smells of the native mint etc is great.

The shade from the tall trees is refreshing and the place is so quiet except for a bird chirping every now and again or a rustle of a piece of bark being blown off a tree and landing in the bush and making you jump a bit.  All your senses are in overdrive!

Continuing along I now pass through the Rainforest where most of the tall ferns and orchids call home.  There are lots of Elk ferns growing on the trees just like they do in the untendered bush I have seen up North.

But ever onwards along the track and I come to a little walkway that says ‘short walk’ and an arrow left or ‘long walk 600 metres’ and an arrow right.  I am feeling adventurous so take the long walk over a little gully full of more plants and this leads me down into the ‘moist gully’  It is so cool and refreshing and with no-one to push me along I can take my time and take as many photos as I want without feeling harassed. 

This place is so close to human habitation that it borders the main road through this area – Henry Lawson Drive.  Every now and again you catch a glimpse of a car or hear the rumble of a truck that breaks the silence but overall it is not that bad. This section of the grove is well enough away so that it is not a large disturbance just a small nuisance!  The lookout is about half way along the track and there are plenty of rest areas where you can sit and get your breath back before tackling the uphill homeward part of the track. Don’t be put off - it is a gradual climb and really not that tiring.  If it gets too much for you after you leave the Lookout then there are more benches where you can sit and reflect on the sunlight dappled on the greenery or just close your eyes and listen to – nothing except an occasional chirp – how wonderful!  Time to move on.  There is a wonderful pond with a trickling of water over mosses – and don’t forget to keep an eye out for bearded dragons or echidnas – but I am not lucky today.

A bit further on I hear footsteps coming toward me – well I hope they are human footsteps – so I stop and wait and am met on the path by the local Park Ranger.  He is on one of his many tour of duties and we have a good old chat for about half an hour.  He has lots of interesting details about the different plants and when it is the best time to see this or that.  I tell him that I am so surprised that this has existed here as I live only five minutes away and have done so for the past 30 years. 

He tells me about a family of owls that come back to breed every year but we look and look and the only thing we spy is a sulphur crested cockatoo.  Mr Ranger also tells me to watch out for the cockies as they love to drop their bodily refuse on you when you sit on a certain seat.  Great – just keep an eye out for the white spotted seat on the way back.  Seems all my wildlife spotting adventures seem to be lacking wildlife but not a sense of humour. The best time of day to experience all the different types of birds from lorikeets to rosellas is first thing in the morning – the gardens open at 9am so something to keep for future reference.

The weather has started to come up windy so I decide I’d better head on back to the car – still all uphill from now on but I still make time to stop and look at some of the pretty wildflowers that dance in the sun and what story would be complete without some banksias. Memories of childhood come flooding back with the many tales of Snugglepot, Cuddlepie and the Banksia Men.  I will certainly have to find my copy and read it over again!

Arriving back at the car – the wind has certainly increased although it is still as hot as Hades and I can hardly wait to get home and have a cold drink.  Another visit to this magic place is definitely planned when all the native orchids etc in flower that’s for sure. 

To Mr Ranger and everyone who tends and nurtures this wonderful area – thank you. I am glad that Bankstown Council has finally done something positive with my rates instead of building another bloody fountain or park which in their wisdom they name after their political cronies.  Another positive note is that this place is fair dinkum true blue!

 

 

 

 

 

Highlight of the day:  talks with the Ranger and learning more about the Aussie Bush.

Sydney Sparkles -

Seeing that the ms Volendam is in the port of Sydney today – I decide to take myself off into town and not only see her but call into the Art Gallery and visit with The Entombed Warriors – or at least a couple of them on loan from China.  For those of you who do not know – my daughter Kylie and her husband Tyler whom you would have met previously on my travels, along with moi, sailed on the Madam V to Alaska from the port of Vancouver Canada. I am yet to write about this journey so stay tuned.  So much to do – so little time.  Here endeth the explanation.

When I leave home the weather people are telling me that today will be sunny and 27 degrees Celsius.  What liars – when I get into town it is more like 35.  Getting off the train I head on up to Macquarie Street which is one of the main thoroughfares at the top end of Sydney and where you can, after a short walk, find such Sydney icons as St Mary’s Cathedral – Centennial Park and the Archibald Fountain and numerous statues.   St Mary’s Cathedral is the biggest Roman Catholic Cathedral in Sydney and is really an imposing structure.  Last time I came in here you could take photos inside without flash – but not anymore so it’s photos from the outside only. Of course one has to run the gauntlet of numerous ice cream and cold drink vendors who charge the unsuspecting tourists more than what I pay in tax for the year for a cold bottle of water!

