Soon after leaving
Ku-ring-gai National Park, I arrived at the Peats Ferry Bridge. Opened in 1945,
it connected Sydney to the Central Coast until 1973, when the adjacent
Hawkesbury River Bridge replaced it as part of the Pacific Motorway (M1). The
bridges span the Hawkesbury River, a 75mi (120km) long tributary that, together
with the Nepean River, nearly encircles Sydney’s metro region. The Hawkesbury
River is a water lover’s haven with deep gorges and lush, forested banks –
allowing anything from boating, fishing, and kayaking.
Not far from the bridge
is the Brisbane Water National Park (est. 1959), containing several rare and
endangered flora. The Grevillea shiressii is a vulnerable plant species with
clusters of flowers that start green, turn blue-grey and then become a translucent
cream. It is endemic to NSW, found only in the park’s surrounding area. Several
other vulnerable plants exist, such as Camfield’s stringybark, Somersby
mintbush with pale mauve flowers and Thick-leaf Star-hair. One flower that was
thought to be extinct, the Donkey Orchid, so-named because of its ear-like
petals, has reappeared.
In addition to its
flora, the park is also a sanctuary for rare and endangered fauna, such as the
nocturnal squirrel glider that likes the hollows of Acacia trees and Banksia
shrubs; the spotted-tail quoll, the second-largest carnivorous marsupial in the
world, after the Tasmania devil; and the cuddly-looking, fluffy-eared koala
that is typically found snoozing in a eucalyptus tree or chewing on its leaves.
One of the park's
highlights is the Kariong Brook Falls. Off the main track, the waterfall is
hidden in dense bushland, but once there, it is a perfect, secluded spot to
swim, soak in the atmosphere, and watch it cascade over the cliffside.
Continuing my journey, I
passed by Pearl Beach, a quaint coastal village and hiked up to Mount Ettalong
Lookout for panoramic views of Broken Bay, Lion Island and my constant
companion, the Pacific Ocean stretching before me. I stopped at a picnic table beneath
the towering Sydney Red Gums for a snack and captured a few photos for my
collection.
As the afternoon sun
began to dip, I reached Umina Beach, an ideal coastal town with a long and wide
stretch of unspoiled beaches. Umina is known for its excellent surfing
conditions, and I watched, seated on the beach, as the surfers effortlessly
rode the waves or diligently waited for the next one.
I finished the day at the nearby ferry terminal as I waited to catch a ferry ride across Broken Bay to Wagstaffe on the Bouddi Peninsula.
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It's so good to see you here . . .