Bushwalk 1 - Native Bushland Corridors of Sydney - Sydney Course

Escape to the great outdoors with our resident bushwalking guide, Greg Williams, who has been leading bushwalks around Sydney for over 33 years. You can book each bushwalk individually or book the 'Bushwalking - Sunday Adventure Bushwalks Package' which includes all four bushwalks at a discounted price.

Come along and join us as we discover the Ferndale walking track and Blue Gum Creek. Walk through wet gullies, open forest and be amazed at the wildlife! This walk starts out on one of Sydney’s classic walking tracks. Not far from the Chatswood CBD we enter a beautiful valley which is rich in vegetation. This is Sydney’s Ferndale walking track which will take us up from the shores of the Lane Cove River before crossing over into another delightful bushland corridor where we will meander close to Blue Gum Creek. This creek and valley is another of Sydney’s beautiful places to visit. 

The richness of vegetation in the Blue Gum High Forest and lush green ferns sets this walk apart from many others within the Sydney area. The small amount of Blue Gum High Forest that remains today is listed as a critically endangered ecological community under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 & in NSW under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Blue Gum High Forest occurs only in areas where rainfall is high and the soils are relatively fertile (derived from Wianamatta Shale). Blue Gum High Forest consists not only of the magnificent trees but is also host to a diverse variety of shrubs, herbs, grasses, ferns and vines. Blue Gum Reserve adjoins Lane Cove National Park and contains an abundance of wildlife. Whilst walking in the reserve you are most likely to see some of the 64 recorded bird species.

All bushwalks have morning tea provided with tea, coffee and delicious chocolate treats available.

A Course Information Guide regarding the bushwalk will be provided beforehand. Please consult the Course Information Guide prior to the walk for comprehensive information on meeting places, start times, travel directions and more.

Macquarie Community College operates from a range of venues across Northern and Western Sydney. We have campuses in Blacktown, Carlingford, Chatswood, Epping, Mt Druitt, Richmond, and Ryde. Enrol now!

Course Outline

• Rating: Easy/moderate - Moderately challenging
• Distance: 9km

Course Outcome

By the end of the course, you would have:

• Discovered new bushwalk trails around Sydney and Greater Sydney Basin
• More confidence and experience in bushwalking
• Inspiration to accept new challenges
• Gained an understanding of bushwalking preparation and safety

What to Wear/Bring

On our bushwalks you will need:

• Sturdy comfortable shoes
• Clothes for all weather conditions
• Wet weather gear (if required)
• A hat
• A small backpack
• Sunscreen, sunglasses
• Snacks and lunch
• Water bottles

Important Information

Participants are expected to arrange their own transport to arrive at each meeting place on time, so that the group can start on schedule.

• Meeting Place: Chatswood
• Driving Instructions: See link for details. Allow minimum 15 min travel time from Macquarie Park.

Event Amendments

• Bushwalks can sometimes be re-scheduled to an alternative location due to park closures, bushfires, flooding, and for other unforeseen circumstances
• Bushwalk amendments are usually sent out by email or by phone on the Friday/Saturday before the walk
• To ensure you are properly informed of any changes please enrol with your current email address and mobile phone number

Operational Conditions and Postponements

• Macquarie Community College reserves the right to alter or postpone the bushwalk/s or part thereof due to extreme weather or changes to operational conditions such as road closures, bushfires or conditions beyond our control. Every effort will be made to keep to the itinerary and advertised departure times, but no guarantee can be made and no compensation shall be made for failure to meet those times.
• Our bushwalks take place in all but exceptional weather conditions. Conditions such as mist, fog showers, rain and windy conditions do not usually affect the event operation. However, if the weather is deemed to be extreme, the event(s) will be postponed to another date. A credit will be issued for pre-paid event fees to use for the rescheduled or future event date.

Prerequisite

The College conducts a wide range of bushwalks appropriate for different competency levels, from people who have little or no bushwalking experience to experienced bushwalkers.

Our walks are generally staggered in such a way that it allows for you to gain experience as you progress through the term. Although no previous bushwalking experience is necessary for many of our bushwalks, some bushwalking experience along with a greater level of fitness is desirable for walks which are listed as challenging. Each walking trail is generally suitable for most fitness levels. If you have any questions, please contact us on 1300 845 888.

Delivery Mode

This course is delivered in the outdoors.

Macquarie Community College operates from a range of venues across Northern and Western Sydney. We have campuses in Blacktown, Carlingford, Chatswood, Epping, Mt Druitt, Richmond, and Ryde. Enrol now!