Key Information: Tour Duration: 1
day(s) Group Size: 1
- 6
people Destination(s):Australia Specialty Categories:Ecotourism Season: January - December Airfare Included: No Tour Customizable: No Minimum Per Person Price: 60 Australian Dollar (AUD) Maximum Per Person Price: 180 Australian Dollar (AUD)
The sandstone around Sydney Harbour is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. This apparently infertile soil supports a wide variety of flora. It is possible to see some of these unique plants on a morning's walk only minutes from the CBD. There is no need to spend time traveling long distances to out of town locations. Explore Sydney's unique natural environment and enjoy views of Sydney Harbour. You will be amazed that such natural beauty has been preserved so close to a major city. This walk provides the opportunity to see an Aboriginal engraving, grinding grooves and a habitation shelter, plants used by the early settlers and learn some of the history of Sydney's early years.
Meet your guide at your hotel and travel to the start of this walk across the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge by local train. The walk is 3 kilometres long and includes some rough sections and steps to climb. There are no steep hills.
The walk commences at historic Waverton Station along Ball’s Head Road with stunning views over Ball’s Head Bay and Berry’s Bay. We pass HMAS Waterhen and the former Coal Loader. Outside the Coal Loader there is an Aboriginal engraving of a whale. Entering Ball’s Head Reserve we pass through a forest of Angophora costata (Sydney Red Gums) which will remind you of illustrations from a fairy tale. The Old Quarantine Depot can be seen before the track descends nearer the shore line to a 12 metre long Aboriginal occupation shelter. Many Aboriginal artifacts have been excavated from this site. At the end of Ball’s Head there are extensive views to be appreciated of many aspects of Sydney Harbour including a panorama of the city skyline and Darling Harbour, the Harbour Bridge and Goat Island. The Flagpole Picnic Ground marks the highest point west of the Harbour Bridge.
From here a track along the west side of the peninsula provides an opportunity to see the imposing sandstone cliffs at close range. The return walk to Waverton Station is via parkland created on the former BP Berry's Bay Oil Terminal. This part of the walk provides more stunning views of the Harbour.
