This was a repeat of a walk I had done in 2012 along the Great North Walk track from Thornleigh Station to Hornsby Station. But my main aim this trip was to look for fungi that may be out near Waitara Creek which you cross not far before you leave the track and climb up to Hornsby. Last year I had done a walk all the way along Waitara Creek from it source. On that trip I had found a lot of fungi out along a section of Waitara Creek very close to a feature known as The Spa – where the creek is crossed by the Great North Walk. A lot of fungi that I saw on that trip were colourful waxcaps, including some quite rare ones. But that trip had been in late July and the fungi was well past its prime. So I thought it about time I had another look.
The Spa – Waitara Creek
I set out from Thornleigh Station around 11:30 am, a bit late perhaps, but the walk is not that far. After a short walk along streets I was in the bush. Early on I saw a big group of RFS personnel – it looked like they were on a training activity. Also, it was a nice sunny winter day and a lot of other walkers were out and about.
Along the way, I did spot some fungi out – particularly Cortinarius. I did not spot any flowering orchids.
I stopped for lunch a little after 1 pm on the ridge above Waitara Creek. While I was eating, several more of the firefighters walked past. I met a lot more along Waitara Creek. It seems that they were on a navigation exercise and were looking for a blue flag.
At that section of Waitara Creek there was a lot of fungi out – but most of it were more Cortinarius. There seemed to be a huge amount of the beautiful green Cortinarius austrovenetus out. But not much else! No waxcaps.
After photographing the fungi, I went to the Spa and spent a bit of time photographing this nice natural rock sculpture. Its a bit of a shame however that the water in the creek looked very polluted and there was a lot of rubbish caught up in bushes along the banks.
I then continued along the track along short section of Berowra Creek and took some more photos, before climbing up to Hornsby.
More photos are on my website here.
Thank you for posting these wonderful photos! This exact area is my old backyard from the 1960s and I have many happy memories of traipsing through this magnificent bushland, of the spectacular fungi and the native fauna that would frequently visit us. I was deeply saddened to see the rubbish people deposited in the area. I must return there for a walk.