Destination's Journey

Tag: NSW

  • Middle Head Sydney Harbour

    Middle Head Sydney Harbour

    Middle Head

    Middle Head on Sydney Harbour houses the remains of Sydney’s original fortifications. Designed to repel an invasion from the sea, these huge concrete structures no longer have their guns, but remain as a reminder of times when Australia thought it was going to be invaded.

    The Royal Australian Navy still has a presence in the area with HMAS Penguin still an active naval base. The car park for Middle Head is near the base. There is a fee for parking here and ticket machines are located in the car park.

    Several of the old administration buildings are still in use and you walk past them on your way to the gun emplacements. The concrete structures are extensive, and you are free to walk around, through and over them. We explored them for a while and then admired the views over the harbour and towards North Head and South Head with Hornby Lighthouse.

    • Fortifications Middle Head Sydney Harbour
      Fortifications
    • Fortifications Middle Head Sydney Harbour
      Fortifications
    • View to North Head Across the Harbour Middle Head Sydney Harbour
      View to North Head Across the Harbour
    • View to South Head Across the Harbour Middle Head Sydney Harbour
      View to South Head Across the Harbour

    There is a small display of cannon carriages, but this is in need of signage and maintenance to give context to the display. Likewise, the tiger cages constructed in the area require an explanation to make them relevant.

    • Tiger Cage Middle Head Sydney Harbour
      Tiger Cage

    There are no food and drink outlets on the site, but we took our own and had a great view over the harbour while we ate.

    Beehive Casements

    Situated on Middle Head and maintained by National Parks and Wildlife, this old fortress can only be accessed by a guided tour. Details of the dates and costs can be found on NPWS website.

    To get there, you drive through leafy Mossman and pass many lovely houses. Parking in the area is limited, so either arrive early, or walk from one of the larger car parks. Warning signs along the road show that parking in a non designated area will incur a $300 fine.

    Beehive Casements Tour

    The guide met us at the beehive casements where he gave an overview of their history and significance to Sydney. We then walked down stairs to the interior of the fort. The stairs can be slippery so take care. Once inside, you can see the extent of the excavations needed to build them. The passageways are often wet, because the sandstone they were built with is porous and water constantly sleeps through.

    Embrasures facing Sydney Harbour provide a magnificent view and show why the forts were built here as they have a commanding view of any ships attempting to enter the harbour.

    The shape of the interior provides the name of the casements, as they look like a conical beehives. The remains of several old cannons lie on the rock floors, but have unfortunately been burnt by vandals in the past. Some other remnants like racks for tools and coat racks still line the walls but have become rotted or rusty, providing some interesting photographic opportunities.

    • Beehive Casements Upper Works

      Upper Works of the Beehive Casements
    • Beehive Casements Tunnel
      Beehive Casements Tunnel
    • Beehive Casements Interior
      Beehive Casements Interior
    • Stairs Down to Lower Level
      Stairs Down to Lower Level
    • Burnt Cannon Carriage
      Burnt Cannon Carriage
    • Burnt Cannon Carriage
      Burnt Cannon Carriage

    For another perspective of the beehive casements, look for them when taking the Manly ferry. They can be found low down on the waterline of the cliffs. Looking carefully the three gun embrasures are visible.

    Beehive Casements From Sydney Harbour
    Beehive Casements From Sydney Harbour

    A great place to visit and see Sydney’s early history as well as fantastic views over the harbour. For more early fortifications and military history, visit nearby Bradleys Head and the HMAS Sydney (I) mast and Royal Australian Navy memorials.

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

  • Bradleys Head

    Bradleys Head

    Bradleys Head

    Many people using Sydney Ferries will have past Bradleys Head with its mast from HMAS Sydney, but many will not know its significance. This small headland holds memorials to the Royal Australian Navy ships lost during wartime.  The RAN considers this location the pre-eminent naval memorial in Australia.

    • Bradleys Head Location
      Location

    HMAS Sydney Mast and Associated Memorials

    The most striking feature on the headland is the mast of HMAS Sydney (I), because it stands tall above its surroundings. It commemorates all who served on the four ships named Sydney and forms the focal point for the other memorials. Walking around the gardens you come across memorials to individual ships, from the first submarine AE1 to HMAS Canberra.

