Blackwall Mountain Reserve Lookout

On a gorgeous Saturday in autumn, the kids and I went to the top of Blackwall Mountain.  It was a nice trek, and great views.  Here's a panoramic video

Filtered views of Brisbane Water

The kids having a break

Towards Sydney with Lion Island in the foreground, and Ettalong Beach below.
Views of Lion Island from Mount Ettalong Lookout here.

Another view of Lion Island -
also check out Lion Island from the Box Head Trail off Sydney's Northern Beaches

The Rip Bridge over Brisbane Water

Putty Beach Boardwalk

Rocks below the Gerrin Point lookout

We have walked most of the paths in the Bouddi National Park and areas surrounding us. One of the major exceptions was the Putty Beach Boardwalk. Many have recommended it to us, but we were slow to take them up on it. We finally went on a recent Sunday in July and this is what we saw.


Tristan in front of a small cave on Bullimah Beach

Upclose look at the beach materials


Bullimah Beach

Our family

Rocks and waves below the boardwalk trail

Boardwalk stretches from Putty Beach to Bullimah Beach


Trolling for a sliver ?

Boardwalk

Dave

Along the way, Neo and then Zoe picked up slivers in their hands. Even so, it was a wonderful family walk and great views!

Girrakool and Piles Creek Loop Trek

Phil Houghton Bridge over Piles Creek

One of the many smaller bridges on the Piles Creek Loop Trek

Other-worldly in appearance - steps to the Phil Houghton Bridge

Some of the rock-face where shallow caves were along the trail

Zoe and Clara at different points of the "mostly flat" trek - per the trail description chart

It was an amazing bushland trek! Through sun drenched bush scrub. Up and down well built bush steps and hand hewn rock steps. Across a dozen small wooden bridges that spanned the gap over small gores and waterways. We viewed waterfalls from their base and their top. We scrambled over rocks, walked pasted caves, marveled at the size of bull ants we encountered, and admired blooms. The highlight of the trek for the children was the Phil Houghton Swing Bridge over Piles Creek.

Rock face

Concrete stepping stones on the trail

Lookout with railing

Hand carved steps on the rocks

Sign post

The Piles Creek trek we took overlaps some of the Great North Walk, a trek that connects Sydney to Newcastle.

The narrative description on the track notes for the Piles Creek circuit was accurate. I had the feeling of experiencing parts of Riven, however the chart indicating the terrain was predominately flat was exaggerated, to put it nicely.

I was very proud of my children, especially Neo and Zoe, who enthusiastically walked the entire 4.1 km with very little complaint. Neo took a piggy back ride only near the end of the trail. We chose the perfect day for this trek into bushland - sunny, windy, about 70 F. Overall, it was an invigorating, inspirational trek.

Waterfall on the Piles Creek Trail

The children on some nice steps

Another waterfall