Walk: Long Trail, Duffys Forest

Registration essential

This is one of the best wildflower walks in Ku-ring-gai Chase. Laterite along the first kilometre or so supports many waratahs, some of which will hopefully be in bloom. Following the main trail north brings you into more open sandstone country with two or three species of boronia and many other flowering species including pink wax flower Eriostemon australasius. The lookout at the end of the trail is one of the best in the park, a place to linger and enjoy the view and a snack, and it may be ablaze with waxflowers.

Date: Sunday 31 August
Time: 8.45 for 9 am start to approx 2 pm
Length: 10 km (5 km there, return on same route)
Grade: Moderate
Meet: Start of the Perimeter Trail (that joins the Long Trail) at the end Cullamine Road (near junction with Bulara Street)
How to get there: Follow Booralie Rd for 4 km from Terrey Hills centre, past the country club entrance whereafter the road sweeps left past the gun club entrance. Take the first right turn after the bend and follow sealed road for 0.5 km reaching a T-junction and turning right onto Mallawa Rd for 0.35 km to another T- junction. There you drive downhill to the left on a wide but rough gravel road. The road turns right at the bottom, curving round to the park entrance gate. There’s a broad, rough area of verges to park on, though it can be popular with cyclists’ vehicles on weekends.
Safety risks: It’s a longish walk but relatively safe apart from sun and wind exposure. Loved by cyclists who are mostly civilised, but keep your eyes and ears pierced in interest of personal safety.
Bring: Wildflower ID books, camera, plenty of snacks and water
Footwear: What you usually wear on bushwalks — easy track surface though with short rocky sections
Limit: 20
Leader: John Martyn (0425 830 260)