Torrington 16th November 2008
Last week Don, Maria and Nanni (Stefanie) Braun drove to Torrington looking for the red form of Correa reflexa. We didn't find it - only a green form but we spent some time exploring the new National Park. First stop was Thunderbolt's Lookout on the western side of the village of Torrington.
We walked along a bush track for a few kilometers until we came to the turnoff. The bush was fairly dry with not many wildflowers apart from this Poranthera corymbosa. We could see the granite outcrop up ahead.
There were many steps leading up to a cave which we had to enter and as we turned a corner inside the cave we could see another flight of stone steps leading to the top.
Then we had to climb a steel ladder to the lookout. The view to the south and west was wonderful. A lonely ladybird took a rest on the wooden railing and Xanthorroeas grew in the crevices between rocks.
After this we drove to a fire trail where the Boronia whitei was in full flower and totally magnificent. Don took a photo of this Leptospermum brevipes.
We went hunting at an old mining site where Don took a photo of this mine head. The echidna was not taken at Torrington - it was taken near the Chandler River. There would be many echidnas at Torrington as well.
Dangars Falls - 11th November 2008
Yesterday Don, Maria and Nanni (Stefanie) Braun walked to Salisbury Waters from the Dangars Falls carpark, which was a round trip of approximately 14.4 kms. The day started out very misty with a low cloud enveloping the mountains and persisting until late morning. Salisbury Waters is at the bottom of the gorge on Mihi Creek, a descent of 400 metres, the last 200 metres was very steep. Before starting on the Salisbury Waters Track we walked to a couple of lookouts to get a good view of the gorge and Dangars Falls.
The sign at the start of the track which leads down to a creek. When it rains heavily the bridge is covered in water and is impossible to cross.
After crossing the bridge, the track winds around for a few hundred metres and comes to the Dingo fence gate which must be ket closed at all times.
The Dangars Falls lookout and start of the Falls as water from the creek plunges down to the pools below.
The bottom pools and a view through the gorge complex.
Leptospermum brevipes and Jacksonia scoparia
From here you can look down onto the Falls lookout and the beginning of the Falls as the water from the creek tumbles over the rocks and into the gorge. We saw a number of kangaroos like this mother and her baby.
This native daisy bush was everywhere and in full flower. It is very dry at the top of the gorge country so not many plants survive the harsh conditions.
The track was well sign-posted with several tracks that one can take. We had morning tea at this log. It was still very misty and quite cool for November.
Views of the gorge country as we walked along the track. The cloud started to lift in the late morning.
Ficus rubiginosa (Native fig) and Melaleuca pityoides
Many species of Lichen grow all over the granite rocks. Spider webs adorn the trees and are visible when there is a mist.
Dodonaea viscosa has papery seed capsules which range from pale pink to dark red. Indigofera australis is a small shrub with purple pea flowers.
Eucalyptus pauciflora (Snow Gum) is common on the New England Tablelands. The flower is white and the seed capsules have 3 main valves.
Pittosporum undulatum is common in eastern Australia. The leaves are arranged in a whorl and the woody seed cases have orange and brown seeds. The seeds have fallen off from this plant.
After a steep climb down to the bottom of the gorge Nanni went exploring while Don boiled up the billy for lunch. There are many large Casuarina cunninghamiana trees which drop a blanket of dry soft needles over the ground. Such areas make good campsites.
After lunch we began the steep climb back up the mountain. It was very tiring and we were happy to see this sign. Looking back down to where we had been, the gorge continues for many kilometers with lots of small streams flowing into the main creek which eventually becomes the Macleay River.
A view across to Mihi Falls. It is impossible to climb up the Falls as a steep cliff prevents getting up without climbing equipment. We disturbed a small kangaroo feeding on grasses. It didn't seem to be worried by our presence although most of the kangaroos keep their distance and will jump away when approached too closely.