Grass trees
Saturday 4 October: Day trips in Namadgi #7 – Castle Hill followed by Gibraltar Peak followed by Farrer’s grave. Maps: Williamsdale, Tidbinbilla. Leaders: Jenny and Rob H. Transport: ~$24 per car.
6 of us drove in 2 cars to the car park on Tidbinbilla Road; then to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
Further Information
The advertised walk to a gorge on the Gudgenby River could not take place, as the land owner would not give permission.
Summary
Walk 1: 3.2km and 310m climb | Walk 2: 7.5km and 400m climb
Distance: 10.7km | Climb: 710m | Time: 8.20am-1.50pm (5hrs 30mins), including breaks and driving | Grading: M/E-M; M(9)
Track Maps
Track overview
Track W1
Track W2
Photographs
Photographs are available, where you can start a large sized slide show.
Google Earth
Download the Google Earth .kmz file here.
Track Notes
Walk 1
A stroll up Castle Hill, after exercising a few different careful fence crossing techniques (both for our sakes and the sake of the fence). Plenty of huffing and puffing as we ascended. A blue sky day, but a bit of haze took the edge off the view. A look at the ‘tooth tors’. Views to Gibraltar Peak from the top and all round.
Walk 2
We left from the Dalsetta car park and wandered up the new trail to Gibraltar Peak. As mentioned in the signage at the Gibraltar saddle, masses of Dogwood out in flower. I don’t think one would see it better than today. Dense on each side of the trail below the top and near the lookout.
But is it Dogwood? Jen has been researching: I have been trying to pin down that creamy flower. ‘Dogwood’ when you look on Plant Net NSW, is the common name for cassinia aculeata which was that sticky cassinia we saw a lot of. But we all assumed the dogwood was the lovely creamy flowered plant that lined the pathway and that was said to be a special plant for Aboriginal people.
Who has got it wrong? I also looked up pomaderris which looked the right shape. There is a pomaderris pallida that is only found in the Cotter and Paddys River area, with creamy flowers and leaves that looked the right shape.
Post Script: Experts reckon it’s yellow Pomaderris (Pomaderris elliptica) – called yellow dogwood (particularly in Tasmania).
At the top I took the opportunity to search for GC13WCY Rock of Gibraltar. Faffed about a bit and finally pulled out the spoiler photo. With my GPSr at around 9m from GZ, the rocks came into alignment and the cache was revealed.
Back up with the others, lunch was enjoyed along with the huge views. I’m sure I had a doze.
Returned via the fire trail, just for the difference. Called in at the Grass trees – I love them.
Back at the car, we decided to call it an early day.
Party
6 walkers – Jenny and Rob H (leaders), Lucy L, Nerolie P, Rhonda S, me.