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Tag: Sydney

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Palona Cave Walk

Sunrise at the start of the track Palona Cave Walk

Palona Cave Walk

Located in the Royal National Park, near Sydney the Palona Cave Walk is a short and easy bush walk. It takes you through beautiful temperate rainforest to a large limestone cave and a cascading waterfall.

Getting There

We drove to Royal National Park, arriving just after sunrise, so that we could catch the sunrise. Parking at the intersection of Lady Carrington Drive and Sir Bertram Stevens Drive was easy as only two other cars were there. On our return though, it was full, and many cars were parked along the road. Access to the National Park is charged per vehicle and you can pay at the entrance gate or main office. If you plan to visit several parks during the year, an annual pass is available from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Entrance near the carpark
Entrance near the carpark

The Track

Starting at the car park the historic Lady Carrington Drive trail leads into the forest. This is a wide and well-maintained dirt trail that follows the course of the Hacking River. Originally a road, it was closed and is now a dedicated bike and hiking trail. The trail takes you through temperate rain forest and our early morning start meant that it was quiet and peaceful.

After about 750 m, we reached the junction with the Forest Path, which is another scenic walk in the park. From here we continued along Lady Carrington Drive to Palona Cave track.

Sunrise at the start of the track Palona Cave Walk
Sunrise at the start of the track
Toadstools and moss growing in an old tree stump
Toadstools and moss growing in an old tree stump
Lady Carrington Drive Trail Palona Cave Walk
Lady Carrington Drive Trail

Palona Cave

After another 1 km, a sign for Limestone Cave on the left side of the track points off to the right. Unfortunately, a tree now obscures it, so keep a look out as the path to the cave is easy to miss, being very narrow. If you reach the Palona Brook crossing, you have gone too far. From here you leave the main trail and follow a narrow bush track that leads uphill to Palona Cave. The track is rough and rocky in places, so watch your step. When we visited it was also very overgrown and disappeared in several spots.

Palona Cave is a large overhang with stalactites and stalagmites formed by water dripping through the limestone rock. You can explore the cave and see the different shapes and colours of the formations. There is also a small stream that flows next to the cave and forms a waterfall. We were lucky it had rained recently because this creek is often dry.

This was a great walk with the reward of a waterfall and cave at the end. Remember to wear good boots as the second part of the track is rough. At around 5.3km return, it took us around two and a half hours, with plenty of stops for photos and cave exploring.

Sign to the cave track. Hidden behind the tree.
Sign to the cave track. Hidden behind the tree.
A fallen tree on the walk Palona Cave Walk
A fallen tree on the walk
Gymea Lily
Gymea Lily
Rock overhang on the track Palona Cave Walk
Rock overhang on the track
Entrance to the cave Palona Cave Walk
Entrance to the cave
Cave Entrance Palona Cave Walk
Cave Entrance
The back wall of Palona Cave
The back wall of Palona Cave
Waterfall near the cave
Waterfall near the cave

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

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Balmoral Beach

The Circular Wharf Balmoral Beach

Balmoral Beach

Balmoral Beach is a picturesque and popular beach located on the north shore of Sydney Harbour, Australia. It’s a great place to swim, relax or just take in the scenery.

Getting There

During busy time like weekends and public holidays, the area can be very busy, so getting there early might be a good idea. Using public transport requires several changes of buses, trams and ferries, depending on where you leave from. Only the 114 and 238 busses stop at the beach, with the 238 connecting to the wharf at Taronga Zoo, enabling you to get the ferry from Circular Quay.

Balmoral Beach

The main attraction, in the area is of course the beautiful beach. The sheltered waters are a great place to relax and swim. Along the foreshore, a variety of eateries offer places for snacks and meals. The old Bathers’ Pavilion is now a restaurant, with views over the beach while you eat. Strictly speaking this area is Edwards Beach, as there is a name change around Rocky Point Island.

Bathers Pavilion
Bathers Pavilion.

Rocky Point Island

Located just offshore and at the north end of the beach, Rocky Point Island was one of the reason we visited. Not only does it have great views along the coast and back to the beach, but it is accessed via a unique foot bridge. This bridge allows access to the island during high tide while providing a great backdrop for photos. It’s very popular for wedding photos as well.

Arch bridge to Rocky Point Island Balmoral Beach
Arch bridge to Rocky Point Island.
Arched bridge to Rocky Point Island
Arched bridge to Rocky Point Island.
View to Balmoral Beach from Rocky Point Island
View to Balmoral Beach from Rocky Point Island.
View to Balmoral Beach from Rocky Point Island

Balmoral Wharf

Built in the early 1900s, the circular Balmoral Pier is a popular spot for fishing and boating. The water enclosed by the pier is a sheltered and safe spot to swim and we saw a lot of families with small children using it. Visitors can also enjoy a meal or a drink at one of the restaurants or cafes located on the wharf, while taking in the stunning views of the harbour.

The Circular Wharf Balmoral Beach
The Circular Wharf.

