The track winds its way around to the other side of the baths and eventually around the other side of point.
Here we bid farewell to the baths and to Oatley Park. I hope you have enjoyed your armchair walk.
Tag Archives: oatley
Autumn in the Bush – The Baths
The baths are positively old school. With old school change rooms and steps…
Old school diving blocks…
And an old school pontoon, too.
It’s more lively in the middle of summer…
But it was almost completely deserted last weekend – I say almost because I saw one hardy lady come out of the baths and into the change room!
Autumn in the Bush – Fishing Part 2
While some people were fishing off watercraft, others were fishing off land. This father and son pair are fishing off a jetty in Oatley Bay, next to the bathing area. In summer, the baths are certainly more popular, but now that the temperature’s dropped the jetty would be a spot to snap up on a weekend.
Autumn in the Bush – River Side
The track eventually descends 50m or so down to the Georges River. It is cooler and wetter here, so there are a few ferns growing along with the grass trees.
The wildflowers that grow here are different to the ones on top of the ridge. Flannel flowers are absent here. Instead we see the first spray of wattle…
A type of pea flower…
And another one of my favourites, heath bell flowers, which are making their first appearance.
Autumn in the Bush – Wildflowers
The track around Oatley Park peninsula is a simple, sandy affair. It starts by following the ridge line above the water through dry eucalypt forest. In the shady spots you can see plenty of grass trees growing (of substantial size).
And in the sunny spots a few flannel flowers are starting to bloom. I really like these flowers and want them in my garden – if only I can find a nursery that sells them.
Autumn in the Bush – Fishing
Well, there was a little activity. A few dog walkers on the track, and on the water, two fishermen in a dinghy enjoying the mid-morning tranquility.
Autumn in the Bush – River View
Sometimes you don’t know how much you miss something until you experience it again. When I lived in Mortdale I visited Oatley Park several times a month – sometimes several times a week. But now that I’m a whole 7.8km away (according to Google Maps) my visits have become more scarce.
Yesterday’s visit was the first in almost a year (or perhaps more). It was on a glorious morning. I walked my usual circuit around the Oatley Park peninsula. Half way, I sat down on ‘my’ rock overlooking Lime Kiln Bay, an inlet that flows into Georges River further on. It was so still, although not quiet due to some cockatoos nearby. The sun was so warm that even at 9.30am I was able to sunbathe with only a t-shirt.
Bleeding Trees
No murder’s occurred here, just the sap of a gum tree bleeding through.
A Sunny Day
A lovely Spring day on Oatley Bay. Perfect time for a walk.
Signs of Spring
These fuchsia bells can be found everywhere in the Sydney and Blue Mountains, usually in cooler, sheltered areas. Rather pretty they are, too.
Static and Silence 