The Gosford Glyphs (also called petroglyphs) are located near Kariong not far from Gosford on the New South Wales Central Coast. They can be found using Google Maps, which will take you to a small car park on the side of the road. From here it is an easy walk to the glyphs. Hidden behind a large boulder, they can be hard to find. Look for a warning sign on the boulder warning of falling rocks. The glyphs are here.
The Glyphs have several myths about their origin. Many people’s favourite, is a visit by lost Egyptians, or even UFOs. It is more,likely however that these rock carvings were created by railway workers in the 1930s. Alternatively they could have been carved by a hoaxer in the 1970/80s.
Whatever their origins it’s a fun visit and an easy walk for some photos you can show friends to puzzle over.
Tunnel Entrance to the PetroglyphsTunnel Entrance to the PetroglyphsThe Space Between Two Rocks Where the Glyphs are LocatedEgyptian-Like GlyphsAnubisEgyptian-Like GlyphsRock Carving PetroglyphsGosford GlyphsGosford GlyphsMoss Covered Gosford GlyphsOwl PetroglyphLarge Glyph GalleryMoss Covered GlyphEgyptian Priest Glyph
The Wasp Head walking track is a short, scenic walk in Murramarang National Park, south of Durras Lake on the New South Wales south coast. Rated at grade 3, it is unpaved but was very well maintained during our visit. NSW National Parks and Wildlife are responsible for the area and there is an entrance fee. As a National Park, no dogs are allowed.
Getting There
We drove from Batemans Bay, only 20 minutes away. Although the last section of the drive on Wasp Head Road is gravel it was in good condition when we went. A warning sign at the start of the trail warns of unstable sea cliffs and to only stay on the designated tracks.
The Track
Sloping gently uphill on the outward walk, we found it very easy and at only 1km very short. Most of the track is through casuarina forest, although there is a cleared area towards the end. The views over the ocean and out towards Wasp Island are beautiful and even more so as we arrived just after sunrise.
This was a nice, easy walk to start the day with great ocean views.
Wasp Head Walking TrackCoastal casuarina forestLooking over Wasp Head and out to Wasp IslandLooking over Wasp Head and out to Wasp IslandCasuarina forest
Nestled in the Mogo State Forest adjacent to the Deep Creek Dam, the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden covers a 42-hectare site. Established in 1988 when Forests NSW provided the site to the local council, it has a visitor centre, display gardens and walking tracks. The display gardens cover 10ha of land cleared to provide material for the dam wall, effectively repurposing a bare landscape. The remaining 32ha has walking tracks that provide access to the local bushland.
Bushfires in 1994 and 2019/20 caused significant damage some of which is still visible as fire damaged trees.
Getting There
Located only 5 minutes’ drive from the NSW coastal town of Batemans Bay and just of the Princes Highway, it’s easy to find with plenty of car parking space. Entry is free which is a great bonus.
The Gardens
The display gardens exhibit plants from the surrounding area, with sea-level to sub-alpine plant species on display. This area is well paved, generally flat and its 2km are wheelchair friendly. The plants were flowering when we visited adding colour to the gardens. There are also several ponds here and if you are lucky you will see some native species. We only saw some purple swamp hens and ducks, but there are others that call the area home.
Kangaroo sculpturesWalking path through banksiasBanksia in bloomPurple Coral-pea (Hardenbergia violacea)Sculpture using the trunk of a coastal grey box that was killed during the 2019/20 firesPond near the eucalypt lawnEucalyptus treesPurple swamp hen
Forest Track
After walking through the display gardens, we headed to the Forest Track which took us through the native bushland of the area. This track is well defined but rough with several steep sections. However, it’s only 2km long with plenty of places to stop and enjoy the local bush. This track passes the dam, where a viewing platform lets you see over the dam wall and over Deep Creek Dam. With no trees on the wall or near the water, it looked very bare and no birdlife was present. This may change in the future, but we found it uninteresting (2024).
The trail through the Forest Track
What Did We Think
We loved the walk through the display gardens and native bush areas. The visitor centre has a cafe where you can relax after your walk with a coffee and snacks.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