    • HMAS Sydney (I) Mast Bradleys Head
      HMAS Sydney (I) Mast
    • HMAS Sydney (I) Mast at Bradleys Head
      HMAS Sydney (I) Mast at Bradleys Head From the Harbour
    • HMAS Canberra Plaque Bradleys Head
      The Rifle Wall

    Doric Column

    Sitting off the headland is a Doric stone column in the waters of the harbour. It is from the demolished Sydney Post Office and in conjunction with the tower off Fort Denison, it was used for speed trials of vessels in Sydney Harbour. No longer used for this purpose, it is an interesting sight.

    • Doric Column Bradleys Head
      Doric Column
    • Doric Column at Bradleys Head
      Doric Column at Bradleys Head From the Harbour

    Bradleys Head Light

    The Bradleys Head Light, completed in 1905, is located on the point of Bradley’s Head Peninsula. Used as a navigation marker and warning light, it also makes for a great photograph. The lighthouse is mounted on a rock and connected to shore by a footbridge.

    • Bradleys Head Light
      Bradleys Head Light

    Access to Bradleys Head is past the Taronga Park Zoo and down a narrow windy road. On the way down, you will pass the Rifle Wall, part of the old fortifications built to defend Sydney. Although probably not as interesting as the naval memorials, it is still historically important and worth stopping at.

    • The Rifle Wall Bradleys Head
      The Rifle Wall

    A great little stop for a wander around, either before or after the zoo if you are interested.  Or you could add it to a visit to Middle Head and its fortifications.

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

  • Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park

    Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park

    Dunns Swamp

    Dunns Swamp in the  Wollemi National Park is a beautiful lake rather than a swamp and is a great place to camp, bush walk or go swimming. Located only 30 minutes from Kandos, it is a great getaway for a day trip or overnight stay. Created by the Kandos Weir, the lake is full of bird life and surrounded by reeds and trees, making it a really beautiful place.

    Campsites are available for overnight stays as well as plenty of day visitor parking. The camp site has covered eating areas and toilets available for use.

    • Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
      Dunns Swamp
    • Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
      Dunns Swamp
    • Walking Track Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
      Walking Track

    Pagoda Lookout

    As well as the lake, bush walking is available around the area. We chose to walk to the long cave, while looking at the Kandos Weir and pagoda lookout on the way. The turn off to pagoda lookout is about 1km from the camp ground. This short 150m Walk is marked for experienced bush walkers only, so be careful if you decide to do it. The difficulty is because of the steep rock faces, narrow paths and lack of barriers at the cliff faces. The view from the top is great and you are able to see some of the weathered rock formations that look like pagoda temples.

    • Pagoda Lookout Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
      Pagoda Lookout
    • View From Pagoda Lookout Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
      View From Pagoda Lookout

    Kandos Weir

    The walk then continues along the Cudgegong River, which gives you some excellent views of the surrounding bush land. Several sections of steep stairways need to be negotiated, with two sections also having handrails and chains to assist going up and down. The Kandos Weir is a concrete dam wall and spillway. Unfortunately access onto the dam wall is prohibited, but you can walk to the base of the downstream face of the dam. From here it is possible to take some great pictures,

    • Kandos Weir Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
      Kandos Weir
    • Kandos Weir Spillway Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
      The Spillway at Kandos Weir
    • Kandos Weir Down Stream Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
      Kandos Weir Down Stream

    Long Cave

    The long cave is only a few hundred metres from the weir, along a flat access road. The cave is really a rock overhang that has the base eroded by the river when it floods. So don’t expect to see a cave. It is still an interesting spot to investigate and take pictures.

    • Long Cave Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
      Long Cave Dunns Swamp
    • Long Cave Track Dunns Swamp Wollemi National Park
      Track to Long Cave

    Dunns Swamp is a great place to visit either for a day trip or a camping expedition. There are other walks in the area besides those we did that would keep you entertained.

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.