Diary 2026 - Walks & other activities

Above: Typical bush track along the walk

The walk previously announced for 18 August will be substituted with the following walk.

Going in August to the Wildflower Gardens there is more chance of seeing a better display of wildflowers. 

(The previously scheduled walk from Hills Metro will be rescheduled for September or later... see below.)

Tuesday 18 August

KU-RING-GAI WILDFLOWER GARDENS

Mona Vale Road, St Ives 

JOINT [SCOG] & [NATURE HIKERS] WALK 

Transport & meet up:

Train:

Get to Gordon Station on the North Shore Line before 9.35am

We will be catching the Bus 197 from the Gordon Bus Interchange Stand A, at 9.45am.

Exit the station and turn left at the top of the stairs, (towards the Pacific Highway side)

It is a 15min bus ride from Gordon Station along Mona Vale Rd to the Ku Ring Gai Wildlife Gardens.

Car:   If coming by car, there is a Car Park inside the Wildflower Gardens, and the walk starts and finishes here.

Bus from the Northern Beaches: Catch the Bus 197 from Mona Vale Bus Interchange, get off at the stop after the St Ives Show Ground, plan to be there by 10am.

Description:

We will get off the bus near the Wildlife Gardens on Mona Vale Rd.  The bus stop is near the intersection of Mona Vale Rd & Richmond Ave. From the bus stop it is about a 300m walk along Richmond Ave and into the Wildflower Gardens, here we will meet up with guys who have arrived by other means.

We will have our usual intro circle etc at a small picnic area, just inside the gate and opposite the Visitors Centre.

The Ku Ring Gai Wildflower Gardens covers 123 hectares of urban bush land and is managed by the Ku ring gai Council.  It features heathland and tall forest, sandstone outcrops, ponds, gullies and waterfalls.

So, forget the “tiptoeing through the tulips” come and wander through wildflowers with a group of like-minded handsome men!

After our introduction we will go to the Visitors Centre, they will have a display of the plants that are currently in flower.

The walk starts:  From the Visitors Centre a short walk along the access road to the car park, where we join the Smith Track.  This track is along the flat area of the ridge, and we will see Scribbly Gum and Bloodwood trees.   Next, we join the Fitzgerald Track and then the Meuller Track which starts to descend into the valley of the Ku ring gai Creek.  This section has some steep steps.   If you have a trekking stick I recommend you bring it.  Here we will see the landscape change, with rock ledges and more open vegetation, with tall Red Gum & Coachwood trees. Along this section we will stop for a coffee break.

Early Exit:   At the bottom of the descent, we meet a “Management Trail” you take the left turn and follow this back to the bottom of Kitchener St, then walk up hill to Mona Vale Rd and a bus back to Gordon Station, (refer to map below).

The walk will continue, we cross the Management Trail and continue along a bush path, following the Ku ring gai Creek.   We will stop for lunch at Phantom Falls.

After lunch we continue following the Ku ring gai Creek to an area called Whipbird Gully, there is an opportunity to stop for a rest.  From here we turn right and follow up Ferntree Gully.   The trail then ascends back up to the plateau area.   We pass the Fern House, with a display of ferns, then there is a boardwalk over a pond area, which is an “upland swamp” with its unique ecological system, then the walk finishes at the car park where we started.

Transport home:   We walk back to Mona Vale Rd, catch Bus 197 back to Gordon Station (about 30 min frequency).

Distance & grade:   The walk is about 5km and the grade medium.   There are some steep steps that are reasonably formed and places for a rest.

Bring:  Your cheerful self, lunch & snacks, a water bottle.  Sturdy walking shoes, (a trekking stick if you normally use one), wear appropriate clothing, a hat and sunscreen.

For more info   John 0414727060

Date to be announced

The walk below was originally posted for 18 August, and will be rescheduled for September or later. Instead, a walk around the Wildflower Gardens has been substituted for 18 August (see above). Going in August to the Wildflower Gardens there is more chance of seeing a better display of wildflowers. 

