1 Dec (Sun) 2024: BUNDEENA TO WATTAMOLLA (E, 8km) ** Date changed to Sunday. The coast walk from Bundeena to Wattamolla takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in Royal National Park, including Wedding Cake Rock (and the fence) and Marley Beach. There are a couple of places to swim if summer makes aa appearance. Car swap required, we'll meet at Wattamolla then drive to Bundeena to start. (Driving time from mid-mountains to Wattamolla is just over 1.5 hours, which is about what it takes to drive to the Glow-Worm tunnel - and the road is better!). We should be finished by 3pm, to miss the return traffic. Or you can have dinner with us at Bundeena and return after the madding crowds have left. Limit: 12. Map: Royal National Park.

1 Dec (Sun) 2024: MAGIC IN SPRINGWOOD (E) FIREFLY MAGIC IN SPRINGWOOD (E) SPRINGWOOD FIREFLY MAGIC (E) A repeat of Friday's walk. It's that time of the year again. A short easy walk of less than 1 km down to the creek at Birdwood Gully to watch the fireflies doing their mating dance. Sheer fairyland. Once they've exhausted themselves, we'll walk a bit further to Madeline Glen to see the thousands of glowworms. Return the same way once you've had enough. What better way to spend a Sunday evening. Children and visitors welcome. Limit: 20. Map: Springwood.

1 Dec (Sun) 2024: SWIMMING HOLE SERIES (E-M) NORTONS BASIN - WALLACIA. 3km return walk. Descend down to Nortons Basin, a very large pool on the Nepean River near Wallacia. Rock-hop up to St. Johns Basin (300m) and return for swimming. Ascend back up to carpark at end of day. Rocky/scrambly track but not overly steep. Some artefacts from the building of Warragamba Dam to be found. Limit: 15. Map: Penrith .

4 Dec (Wed) 2024: SPRINGWOOD (E-M) A half day walk: 6km approx: From Lawson Lookout through Sassafras Gully Reserve following Magdala Creek to the Batman track, then onto a disused fire road to Council Land at the northern end of Farm Road. Next there a short walk up Farm Road to Burns Road and down Spring Street to the tennis court car park. From there back into Sassafras Gully Reserve. We will walk down a rocky spur through Christine Pass to the Magdala track then onto Lawson Lookout in Raymond Road and the cars. Bring morning tea. Limit: 16. Map: Springwood.

4 Dec (Wed) 2024: WOLLANGAMBE #2 (M) I haven't done a lilo trip for ages, so let's go! Start at Cathedral of Ferns camp. Walk in 3.5km via the Serendipity exit track, a leisurely 2km paddle down the Wollangambee River canyon to the big bend exit. Then the 3km relatively easy uphill walk back to cars. You need a good lilo, wetsuit/thermals (water might be cold) and lunch, dry clothes etc in dry bag. I'll send a more detailed list nearer the date. You also must be a reasonably competent swimmer. Let me know if you've never done a lilo trip before. NOTE: The club has two lilos for loan if you can't beg borrow or buy one. Limit: 8. Map: Wollangambee.

5 Dec (Thu) 2024: MAGIC IN SPRINGWOOD (E) FIREFLY MAGIC IN SPRINGWOOD (E) SPRINGWOOD FIREFLY MAGIC (E) A repeat of Friday's walk. It's that time of the year again. A short easy walk of less than 1 km down to the creek at Birdwood Gully to watch the fireflies doing their mating dance. Sheer fairyland. Once they've exhausted themselves, we'll walk a bit further to Madeline Glen to see the thousands of glowworms. Return the same way once you've had enough. What better way to spend a Thursday evening. Children and visitors welcome. Limit: 20. Map: Springwood.

5 Dec (Thu) 2024: OLYMPIC PARK (E-M) Bike Ride. Parramatta to Olympic park along the Parramatta River. Return by the same route. Mostly cycle paths with a few quiet roads and a few footpaths on busy roads. 35 km round trip and flat. Morning tea at Ermington and lunch at Albion hotel, Parramatta - buy it or bring your own. Limit: 15. Map: Gregory.

6 Dec (Fri) 2024: SPRINGWOOD FIREFLY MAGIC (E) This walk is full. See the 2 other days for another opportunity unless it's the only day you can do it. It's that time of the year again. A short easy walk of less that 1 km down to the creek at Birdwood Gully to watch the fireflies doing their mating dance. Sheer fairyland. Once they've exhausted themselves, we'll walk a bit further to Madeline Glen to see the thousands of glowworms. Return the same way once you've had enough. What better way to spend a Friday evening. Children and visitors welcome. If this date doesn't suit you I can run other dates. Let me know. Limit: 20. Map: Springwood.

