June 2020 - Page 2 of 2 - Adventure, baby!

Month: June 2020

Visiting Captain Cook’s Landing Place At Kamay Botany Bay National Park Kurnell

Visiting Captain Cook’s Landing Place At Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell

Kamay Botany Bay National Park in Kurnell is the landing place of the HMS Endeavour, and place of first contact between the local Aboriginal people, Captain Cook and the ship’s crew.

It is one of NSW’s most significant heritage sites, and was included in the National Heritage List in 2004.

There are many reasons to visit Kamay Botany Bay National Park, from exploring the history of the peninsula to leisure activities.

The Kurnell Visitor Centre is currently closed for renovations, but would usually be the best place to start a visit and learn about local Aboriginal culture and history, including encounters with the crew of HMS Endeavour in 1770.

Burrawang Walk

To understand the historical events that took place here, take the Burrawang Walk, a paved path that leads to several of the area’s historic sites, including Captain Cook’s Landing Place.

The walk starts at the Kurnell Visitor Centre. It is a 1.2km loop and takes anywhere from 15 – 45min. A large section of this walk is paved and wheelchair-accessible, however the last section that leads to the new whale sculpture is not.

The Burrawang Walk tells the story of the first meeting of European and Aboriginal culture. During one section of the walk there is a a soundscape featuring Aboriginal language, children laughing and clap sticks.

The walk leads visitors past many of the historical sites on the peninsula, including the welcome wall, freshwater stream, the meeting place, Banks’ Memorial, Ferry Shelter Shed and Captain Cook’s Landing Place.

There are interpretive signs along the walk that explain the significance of the sites and perspective of both the Aboriginal tribes and European ship’s crew, including the first impressions both had, and the deep misunderstanding between the two cultures from the very start.

In 1770, Lieutenant (later Captain) James Cook, along with botanists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander and the crew of the HMS Endeavour, landed at Botany Bay’s Inscription Point. He and his crew stayed in the area for eight days.

Cook and Banks recommended Botany Bay as a suitable site for settlement, however upon inspection by Captain Arthur Phillip it was found unsuitable as it had no secure fresh water or suitable anchorage, resulting in the selection of Sydney Cove to set up a penal colony instead.

There were Aboriginal people of two different nations living in the area at the time – the Goorawal People and the Gweagal People. Their way of life, responses to the landing and consequences following the invasion have been included in the interpretive signs on display. There are several significant historical Aboriginal sites throughout Kamay Botany Bay National Park including middens and engravings.

Read about an Aboriginal perspective to the landing here.

Find an Aboriginal perspective on James Cook and educational material for school kids here.

250th anniversary and sculpture installation

2020 marked the 250th anniversary of the encounter between Aboriginal Australians and the crew the HMB Endeavour on 29 April 1770. Three large bronze sculptures of significance to the Gweagal Aboriginal People were installed along the walk to acknowledge the anniversary, designed and created by Aboriginal artists Julie Squires, Theresa Ardler and Alison Page.

The works include both Aboriginal and European viewpoints of the arrival of the Endeavour.

Julie Squires and Theresa Ardler’s work ‘Wi-Yanga and Gurung The Whales’ are based on Ardler’s painting on her Budbili, a possum skin cloak. “The story behind my Budbili is connected to the Sydney rock engravings of the mother humpback whale and her baby, out at La Perouse on the shores of Botany Bay. This engraving is a prominent landmark from my ancestors who carved the rock and continues to hold cultural and spiritual connection to our sea and country.”

A Rock Weave was also installed near the whales; a woven fishing net was hand made by Aboriginal Master Weaver Phyllis Stewart and cast into bronze by sculptor Julie Squires.

The ‘Nuwi/Canoes’ represent stringy bark canoes that the the Gweagal Clan traditionally fished from. “During their ‘first contact’ observations, both Cook and Banks recorded this practice,” explained Ardler.

Alison Page with Nik Lachacjzak designed ‘Eyes of the Land and Water’. The work is an “abstraction of the ribs of the HMB Endeavour and the bones of the Gweagal totem the whale”. Working closely with researchers at the Gujaga Foundation and Gweagal artist, Shane Youngberry, Page and Lachacjzak developed cultural and historical content which was etched into each rib, including a description of the encounters at Kamay in 1770.