HILLS SHOWGROUND METRO to CASTLE HILL (via Cattai Creek)

JOINT [SCOG] & [NATURE HIKERS] WALK 

Photo: typical of the path along Cattai Creek  

This is a short, medium grade Walk around the Castle Hill Showground & adjoining bushland.

Travelling to / from:  We start at Hills Showground Metro Station.  Be there before 10 a.m.

From Central (Platform 26) the trip takes 38 minutes.  If travelling from Epping (Platform 6), the duration is 10 minutes.  Metro services run frequently every 4 minutes in each direction.

For the trip home from Castle Hill Metro Station, there are frequent services to the City via Epping.

Meeting-up:  After exiting the Metro, turn right, cross the road & follow the footpath to a small Park.  There are take-away coffee shops here, for those needing a caffeine fix!

It is here, at the Park, that we will do the usual 'meet & introduction circle / numbers', before starting the Walk at 10 a.m.

Detailed description of Walk:  The first section is along a shared path around Castle Hill Showground.  It then follows a bush track through the Fred Caterson Reserve & along Cattai Creek.  There will be a stop for Morning Tea / Coffee, etc., & later on we will have Lunch beside Cattai Creek.

For those wanting an early exit, the opportunity arises near the Lunch spot.  A short Walk into the adjoining suburb of Knightsbridge, where a Bus service returns you to Castle Hill Metro Station.

After Lunch the Walk follows a trail leading down into the valley of Cattai Creek.  There is a short steep climb out of the Valley back to the ridge.

From here we follow Fire Trails & formed paths to Linksley Avenue, where we catch a Bus to Castle Hill Metro Station.

Distance Travelled & Grade:  The distance walked from Hills Showground Metro Station to Linksley Avenue, Castle Hill is calculated to be approximately 7 km.

It is regarded that this Walk is of a moderate nature (say a Grade 3) & therefore it's emphasised that walkers need to judge the difficulty against their personal fitness & for it not to be beyond their ability.

Degree of difficulty:  Apart from the short up-hill climb, it is a medium grade.

If you have a Trekking Stick you are advised to bring it. 

THEREFORE, INTENDING WALKERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE SUCH TERRAIN AS MENTIONED.  Those unable are advised not to attend.

Personal Responsibility & Disclaimer:  Walkers are reminded to consider their level of fitness before committing to this Walk.  This is an informal group, and the organisers cannot be held responsible for those who enter into the Walk without having the sufficient level of fitness required or adequate preparation.  Nor are the organisers responsible for accident or injury.  Participate at your own risk.

Bring:  your cheerful self, Sufficient Food & Water, suitable sturdy Walking Shoes, appropriate Clothing to suit the weather conditions, Towel (if required) and First Aid Kit.  Remember this is mid-winter, it could be cold especially when we start out.  Adequate sun protection should be observed.

Leader:  John W. may be contacted on 041 472 7060 for any enquiries. 

Map: showing the route for this Walk commencing from Hills Showground Metro (highlighted in Red)

Date to be announced

MEADOWBANK to PARRAMATTA

This is a pleasant, non-strenuous walk along familiar pathways. (See map below.)

The walk is around 9 kilometres from Meadowbank to Parramatta. But it would be shorter if one catches the new Light-Rail Tram for the last section between Rydalmere and Parramatta.

We will get good views of the placid river and some new landscaping. And we might see some signs of the new high-rise suburb on the north side called Melrose Park and the two bridges planned to connect it to the fast metro train at Olympic Park on the south side.

Exit-points: There are a few exit-points via bus and ferry along the walk.

Bring Lunch, snacks and drinking water.

Meet at Meadowbank station at 10:05am. 

Enquiries: Mark Matheson 9559 5502 (preferred) or 0409 617 778 (emergencies)