7 Dec (Sat) 2024: CLUB XMAS PARTY All members and partners are welcome to attend the annual Christmas Party! commencing 12 pm (lunchtime). The party will be fully catered i.e. all food will be provided including gluten free and veg options. BYO drinks.BYO plates, bowls, cutlery etc and chairs. It is also an opportunity for new members to come along and get to know the leaders and meet other members of the club. On arrival make sure you come and see a Committee member for your raffle ticket for the lucky door prize. There are 10 prizes to be won, valued at $100 each.Please book onto the activity and notify us if you are also bringing someone with you so that we have numbers for catering purposes.

7 Dec (Sat) 2024: GLENBROOK TUNNEL (E) **Walk FULL**The long awaited opening walk through Glenbrook Tunnel! This short 6km walk begins at Lover’s Walk, leading to Elizabeth Lookout. We'll descend the stairs to the viaduct, follow the highway up, and continue along the second train line deviation to reach the tunnel. Afterward, we'll return to the cars with a side excursion to discover the ruins of Dunn's Sawmill. The walk should finish in time for anyone planning to attend the Christmas party. Limit: 12. Map: Penrith.

7 Dec (Sat) 2024: NEPEAN RIVER, BENTS BASIN (E-H) This is a 6km return section of the Nepean River from Bents Basin to Teresa Park Wier that can not be negotiated by kayak. We will be bush bashing, rock hopping and liloing along the Nepean River Limit: 4. Map: Warragamba .

7 Dec (Sat) 2024: NORTH LAWSON (E) Cancelled. Rain. A pre Christmas party walk to work up an appetite, just down from where the party will be. We'll do a shortened version of Empire Pass but still encompassing Dantes Glen, St Michaels Falls, an unnamed falls and beautiful iron coated Fairy Falls. Less than 2 km. If we finish early we can walk up to the waterfall at the head of Wilson Park and admire the recently restored historic map of Australia Limit: 20. Map: Katoomba .

11 Dec (Wed) 2024: BIRRABANG CANYON (M) Birrabang brook is a pretty creek on the southern side of Bells line of Road, with a couple of short canyon sections. There are no abseils, but there are some shallow wades and maybe a chest-high wade. We will exit off track up a gully onto Dalpura ridge, then follow a footpad back to the road. Allow the full day to do this walk. About 6km, 220m total ascent. Please contact me if you have any questions. Limit: 8. Map: Mt Wilson.

14 Dec (Sat) 2024: MONKEY ROPES CREEK PLUS SWIMMING HOLE (M) This walk is now full. Monkey Ropes Creek is a pleasant rainforest creek, cool and shady on a hot day. From the Oaks Picnic area we make our way down a ridge to the "y" in Monkey on the topo map (745551), then down stream, ending at the big pool on Erskine Creek for a leisurely lunch and swim. Return via the Pisgah Rock track - about a 170 meter ascent with some straightforward rock scrambling. Not a long walk. About 5 kilometers if we leave a car at the Pisgah Rock parking area. Limit: 8. Map: Penrith.

14 Dec (Sat) 2024: WENTWORTH FALLS, ROCKY KNOB- ERSKINE CREEK (H-Exp) Follow the Erskine range trail to Rocky Knob Ridge, follow the ridge down to Harris creek then down to Erskine creek.Go down Erskine creek to Kiara creek then up Kiara onto Rocky Knob ridge and follow the firetrail to cars. Roughly 18kms, will involve some offtrack, rocks hopping, swimming, scrub and 300m of descent and ascent up the ridges. Time permitting explore down to a pool. Will most likely be a longer day, so be prepared. Limit: 6. Map: Jamison.

Introduction Walk

15 Dec (Sun) 2024: NORTH WINMALEE SHAWS CREEK (EM) An afternoon walk for those who go to church or whatever and so we walk out in the cool of the late afternoon. It's only a 1 km walk down to Shaws Creek where there is a waterfall, a lovely swimming hole with rocks to jump off and an amazing camp cave. Time to laze on the rock platform and explore up the creek. The walk is half along a fire trail and then descends to the creek via a slot and a fairly steep track which can be slippery if there is too much leaf litter. But we'll take it slowly and carefully. This magnificent spot is worth the effort. Children welcome. Limit: 15. Map: Springwood.