“The Eyes of the Land and the Sea’ is a story about discovery. Not the discovery of land by England, but of all Australians discovering our true history as we move together towards a reconciled Nation,” explained Page.

Read more about the mixed response to the anniversary commemoration here.

Whale watching

Kurnell is an excellent spot for whale watching between June and July. Drive from the visitor centre to the Cape Solander viewing platform to watch the whale migration.

Water activities

Inscription Point and Sutherland Point are popular spots for diving and snorkelling.

Rock pools

Just past the whale sculpture are some incredible rock pools to explore.

Bush walks

Try the Banks-Solander track and Cape Baily track for a longer walk. There are plenty of native birds to be spotted.

Picnics

Commemoration Flat picnic area , near the Kurnell Visitor Centre, is a beautiful grassy spot, perfect for family gatherings.

Bathrooms

There are brand new bathroom facilities available in the park.

Kamay Botany Bay National Park
Cape Solander Dr, Kurnell NSW
Hours: 7am–7.30pm August to May. 7am–5.30pm June to July.
Park entry fees: $8 per vehicle per day (in the Kurnell area only). The park has coin-operated pay and display machines – please bring correct coins. The park also has credit card accepting payment facilities. There is also free street parking outside the park.
nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

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Mandarin Picking at Watkins Family Farm Wisemans Ferry

June 10, 2020 / Australia, Hawksbury, NSW, Travel, Wisemans Ferry / 0 comment

Mandarin Picking at Watkins Family Farm Wisemans Ferry

Pick your own mandarins in the crisp country air at Watkins Family Farm, in Wisemans Ferry, NSW.

Watkins Family Farm is a family-owned business, the land being granted to James Watkins in 1867, and farmed by the next seven generations.

The end of autumn / beginning of winter marks the start of mandarin picking season at Watkins Family Farm.

With over 2000 fruit trees to pick your own fruit from and farm animals to meet and feed, a visit to Watkins Family Farm is an excellent outing for all ages.

Watkins Family Farm Wisemans Ferry — Chicken shed

Note: During COVID-19 the farm animals are not available and there are no picnics permitted on the property. Visitors are asked to responsibly comply with social distancing rules and maintain 1.5m distance from others.

The farm specialises in mandarins: juicy imperial and hickson mandarins are on offer each season for picking.

We were surprised at how popular the farm was and how many people were there on the day we visited. A lot of the low-hanging mandarins had already been picked, but we found trees with fruit that was within the reach of our child when we walked right to the very back of the farm to the last rows.

Tips for visiting Watkins Family Farm

The farm is cash only.

There is no mobile phone reception on the farm.

Wear shoes appropriate for mud and dirt.

Arrive before opening for the best experience. 9:45am at the latest. If you plan to arrive at the farm after 11am you will find it hard to get a parking spot and enter the farm.

Each adult must buy a bucket – $10 for a small bucket or $15 for a large one.

You may not take any bags into the farm, including handbags that are large enough to fit anything larger than a wallet.

The only toilet facilities are portaloos – use the bathrooms in Wisemans Ferry beforehand if you have the time.

Watkins Family Farm
1006 Singleton Road, Laughtondale
Hours: 10am-4pm
https://watkinsfamilyfarm.com.au/

More things to do in Sydney

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The Undara Experience: Lava Tubes, Micro-Bats and Sleeping in Trains

June 2, 2020 / Australia, Cairns, Queensland, Travel, Tropical North Queensland / 0 comment

The Undara Experience

Venture into Outback Australia with the Undara Experience, in Tropical North Queensland. Explore the oldest lava tubes on the planet, sleep in refurbished train carriages and enjoy bush walks surrounded by wildlife.

Located 260km south-west of Cairns (or a 3.5 hour drive), the Undara Experience is located in the Undara National Park, a private enterprise operated by the Collins family, the earliest white settlers in this locality whose cattle have grazed in the area since 1862.

The Undara Experience was created to showcase the lava tubes located on the Collins’ family property in 1987, protecting the formations for future generations by developing a sustainable visitor experience.

Visitors to Undara can stay on the property in a range of accomodations that suit all budgets and preferences. To see the lava tubes, visitors must book into a tour, which ensures the numbers passing through the tubes are kept to a sustainable number and keep the ecological impact to a minimum.