Tramway Cutting

Located in Lawry Plunkett Reserve and opposite Balmoral Beach is an old tramway cutting, built in the early 1900s to provide easy access to the beach for visitors. Unfortunately it was removed, as it would make access to the area far easier. Today, the tramway cutting is a pedestrian walkway that runs along the eastern side of the beach, providing a scenic route for walkers and joggers.

We accessed the park from Botanic Road, but there are entrances from all of the surrounding streets. Following the path through the reserve led us to the old cutting, which is near the Esplanade entrance. Several pieces of old track are still present, but most has been removed. This was an interesting place to see and nice to see that a small part was preserved.

Remains of the old tracks in the tramway cutting Balmoral Beach
Remains of the old tracks in the tramway cutting.
Old control wheel cemented into the rocks
Old control wheel cemented into the rocks.
Walking track through Lawry Plunket Reserve Balmoral Beach
Walking track through Lawry Plunket Reserve.
The White Flower by Christopher Hodges
The White Flower by Christopher Hodges.

What Else to do in the Area?

From here we walked part of the Hedland Park Walking Track which has fantastic views over Sydney Harbour. We had a great day here walking along the beach and it’s surroundings, and finished it off with a great walk.

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

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Headland Park Walking Track

View Over Sydney Harbour from the Headland Park Walking Track

Headland Park Walking Track

The Headland Park Walking Track is a scenic and historic trail that runs from Balmoral Beach to Georges Head in Mosman, Sydney, Australia. The walking track is approximately 4.5 kilometers in length and offers stunning views of the harbour and surrounding coastline. The portion we walked was approximately 2 kilometers long.

Starting at Balmoral Beach the track winds its way along the coast, passing through beautiful parks and natural landscapes. As you make their way along the trail, you pass several historic landmarks as well as outstanding views of Sydney and the Harbour.

How to Get There

We parked at Balmoral Beach where we found a long duration park area. This was great because most of the parking there had a 2 hour limit which is not long enough. Sign posts placed along the track give direction to the differing destinations you can get to. Well maintained, the track varies from flat sections to very steep ones. The climb up from Balmoral takes in around 300 steps. Although more spaced out on the other side of the ridge, it descends another 300 steps. Remember you will need to climb them all again on the return walk.

Sign Post
Signs on the Track
Stone steps
Stone steps on the Walking Track
Track
Part of the Track

Spectacular Views

If the going starts to get tough, there are many places to stop , relax and take in the spectacular views over Sydney Harbour. If you take some snacks and drinks, it’s a great place to stop and refuel.

View Over Sydney Harbour from the Headland Park Walking Track
View Over Sydney Harbour

Georges Head Battery

The Georges Head Battery is a historic military installation that dates back to the early 1900s. It was built to protect Sydney Harbour from possible attacks during times of war. The battery features a range of structures, including gun emplacements, ammunition stores, and command posts. Visitors can explore the site and learn about its history through interpretive signs and displays.

There are more great views from here too, with the main CBD area and Circular Quay in Sydney visible.

Cannon emplacement overlooking Sydney Harbour at Georges Head
Cannon emplacement overlooking Sydney Harbour at Georges Head
View Over Sydney Harbour from Georges Head
View Over Sydney Harbour from Georges Head

Gunners’ Barracks

Another significant feature of the Headland Park Walking Track is the Gunners’ Barracks, which is a historic building built in the early 1800s. The building served as a barracks for soldiers stationed at Georges Head Battery, and later as a residence for military officers. Today, the Gunners’ Barracks has been restored and transformed into a luxury restaurant and event space, offering visitors a unique dining experience with stunning views of the harbor.

From Georges’ Head you can look down onto the restored buildings before continuing along the track.

Gunners' Barracks Headland Park Walking Track
Gunners’ Barracks

6 Inch Gun Battery

Georges Heights 6 Inch Gun Battery was constructed in the early 1900s and was designed to protect the entrance to Sydney Harbour from naval attack. Steep sections around the gun emplacement are fenced off, but access available about 20m further along the track. This allows you to enter the emplacement and see the gun up close. If you miss the gun and see the sculpture park, you have gone too far. The gun site is almost directly in front of the Sculpture Park.

6-Inch guns emplacement Headland Park Walking Track
6-Inch guns emplacement

Sculpture Park

The Headland Park Walking Track also features a sculpture park, which is home to a range of contemporary art installations by Australian and international artists. Scattered around a large grassed area, the sculptures are surrounded by buildings that used to house military personnel who manned the local guns.

Sculpture
Wooden Sculpture Headland Park Walking Track
Wooden Sculpture
Sculpture Headland Park Walking Track
Sculpture
Sculpture Headland Park Walking Track
Sculpture
Old Military Buildings
Old Military Buildings

Chowder Bay

We ended our walk at Chowder Bay on Sydney Harbour. Several cafés and restaurants with views of the harbour give you a choice of places to eat. We bought take away coffees and drank them overlooking the small beach before tackling the return walk.

Overall, the Headland Park Walking Track is a great place to visit for anyone interested in history, nature, and art.