As usual, I have been for a walk over the weekend. I again went to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and decided that I would head to an area called Apple Tree Bay. This is an area popular with those who have boats, jet skis and the like, so can be a little noisy! I don’t have a boat, but decided to have a walk over there just to see what it’s like, other than noisy. The answer is still a very nice area. Away from the boat ramp it is also a lot quieter, meaning I still got my peaceful, quiet time surrounded by nature.

I love the bark on paperbark trees. The colours are always more interesting than you think from afar. This particular bark belongs to Prickly-leaved paperbark, or Melaleuca styphelioides, which is my favourite species of paperbark.

Here is the same tree taken from a short distance away. I couldn’t get the whole tree in, as I would have had to go into the water. They are large trees when mature.

One reason why I enjoy walking through national parks is because I see random landforms like this sandstone rock. As I have an interest in geology, I like seeing stuff like this. I do need to try and find time to do some reading on the geology of the Sydney area.

Being in a national park that I frequently visit, the views over the banks of the creek are similar to the area that I usually go walking in, just in a different spot. I still love the views and I could have spent the whole day in the national park today-if it wasn’t so hot!

The creek that feeds into Apple Tree Bay is called, unsurprisingly, Apple Tree Creek. This is a view up the said creek. Some would say that it’s no different to any other area I’ve been to within this national park, but do enjoy spending time down here. More than most other places, if I’m honest!

As I was walking back to my car, I took this photo of a view over Cowan Creek, which is what Apple Tree Creek feeds into.

This is the road I walked along for a lot of my walk this morning. I could have driven along it instead, but that misses the point of going for a walk. So walking I did. It was only about three kilometres there and back, maybe not even that. It was a very nice, easy walk.

I saw this bird today. It is a superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae. It was having a spot of breakfast as I walked past. They apparently have elaborate courtship dances and are good mimics of the noses in their surroundings. It’s one of only two lyrebird species found in Australia-the other being the Albert lyrebird.

I had a very nice morning in the national park. I enjoyed a walk, had some peace and quiet and saw a bird that I have never seen before. I even stopped at the cafe core some coffee and cake. A successful and enjoyable morning all round!