I love walking in national parks. This time, it is my favourite one, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park (read more here). It is always a place in which I love spending time. Located to the north os Sydney, it is ten to fifteen minutes from home by car. My last visit was on the 22nd February and I spent around three hours there enjoying the scenery, the animals and the warm weather. Today’s post is all about what I got up to whilst I was there.
I always like to go and have a walk through the mangroves. The specific species is the river mangrove, Aegiceras corniculatum. I love walking through these mangroves as they are a little different every time I have a visit.
The fruit of this species is a rather interesting looking fruit-long and pointy, almost like fingers.
On this visit, the tide was out. I was able to see the many little crabs that live in the mud. I usually have rathe poor timing in this regard, so it was more luck that I got to see them out and feeding. here are a few photos of those that I saw that day.
Just behind the mangroves, are two types of vegetation called Coastal Saltmarsh and Swamp Oak Flood Plain Forest. Both vegetation types are endangered here in New South Wales, with growing in intertidal areas. They contain grasses, sedges and swamp she-oak, which you can read about here.
As always, I am rather fond of gum tree bark. Fourteen years since moving to Australia, I still love the colour of the bark. On each tree the colours vary by the time of year, the time of day, the species and the weather. You never see quite the same colours twice, even on a tree that you walk past every single day! Here are my favourites from my park visit.
Another tree that I really enjoy seeing is the old man banksia, or Banksia serrata. The flowers are quirky in an Australian sort of way, but it is the bark that I find most interesting. It’s the reason the tree has the common name it does. Wrinkly, knobbly and and generally knurly, it’s shaped by the tough Australian landscape that’s now very close to my heart.
Another reason why I love walking in national parks is for the views that you come across along the way. As much as I have seen these views several times now, they never get boring. The trees, Cowan and Cockle Creeks and little sign of other people are all wonderful. There is also the sound track of the local birds to keep you company. I certainly don’t miss the sounds of traffic, people and the rush of living in Sydney!
I also love seeing these massive monitor lizards here. Most visits to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park involves seeing at least one of them. Having grown up in the UK, seeing these lizards is still one of the most interesting and enjoyable aspects of life here. I have always loved nature, but Australian nature is odd in the best way possible.
Overall, I spent around three hours here, although I was planning an hour or so. Getting out into nature is my favourite way to relax after a busy week at work, so I have no doubt that I will be back again soon!