15 Dec (Sun) 2024: VALLEY OF THE DINOSAURS (M-H, grade 4 MH) The Valley of the Dinosaurs is a spectacular gorge in Mugii Murum Ban SCA, near Capertee. See why this spectacular area needs to be better protected for the future. We will visit the Ultimate Slot first, then enter the Valley of the Dinosaurs gorge from its entrance, then follow it up and exit via an easy side slot. Then view the gorge from the top and visit the top of the Ultimate Slot, nearby. If the gate on the 4WD trail is open, we will drive to the top in my 4WD in 2 trips if no other 4WD is available. Otherwise theres a 1.8 km each way walk from the bottom. The walk is partly off-track with a 4 (MH) grade. About 7km, 6 hours and 200m elevation gain. Add 3.6km and 200m if we walk from the bottom. There is some easy rock scrambling and no difficult parts. There is a description of a variation of the walk in the book Mugii Murum-ban SCA by Keats, Fox and Bolotin. Joint walk with UBMBC. Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/nmpyeC7DLCDadKxb7 Limit: 12. Map: Glen Alice.

19 Dec (Thu) 2024: CYCLISTS CHRISTMAS LUNCH (E, Cycle) Ride Old Castlereagh Road, Cassola place and River cycle path out to Glenmore Park, via Factory Road and then Schoolhouse Creek cycleway then back to Old Castlereagh Road for our Christmas lunch. Please book on website and advise if lunching at Long House(for booking purposes)- approx 25km Limit: 20. Map: Gregory.

22 Dec (Sun) 2024: SWIMMING HOLE SERIES (M) Grose River Float - Kids welcome - 3km walk down to the Grose River from Mountain ave, Yarramundi. We will then float down 6km of the river to Navua Reserve, Yarramundi. Bring something to float on, we will inflate with portable pump once down at the river. Car shuffle required. If water levels too low, we will just walk back out the way we came in and spend the day swimming in this part of the Grose. Limit: 13. Map: kurrajong.

28 Dec (Sat) 2024: SOUTH SPRINGWOOD WITH SWIMMING HOLES (E) Start at Martins Lookout and descend to Glenbrook Creek via the new track. Walk up the creek past several swimming possibilities to ascend Magdela Creek, past Martin Falls and the Blue Hole to have an early lunch or morning tea at the base of beautiful Magdela Falls where swimming is also possible. Ascend back to the cars via Batman Track. About 6 km round walk. Limit: 15. Map: Springwood.

30 Dec (Mon) 2024: RIVER CAVES CANYON, NEWNES PLATEAU (M) River caves is an easy canyon and the walk in is easy if taken slowly. Suitable for adventurous children as well. The canyon is really quite amazing with dark sections. You will get wet up to the knees at a minimum but last year many people opted for deep wades rather than climb up and over like me because the water was quite pleasant and they were dry by the time we got back to the cars. Return the same way to experience the canyon from the other direction. Less than 4 km. After lunch we'll return to visit Dargens Arch behind Bell Station for those who wish to. A short fairly easy walk to go over and under this remarkable arch in a pretty gully. Less than 2 km. Limit: 20. Map: Rock Hill.

1 Jan 2025 (Wed) 2025: ERSKINE CREEK, GLENBROOK (E, swim) Celebrate the first day of 2025 with a swim! One of the best, most secluded, easiest to access swimming holes in the area. Drive through Glenbrook National Park (actually it's Blue Mountains NP), to the carpark for the Jack Evans track. Walk down a track to a sandy beach on Erskine Creek. We'll explore up or downstream and return the same way. Bring picnic lunch and something that floats to help with exloring (air bed or pink flamingo/donut/etc left over from Julie's Colo R trip would be good). Around 3km return, but 150m down and then back up to the cars. Limit: 15. Map: Penrith.

2 Jan (Thu) 2025: NORTH LEURA BUSHCARE (E) Spend a morning in beautiful surroundings at Brahma Kamaris doing bush regeneration. All instructions and equipment supplied. Bring morning tea although this is often supplied as well. Stay for a complimentary vegetation lunch. Limit: 8. Map: Katoomba.

Introduction Walk

5 Jan 2025 (Sun) 2025: PARADISE POOL LINDEN (E) Descend to Paradise Pool via a reasonably easy bush track which we'll take slowly. Nice views into the valley. Go past the remains of the steam-driven pumping station when water was pumped up to service the steam trains. Spend a while at this magical big pool with its sandy beach and waterfall. Ascend via the normal "tourist" track. We'll walk part of the original 1814 Cox's Rd which was the first way across the Blue Mountains. Appreciate the difficulties those first builders had building and maintaining this road. About 3 to 4 km round walk. Afterwards we can pop down to nearby Kings Cave which was big enough to house the Kings Regiment used to oversee the road maintenance crews. Limit: 15. Map: Katoomba.

