Continuing with our native flora theme…
Took a walk around Mount Keira on the weekend – a mountain (actually an old volcanic plug) overlooking Wollongong. The mountainside is lush with rainforest…
And resplendid in all varieties of palms.
Banksia
Banksias are ubiquitous to the east coast of Australia, where I live, but nevertheless are quite striking when in full flower.
Surprisingly, they are still striking even when their flowers have dried and withered.
Black Forest
Nowhere near the real Black Forest, but here is a fair imitation of the celebrated cake, at a very popular German bakery in Wentworth Falls.
More Autumn Glory
The autumn colour was still out in force last weekend at Wentworth Falls. Beautiful maples and perfect light made it a pleasure to photograph.
Rainbow Connection
Jamieson Valley already looks wonderful on a sunny day…
However, it is enchanting when a rainbow appears.
Reverse Waterfall
It was so blustery on Saturday that Wentworth Falls seemed to be flowing in reverse. The scene was spectacular. I stood and watched for a long time, even though it got a little wet.
Close to the Edge
One of the thrills of Wentworth Falls is walking along the ledge tracks.
Past the waterfall is the start of ledge track. Here, you are up against the cliff face, navigating the natural ledges, with a 100 metre drop only a few feet away.
It’s actually not as dangerous as it sounds, but I wouldn’t recommend the track to anyone suffering from vertigo!
Mind the Drop…
From the lookout, I walked down lots of steps, to the top of the falls. Here, you can cross via a set of stepping stones. Recent renovations have added a safety barrier – a good idea since the drop is quite substantial!
Wentworth Falls
Nothing is more beautiful than the Blue Mountains on a clear day. That’s what we got on Saturday, although the wind did threaten to blow us off the cliff tops at times!
We avoided the traffic jam of Katoomba by heading straight to Wentworth Falls. Apart from less people, it also has some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere in the mountains. Here, the cliff rises 200 metres from the valley floor, creating some spectacular waterfalls.
Historical Balmain
Balmain is one of Sydney’s older suburbs. Although you wouldn’t think of it now, it started off as a working class suburb, with lots of tiny worker’s cottages, which I will post at a later stage.
The main street though is quite regal, with a grand town hall and a dignified Working Men’s Institute building. Established in 1865, so Mr. Thornton’s counterparts must have stood here!
Static and Silence 