The Archibald Fountain always looks cool and refreshing and there are lots of tourists- some are really great when it comes to taking photos and they use their commonsense – if you are patient and don’t walk in front of them while they are taking their holiday snaps then they will do the same for you.  It’s all about manners.  Unfortunately today we have some sort of half clad mannerless male moron – thinking he is a Greek God posing and primping for his skanky wife/girlfriend or whatever and in general being a shirtless arse wearing short shorts so no-one gets any photos until he decides to leave.  I do not take a photo of this buffoon – apart from having a lousy torso he had a very hairy back – yuk!  Hang on – are they filming another Planet of the Apes?  A quick look round tells me no - so it’s round the Archibald we go and take more photos to add to the 1000+ collection I have at home – love those digital cameras!  Here’s a couple of happy snaps – such a pretty place

Anyway pressing on to the Art Gallery and my first objective of the day I am confronted with a queue a mile long and about an hour wait. Why have all these people left it to the last day of the exhibition to spoil my plan?  Just because I have left it till the last day is of no consequence.  There are screaming kids being dragged along by their parents – screaming kids in strollers – fakers (if you have read my daughter's blog- I think they must be off the Volendam) and miles and miles of tourists.  As I do not play well with any of the above – I decide it is in my best interest not to mention their best interest to give it a miss and head on down through the Royal Botanic Gardens.  Now this is a true Sydney Gem of huge proportions.  Lush green grass – lots of shade trees – lots of plants – lots of open spaces and lots of bloody flying foxes.  The ‘green brigade’ wants everyone to befriend these little creatures – but they are noisy, stinky and shitty.  What used to be a lovely quiet area of the gardens is now a place better left unvisited.  There are lots more people friendly areas to see – magic little fountains – tropical shade houses and long shady walks right down to the harbour.  Anywhere near the water is great – especially when Sydney is sparkling in her best bling.  I know it is because the Madam V is in port – but before saying hello to my trusty friend I walk right around near Mrs Macquarie’s chair – which is a place right on the point so named because Governor Macquarie’s wife used to come down here and look at the harbour.  It is also a well sought after vantage point for the New Year fireworks and you get to see the full show on and above the Harbour Bridge. That is something I have yet to do – it’s on the bucket list! Anyway back to the harbour – this is also a good spot for wedding photos and yep – the bride and groom and smiling away and trying not to fall in after being precariously positioned while the photographer’s assistant throws her wedding dress train in the air to get that ‘great photo’.  But you have to agree it is the best harbour on God’s Green Earth so I cannot blame them.  Little sailing boats, big sailing boats, ferries, catamarans, private boats all take advantage of this wonderful place – especially on such a great day.  Hindsight is a great thing.  I wish I had started at the Opera House and then walked around here to see the Madam V leave at dusk but – because I cannot see into the future I did not.  So after a nice little rest in the shade and listening to the harbour lap up against the walls – it is time to walk all the way round to the Opera House at Circular Quay and see my friend the ms Volendam.  She doesn’t look a day older than when we sailed on her to Alaska in 2009.  When you walk around this area there has to be at least 50 boardwalk type restaurants and cafes – and be warned they all charge exorbitant prices for their meals and their drinks but in saying that it is all I can do to keep walking and not sit down and have a chilled glass of wine.  They practically kidnap you as you walk past but I say in my best Aussie accent that I live here and thanks but no thanks.  The usual touristy performers are crowded along the walkways – again I put my head down and keep on going – it really is crass.  Why are native peoples playing banjos – which reminds me of a great T-shirt I saw on a tourist.  It said ‘Keep paddling – I hear banjos!’ and had a picture of two guys in a canoe going for their lives!  Anyway – I digress which I normally do. So standing in front of Madam V at last -  brings back a lot of memories but unfortunately all I can do is look this time – not walk up the gangway and have the farewell drink as we sail out – but there are lots who are going to be doing just that.  I find a nice shady spot and think of the places on board – the Crow’s Nest – the Pinnacle Grill – the Lido Restaurant – our cabin and verandah – that freezing morning spent looking for Orcas – Glacier Bay and let’s not forget the fakers! Walking down to the aft (that’s the back of the boat for all you non nautical people) there is a tourist official standing behind a sign that reads ‘Three Dams in Sydney’ so I wander over for a bit of chat and I happen to mention our previous trip and hope he will say ‘would you like to have a look on board?  But no – he gives me a brochure for the 2011 / 2012 cruises for New Zealand and the Pacific and wishes me a nice day.  Hrumph!!!!! I wish him the same – albeit through clenched teeth and head off.   Reaching the back of the boat I take this photo of where we spent our time – Kylie (my daughter) more so on the verandah than inside but that’s a whole other story.  Sorry it is not closer but due to strict security not to mention tall fences that is the best I could do.  If you look directly at the deck of verandahs way at the top under the white roof and count 11 cabins in from the end – that’s us!  Right above the H in Holland America! I know you are excited - I can tell! So after more photos I decide that I cannot walk all the way back to the other side of the harbour to wave goodbye and the best plot is to head off home whilst my legs can still carry me to the train station.  Sure had a nice day - -