6 Jan 2025 (Mon) 2025: NEPEAN RIVER, WALLACIA (H, Kayak) kayak from Wallacia to Norton's Basin and return. Fast flowing water, portage and rapids involved. Limit: 4. Map: Warragamba .

7 Jan (Tue) 2025: GEORGES RIVER (M, Kayak) Kayak, Georges River in the Macquarie Fields area. 15ks return. Bring morning tea. PDF,and swimmers, there may be a chance for a swim at Simmo,s Beach. Limit: 6. Map: Liverpool & Campbelltown.

7-8 Jan (Tue - Wed) 2025: BURNT HOLE CREEK KANANGRA BOYD (M-Exp) Drive to a firetrail just before the Werong Camp ground on the road to Yerranderie. From the trail descend the ridge into Burnt Hole Creek at around 726273. Explore the pretty granite gorge and work our way upstream to find a camp site. Walk out in the cool of the morning from near the point marked 874 on my old Gurnang Map. This is about 300m of climb. Expect feet and legs to get wet and a small swimming hole or two. The party limit is due to the camps sites being expected to be small. Limit: 5. Map: Gurnang.

12 Jan 2025 (Sun) 2025: TAHMOOR GORGE (EM) Drive down to the bridge near Tahmoor on the Nattai River where this beautiful Gorge starts. Google says the distance from Springwood is about 80 km or 1. 20 minutes via Silverdale. You can also use the freeway. Part of the walk is along the river and parts ascend above it. From above we get great views of Mermaid Pool and its waterfalls. At river level we pass one waterfall and swimming hole after another. Depending on the temperature, we can languish beside these as long as we like. About 10 km. Much is easy but some is uncertain because of the floods. Rock hopping ability is an asset. Limit: 15. Map: Tahmoor.

18 Jan 2025 (Sat) 2025: BIRDWOOD GULLY BUSHCARE (E) This is an external activity coordinated by Blue Mountains Council and the contact details of members who book on to the activity will be forwarded to the relevant Bushcare Coordinator. The Bushcare Coordinator will contact participants with more information in the week prior to the activity. No experience is necessary as all materials and training will be provided on the day. Any help is greatly appreciated and no ongoing commitment is expected. Limit: 10. Map: Google maps .

19 Jan 2025 (Sun) 2025: FAIRY DELL BUSHCARE (E) This is a volunteer activity coordinated by Blue Mountains Council. The contact details of members who book on to the activity will be forwarded to the relevant Bushcare Coordinator. More details will be provided in the week prior to the activity. No experience is necessary as all equipment and training will be provided on the day. Come along and help if you can spare a a morning. No ongoing commitment is expected. Limit: 10. Map: Google maps.

Introduction Walk

19 Jan 2025 (Sun) 2025: SOUTH WOODFORD BEDFORD CREEK, SHARED MEAL AND SUNSET (EM) Drive down Bedford Rd to Murphys Glen stopping at Linda Rock to take in the views in various directions. If there's enough interest, people can do the 1 km walk down the Turpentine Track to the back of the campground. Appreciate the huge trees which still exist there. Then do the 2 km walk down to Bedford Creek. This track goes past several waterfalls which may still be falling. The track is eroded in places but we'll take it slowly. The last section down by the creek was strewn with flood debris last time but I'm sure this will have settled by now. Once at the river, there's a sandy beach and a lovely long, deep waterhole. Return 2 km back to the cars in the cool of the early evening. Then drive back up to have a shared dinner and sunset in an amazing campcave. Children welcome. Limit: 15. Map: Katoomba.

26 Jan to 2 Feb 2025 (Sun-Sun) 2025: CHARLOTTE PASS (M) Join me for the 12th annual visit to Charlotte Pass. Comfortable accommodation in a private ski lodge in the heart of the Kosciuszko National Park. We are within walking distance of the ten highest peaks in Australia plus lots of slightly lower peaks. Cost approx. $500. Limit: 18. Map: Perisher, Geehi Dam.

2 Feb 2025 (Sun) 2025: DEVILS HOLE KATOOMBA (M-Exp) After a quick look from Cahills Lookout we'll descend this exciting "hole". Devils Hole is a natural decent through the cliff-line. Once a track was put down but it isn't maintained although sections can still be used. It goes down about 200 metres in half a km so it is steep but quite doable if taken slowly. It's very beautiful becoming a vertical canyon in the middle bit with a big chock-stone wedged above in the narrow slot. It should also be cooler down there. Once at the bottom I'm planning on going left to see what remains of the track we used to use from the old waterboard ladders and the western end of the tramway tunnel through Narrow Neck. The ladders closed about 30 or more years ago and Rennies Tunnel is also closed. So this section is now exploratory. I went a little way recently and found 2 waterfalls. You can wait until we return at any time. We might go a little way to the right as well until it starts to descend to the valley to pick up the Six Foot Track. Limit: 12. Map: Katoomba.

