Category Archives: Field Trip

Day in the Mountains

Field Trip, ,

We took a day trip up to the mountains to visit the Mt Tomar Botanic Gardens and the Zig Zag Railway.

We took the Bells line of road to the Gardens, it was wet and cold but we got the raincoats on and still managed to have a good time. The kids apriciated the run around after being in the car for so long.

The Zig Zag railway was a bit of an adventure. We rode on the steam train, it’s a beautiful engine and the volunteers running it seemed pretty proud. Not long after we departed the train went into a tunnel, it was pitch black in the carriage for a good minute or two. Will was on my lap not not making a peep. When we came back into the light he looked a bit traumatized. It was a leisurely trip to the bottom of the hill with one stop to change direction on the zig. I took Will off between showers to see the steam engine but it was too late for him. I think the dark tunnel, sitting cramped in the carriage and the lack of day sleep took it’s toll and he lost it. He was wailing for mummy, and then when I got him back he kept saying “no moor, no moor, back car”. Then we found out that the steam engine had broken down and we would have to wait for the diesel rail motor to come down and rescue us. Will was really making a scene, we bought the cafe dry of milk, that satisfied him a bit.

It was a quick trip up once the diesel arrived then back into the car for the long trip home.

Mt Tomar Boardwalk
Jess and Will having fun in the rain
Jess at Mt Tomar
Jess at the mt Tomar Gardens
Family at Mt Tomar
Posed picture in the rain
The trip back
Rescue and relief. The trip back up the hill in the rail motor

Mueller Track at the Wildflower Garden

Field Trip,

Jess, Will and I went on another trip to the wildflower gardens. Kelly stayed at home with Tom to rest and recover from a cold. The rest of us had the worst of it yesterday.

We went in via the playground then on to explore the Mueller track for the first time. It was the first hot day of the season, was meant to be 28 and it did feel like it. Only a few meters out of the carpark we came across a large red bellied black snake by the side of the track enjoying the heat. We got a good close look, it didn’t seem too worried by us.

Just into the Mueller track the was a big nest of Jack Jumpers. Man I hate those things. Will was in the backpack and I carried Jess over. Just past the nest we came across another family coming the other way, I told them to look out for the ants. The mum jumped over, then the two daughters got scared and froze just in front of the ants nest and started screaming, then the mum started screaming “dont stand there! move move move!” quite a sight. It must have left an impression on Jess, the rest of the walk she was worried we might come across some more “bitey ants”

We came back up to the Solander trail at the hairpin and walked back to the playground for lunch. It was a good walk, Jess a Will seemed to like it, although they’d had enough by the end.

Red Bellied Black Snake
Red Bellied Black Snake by the side of the track
Will and the Snake
Will didn't pay much attention to the snake
Drink Stop
A short drink stop on the Mueller track

Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden – Sep 2011

Field Trip

I’ve fallen into a pattern of going out on an expedition on the weekend then posting the photos and descriptions during the week. This has worked well so far, starting today I’m going to post about the trips too.

The whole family went to visit Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden on Sunday. The gardens are really just a very well maintained collection of bush tracks next to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. There is a great play area for the kids, complete with semi tame wallabies that hop around. The main track we’ve been taking is sealed and easy to navigate with strolers and bikes / scooters. Many of the plants beside the track are labeled with common and scientific name, sometimes with a short description too. Perfect if you’re trying to learn to identify what you’re looking at!

Today we did the Solander Trail loop. It’s a good one for the kids, and with the stroller for Tom ( and Will when he gets tired ) it’s the only one we could really do. Jess had her scooter and was practicing gliding along with both feet off the ground. Tom was good as usual, after a feed at the playground he sat happily in the bottom of the stroller and watched the world go by. Will walked about 1/2 the distance before going in the stroller. He’s been in the wars a bit lately, he fell down the steps when we got home ( he insisted on wearing a gumboot on one foot ) I pulled a big splinter out of one of his knuckles and a little spike out of his foot tonight too.

Snack stop
Mid track snack - When the hunger hits they drop on the spot and eat.
Playground
Jess and Will enjoyed the playground
beetle with patterned back
There were a swarm of these on a tree in the playground.