You can always go up North Fort Road if you are in a hurry, but this track
offers better views, chances to see wildlife, birds and wildflowers. The map on the left shows you where
to find the start, the map on the rightgives you the reference points you will need. It goes from
node 1 to node 3
This gem of a walk starts just across the road from Bandicoot Heaven on North Fort Road and the nursery,
at node 1 on the larger right-hand map. It begins as a rough and sandy pathway that seems to have
little to offer, but don't be fooled, because 80 metres along, you are on a steel pathway. If you don't
have a paper map, there is a small box holding some maps in the side of the black obelisk at the entry.
Please, get a map and set off down the track.
As there appear to be a few records of Indigenous use of bracken, readers should be wary: the plant contains a known carcinogen (cancer-causing compound), ptaquiloside. Don't eat it!
There may also be a very similar fern I used to know as Culcita, which is now called Calochlaena.
The easiest way of telling them apart is to run a frond gently through your hand: Calochlaena feels much softer.
The most common fern is the coral fern, Gleichenia. This is seen on the left, and you will see it again at Soggy Bottom on the Inside Track. From these two locations, you will probably guess that it is a water and swamp marker. One of the first tasks given to me when I joined the nursery gang.
Another fairly good swamp marker is the sedge Gahnia, seen here near the Hanging Swamp, though
some of the Gahnia can be found with dry feet as well.
Foolishly, I had boasted of my skill in getting ferns to grow from spores, but this fern refuses to behave, even though it takes off like a weed in damp conditions. You will also see several tree ferns in the area.
The pictures below show the sandy pathway and two shots of the steel track, not far from node 3. It's worth noting that in about 2011, the bush on either side of the sandy track portion was just lawn, and now it is home to a wide range of animals, including the water dragon seen here, echidnas, possums and bandicoots.
Just before the track changes to steel, if you keep your eyes skinned, there are five different species
of Banksia within a few metres of each other. There may also be eastern water dragons around, and
there are three species of frog to hear, as well as birds.
The track takes you close to a car park, but stay with the track. You will pass a branch track going off on the right (at node 2), and there are often orchids at the far end, just before the fire trail. If you go right at the fire trail, you will come to a second steel track that comes out near the bus stop at the Q station entry. This is the stop for the 135 bus route to Manly, which may be a handy thing to know at the end of a tiring day.
You haven't gone very far yet. You can retrace your steps, or go on. In the middle of the three pictures above, you can see where to make a right turn at node 3. Your path from here follows the rest of the inside track which will take you to the Third Quarantine Cemetery.
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The page was first created on 24 July 2020, last updated 1 August 2020.