6 Feb 2025 (Thu) 2025: BRAHMA KUMARIS BUSHCARE LEURA (E) Volunteer activity coordinated by Blue Mountains Council. Come along and help if you can spare a morning! No experience is necessary as all equipment and training will be provided on the day. A delicious complimentary vegetarian lunch will be provided for participants. The contact details of members who book on to the activity will be forwarded to the relevant Bushcare Coordinator who will be in touch with more information in the week prior to the activity. Limit: 10. Map: Google maps.

9-16 Feb 2025 (Sun-Sun) 2025: CHARLOTTE PASS (E-M-H, alpine) Because another club has booked the west wing, we have limited space this year. This activity is now full- no room at the lodge, and rosters have been organised. Join us for the 4rd annual February Snowies Trip. Not just walks - we've found excellent kayaking on Lake Jindabyne, some great mountain bike tracks, horse riding, and a range of walks from 2 hours to all day. Bring or hire your kayak or bike (or both). Comfortable accommodation in a private ski lodge in the heart of the Kosciuszko National Park. Self catering (group meals) and we have to clean up before we leave. We are within walking distance of the 10 highest peaks in Australia, plus lots of slightly lower peaks. Cost around $440 per person for the week, and you are asked to supply (part of) an evening meal for 16 people. Please bring some cash to re-imburse drivers if you car-pool. Entertainment includes Twister, Trivia, jigsaw, pool, table tennis, karioke (?!). Bring a chess set. Limit: 23. Map: Perisher Valley, Geehi River, Koscuiszko.

16-21 Feb (Sun - Fri) 2025: MUNYANG TO VALENTINES (M, scrub) An adaptation of last year's cancelled walk. Start at Munyang, climb the steep but graded road to Whites River Hut or Schlink. Explore a route to Dicky Cooper Bogong etc with a day pack the next day, and stay at Schlink Hilton the second night. Next day, continue on to Valentines hut. Next day, find the route to Mawsons Hut (wiht a day pack) and possibly Cup and Saucer Hill if Mawsons is easy to get to. Return to Valentines(or maybe continue to the old Orange Hut site) that night. Return to civilisation on the AAWT, either stopping at Whites River that night, or all the way to Munyang. Plans are flexible and subject to weather, scrub, participants, etc Limit: 8. Map: Geehi, Jagungal.

22 Feb 2025 (Sat) 2025: DEANEI RESERVE BUSHCARE (E) Volunteer activity coordinated by Blue Mountains Council. Come and spend a morning with like minded others amongst the towering Blue Gums in this lovely reserve. No experience is necessary as all equipment and training will be provided. The contact details of participants will be forwarded to the relevant Bushcare Coordinator who will provide more information in the week prior to the activity. Limit: 10. Map: Google maps.

16-20 Mar (Sun - Thu) 2025: CURRARONG HOLIDAY (E-M, Social) Sunday to Friday avoiding crowds. A now traditional short holiday where you can do as much or as little as you wish. In 2024 we had 27 booked and in 2025 there may be more. Accommodation options include tents, caravans and cabins at Holiday Haven Currarong with its sparkling amenities. Opportunities for coastal walking, swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and bicycling etc. Similar organisation to the Snowies but without having to cook for a multitude. Limit: 50. Map: CURRARONG and surrounding maps.

1-8 Apr (Tue - Tue) 2025: FORBES, PARKES NSW (E-M, cycling) SBC annual Big Ride, our 16th this time with 4 days firstly in Forbes followed by 4 days in Parkes. As usual we cycle the areas around each town mostly on quieter sealed country roads but with possibilities of some gravel. Suitable for road bikes and hybrids with wider tyres. Distances typically 40 - 70 km with refreshment stops. Planned ride routes will be sent in advance with daily choices and different leaders chosen beforehand. We stay in good camp grounds choosing between own camper or tent or a cabin or nearby motel. Contact Gay Bernays bernays@rocketmail.com if you have not had early info about camp venues. There is a $100 REGISTRATION FEE to cover some costs, a group dinner and the remainder donated to two conservation groups. After registering for the ride details will be sent of the account for payment of the $100 fee. Limit: 24. Map: central west road maps.