Khu bảo tồn Thiên nhiên Barren Grounds

(Flower is fuschia heath)
A “BEAUTIFUL” DAY
In typical Ian fashion, I had ideas where I might go but left it till the morning before I was convinced it would be Barren Ground. Despite its unattractive name there was a promise of wildflowers. I’d bypassed it on a previous trip but its curious name lured me in.
I’d zig-zagged up the Jamberoo Mountain Road the day before but I still managed to marginally overshoot the turn off. Alighting at the carpark I could see I wouldn’t be alone, but you certainly wouldn’t call it crowded.
I chose the Griffith Trail, apparently it’s rated number #30 on N.S.W. top 60 day walks. Tasmania really started something all those years ago when they came out with their top 60 brochure, stealing a march on other states. I was so pleased when I cracked 40 of them but N.S.W.’s had escaped me then and continues to do so. I have no idea where the rating on the sign came from.
The trail has a feature, a natural stone bridge. That conjured up all sorts of images in my brain but I wondered if the 8kms would push my dodgy knees to the limit. Nothing ventured…….
There was an expectation of wildflowers. It had said on sites that I’d checked that now was a prime time. They weren’t immediately apparent but when I came across the first batch it was merely a prelude. Soon they were in abundance, at times the best displays I’d ever seen. Violet, yellow and white were in profusion, scattered all along the edge of the track.

(continued)
At two points there were lookouts, one, Illawarra, with expansive views to the coast and beyond while the other, around halfway, was a raised platform with genuine 360 degree panoramas. The track itself was a 4WD road and quite rocky in places but I trudged on, surprised at how well my dodgy legs were going.
The weather was also being kind for the first time, sunshine bathed the area most of the while and I dwelt on the word “barren”. I’d been in Ireland and visited the Burren, an amazing area of seemingly bare rock that, in the little cracks that have formed, harbours over 1,100 plant species, hardly any rising more than a couple of centimetres above the rock. Here, at Barren Ground, the vegetation was prolific. Though a lot of the growth you can see over, it’s so dense as to be impenetrable.
From time to time I came upon other walkers but I was getting excited in anticipation of the Stone Bridge that featured on so many signs, writ large on the boards. The reality was virtually a non-event. Though a pleasant spot to stop around the 6km mark if you walk the trail clockwise, it’s just a small hole in the sandstone that the creek has found its way through.
Not soon after, walking about 500 metres of slight uphill, I started to hear some birds. Having lost count of the amount of times I’ve gone for walks and lugged my cumbersome and heavy telephoto gear to no avail, always on the premise that, when you need it you haven’t got it, I was overcome when I actually raised it and a bird didn’t fly away. In fact, as I zoomed in, I realised it was a species I’d never seen before. That it was a finch was immediately apparent by its beak, but the other markings were a mystery to me. There was a spring in my step after that.
Further on there were a few others but nothing I wasn’t familiar with, though I would have loved a better crack at the golden whistler along the last kilometre of the plateau section. Then the walk was over. I packed up and stole away, eager to ascertain what I’d shot. However, it wasn’t an easy search, and I spent 10-15 minutes trolling through sites before finally coming up with a result. It was, indeed, a Beautiful Finch. Finally, just once, I’d gotten lucky.

Thăm Khu bảo tồn Thiên nhiên Barren Grounds

Activities

Điểm tham quan nổi bật

Trung tâm Rừng mưa nhiệt đới Minnamurra

Tận hưởng khung cảnh thiên nhiên tươi đẹp và không khí trong lành ở Trung tâm Rừng mưa nhiệt đới Minnamurra trong chuyến đi đến Jamberoo. Hãy chắc chắc mình không bỏ qua việc khám phá bãi biển tuyệt vời tại điểm đến thư giãn này.

We were lucky to visit when there was some good recent rain.

Thác Carrington

Tận hưởng khung cảnh thiên nhiên tươi đẹp và không khí trong lành ở Thác Carrington trong chuyến đi đến Thác Carrington. Những hoạt động không thể bỏ qua tại điểm đến thư giãn gồm có tham quan bến cảng sôi động hoặc đơn giản hơn như việc tận hưởng những quán cà phê độc đáo.

Núi Saddleback

Tận hưởng khung cảnh thiên nhiên tươi đẹp và không khí trong lành ở Núi Saddleback trong chuyến đi đến Saddleback Mountain. Hãy chắc chắc mình không bỏ qua việc khám phá bãi biển tuyệt vời tại điểm đến thư giãn này.

Cổng vào Rừng Minnamurra

Hãy dành thời gian khám phá khung cảnh thiên nhiên tươi đẹp ở Cổng vào Rừng Minnamurra, Jamberoo. Hãy chắc chắc mình không bỏ qua việc khám phá bãi biển tuyệt vời tại điểm đến thư giãn này.

Thác Minnamurra

Tận hưởng khung cảnh thiên nhiên tươi đẹp và không khí trong lành ở Thác Minnamurra trong chuyến đi đến Jamberoo. Hãy chắc chắc mình không bỏ qua việc khám phá bãi biển tuyệt vời tại điểm đến thư giãn này.

Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk (Đường trên không)

Đừng quên ghé thăm Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk (Đường trên không) trong suốt thời gian lưu trú ở Đồi Knights. Hãy chắc chắc mình không bỏ qua việc khám phá bãi biển tuyệt vời tại điểm đến thư giãn này.

Ưu đãi Khách sạn Hàng đầu

The Lodge Jamberoo

406 Jamberoo Mountain Rd Jamberoo NSW

The Drawing Rooms of Berry

21 Wattamolla Rd Woodhill NSW

Nova Kiama

31 Bong Bong St Kiama NSW

Mt Hay Retreat, Berry

260 Mount Hay Road Broughton Vale NSW

The Robertson Hotel

1 Fountaindale Rd Robertson NSW

Kiama Motel 617

132 Manning Street Kiama NSW

Cicada Luxury Camping

127 Jerrara Rd Jerrara NSW

Park Ridge Retreat

139 Belinda Street Gerringong NSW

Berry Village Boutique Motel

72-76 Queen Street Berry NSW

Xem tất cả 1.060 nơi lưu trú tại Khu bảo tồn Thiên nhiên Barren Grounds

Giá thấp nhất mỗi đêm dựa trên kết quả tìm kiếm trong vòng 24 giờ qua cho 1 đêm lưu trú cho 2 người lớn. Giá và tình trạng chỗ có thể thay đổi. Có thể áp dụng điều khoản bổ sung.