Old Coach Road

Our July hike took us along an old coach road, then followed a disused railway track leading us through a tunnel inhabited by glow worms back to our starting point. No photos of the glow worms for several reasons: my little camera can't handle a pitch black environment; being school holiday time, there were too many people shining flashlights and talking; apparently glow worms respond best to warm weather and this being winter it was icy cold in the tunnel. Consequently, the glow worms were sulking and only one or two were visible.
However, the old coach road we followed throughout the morning was too long a trek for young families and teenagers in flimsy footwear, so we saw no other hikers until we neared the entrance to the tunnel.

Here we are getting ready to head out for the day. That's our fearless leader, Libby Raines in the centre of the group on the left.



We came upon the usual number of stunning rock formations and views as we made our way along.




Beyond Donkey Mountain, a controversial resort and golf course is soon going to change the landscape.


In several places we came upon magnificent specimens of grass trees (Xanthorrhoea media),



one with a flower stalk just emerging, olive green against the tree trunk behind.


As we walked along the old railway line, we came through a deep gully where flourishing tree ferns towered above our heads.



At one point we passed a lyrebird's nest. Some of our fellow-walkers even saw a lyrebird but unfortunately I wasn't one of them



I was intrigued by the beautiful bark on the trunks of some of the eucalypts that we passed. The blotchy ones are spotted gums (Eucalyptus punctata).