North Head Fairfax Walk
Thursday 5th October
The group met at Circular Quay for the 9.10 ferry bit we arrived early and caught the one before!
Participants-Natalie, Colin, Chris and Peter
After heavy rain the night before we had bright blue skies for our walk with very strong winds once we arrived at North Head.
Along the way-
*Coffee stop at Manly Wharf
*Bus to North Head…. eventually. (Natalie apologises for her angry sounding phone call to Keolis Downer transport company when the bus appeared to not pick us up but then did.)
*Walked from the beginning of the Parade ground area to North Head taking the 2 short detours to lookout spots towards Balmoral Beach.
*We walked down the paths of the cemetery to the bottom of the fence noting many headstones and ages of deaths.
*Saw the most stunning display of flannel flowers everywhere.
* Other native flowers were also good along the pathways
*We then walked along a short section of the Memorial Walkway to the first Memorial. Then we were able to turn right and take a path towards the Fairfax Walk. This section had previously been fenced off after the bushfires of 2020.
*There were new paths, fencing and a stunning lookout with sandstone blocks carved with Aboriginal place names on the first section of the Fairfax Walk.
*The views looking northwards of the water and cliffs were breathtaking.
*The wind picked up as we neared the second lookout and it was challenging to walk into the wind.
*The second lookout is named Burragula which is “the time of the sunset where we can watch the sun settle behind saltwater Country.”
*The city views were spectacular today due to the wind blowing all pollution away.
*We walked back to the café but decided to catch the next bus down to Manly and have lunch near the wharf.
*Once we were back at Circular Quay Peter departed for home. Chris, Natalie and Colin had a quick walk to the Opera House to see the sculpture of Aboriginal middens made out of oyster shells.
Time taken From about 8.45 to 2pm with morning tea and lunch
Distance-About 4km walking plus around the Opera House.
PS Here is a link to the story about Nurse Annie Egan, whose headstone we saw today in the Quarantine Cemetery.
https://www.harbourtrust.gov.au/en/discover-and-learn/harbour-history/historical-people/annie-egan/
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