Like many visitors to Undara, we arrived at the property in the early afternoon to check into our accommodation. We stayed in the rail carriage rooms, which are all restored turn-of-the-century Queensland Railway Carriages.

For a truly unique experience, the rail carriages cannot be beat.

There is a swimming pool on the property for some cooling down and several bush walks to take if you are after some exercise and wildlife spotting. We saw plenty of wildlife around the swimming pool as well as in the bush.

The star attraction is, of course, the lava tubes, which are 190 million years old. Over 300 roof collapses have been detected from the air, which should equal 300 caves – however only 69 have been discovered, and leaving the majority as yet unexplored. David Attenborough, upon visiting Undara, proclaimed it to be one of the most unexplored geological features on earth.

Tours at the Undara Experience

There are three tours offered by the Undara Experience, of which we enjoyed two – the Big Sky Sunset Iconic Australian Wildlife and Archway Explorer Lava Tube Tour.

Big Sky Sunset Iconic Australian Wildlife

This tour takes visitors by mini bus through the bush to enjoy the sunset over the bush with sparkling wine and cheese and a highly knowledgable guide to point out the iconic wildlife easily spotted along the way, as well as the history of the land. We saw plenty of pretty face/ whip tail kangaroos, eastern grey kangaroos, swamp wallabies and wallaroos as they came out at dusk.

After the sunset, visitors are taken to the mouth of a lava tube to witness one of the most memorable experiences imaginable – thousands of tiny insect-eating micro-bats emerge from the darkness to find food. Waiting for them at the entrance are pythons and brown tree snakes hoping to catch a meal. Up to half a million micro-bats swarm out of the tubes each night to hunt for insect, returning at dawn.

Archway Explorer Lava Tube Tour

This is the the ultimate tour of Undara’s lava tubes. It’s takes two hours to complete and runs from mid-March to October – bookings essential. The tour picks up visitors in a mini bus and drives them to the lava tubes, through the arid, red landscape into the lush rainforest that has grown out of the mouths of the lava tubes.

Each tour visits up to three sections of lava tubes, which are easily accessible however do contain staircases that need to be descended and ascended again. An accessible lava tube with a chair lift is available for those who cannot use stairs.

The Archway Explorer Lava Tube Tour was an experience was breathtaking. There was something very “Indiana Jones” about descending down into the lava tubes through a collapsed roof, where a lush forrest of greenery has sprung up, and greeted by swarms of tiny Common Australian crow butterflies and yellow greasies butterflies. Birds, insects, butterflies that live in the collapsed section can be found nowhere else in the region.

Wind Tunnel Explorer

This tour takes two hours to complete and runs between April and September. A tour for the adventurous, it allows visitors to explore the lava tubes in their rawest form – by scrambling over rocks with less infrastructure. Expect uneven surfaces, not suitable for children under five.

Families at Undara

Kids are very welcome at Undara. Lover of trains, caves and wildlife all find their way to this magical place and enjoy its wildness. While there are no specific family tours, the guides tailor their talks to the visitors present.

Food at Undara

There is a restaurant in the main settlement serving dinner each night. The food is hearty and wholesome and a welcome end to the day.

Breakfast is served over campfire, a traditional billy tea with a choice of hot and cold food.

Where to stay at Undara

There are several options for staying on the property.

Railway Carriage Accommodation

Stay in a beautifully restored railway carriage. Each carriage has its own bathroom. There is an accessible carriage available.

Pioneer Huts Accommodation

The pioneer huts are modern cabins each with their own bathroom, private verandah and air conditioning.

Swags Tent Village Accommodation

Glamp in the bush in one of these large, permanent tents, which are close to a central amenities block. There is an undercover camp kitchen available for use with hot and cold water, free gas barbecue, fridge, gas hot plates, picnic tables and chairs.

Safari Shelter

The large campground area is perfect for groups with their own tents, vans and motor homes. It has a separate amenities block available, access for mobility impaired guests and a dedicated undercover camp kitchen with hot and cold water, free gas barbecue, picnic tables and a private campfire.

Motorhome, Caravan Park and Camping

There are 11 drive-up camp sites (tents, small vehicles and camper trailers), 38 powered van sites (22 drive-through, 16 reverse-in) and 26 un-powered van sites available in this are, with individual campfire pits/barbecues on some sites and firewood available for purchase. This section of the property is surrounded by bush, and located close to amenities blocks.