March 2022
The KH Probus walking group were blessed with perfect walking weather and 7 ambled from Wynyard to Circular Quay, on to Dawes Point, Millers Point, Barangaroo Reserve, past Packer’s Pecker and a lunch stop before proceeding back to the Clarence St Forest Coach lines bus stops near Wynyard.
One unexpected highlight of the walk was an art exhibition being finalised in Barangaroo Reserve as part of the 2013 Biennale of Sydney which starts shortly.
It was good to welcome back evergreen walkers Allan and Nita Mann who are both in fine walking condition and set a good pace.
April – May 2022
April Walk Seven keen walkers travelled by public transport to close by Mrs Macquarie’s chair and then walked back along the harbour foreshore prior to diverting through the Botanical Gardens and making our way to Circular Quay. We then travelled by ferry to Manly for lunch at the Ivanhoe Hotel before returning to the Forest. We enjoyed lovely walking weather with only a single 10 second shower. One of the highlights was seeing the stage and sets for Phantom of the Opera which is presently showing on Sydney Harbour. These look so different in daylight instead of under the usual performance lighting.
Unfortunately, our walk scheduled for 12 May had to be cancelled due to the weather.
June 2022
Ten of us walk from Cremorne Point to Mosman Rowing Club With a cool breeze and under a sunny sky, eight of us caught the ferry from the Quay to Cremorne Point where we met President Nick and Helen and took time for a leisurely wander from Robertsons Point along a well made path to Mosman Rowers, taking in the bushland, harbour views and fine houses along the way. Our fit team arrived at Mosman Rowers ten minutes earlier than planned. After a good lunch, we took the ferry from Mosman Bay Wharf back to the Quay, a tram up to Wynyard and a bus back to the Forest. A good day’s outing.
July 2022
It took the combined efforts of Covid and the weather but the July Probus Walk was just not to be. Hopefully the situation in August will be more favourable and there is a very interesting and somewhat new style of Walk planned.
September 2022
On Thursday 08 September, eight intrepid walkers set out to explore some of the old city laneways. These laneways have very interesting histories which were explained in a Sydney City Council booklet which we used as a guide. Some of the lanes appear unchanged since the 19th century while others were brimming with up-market restaurants and bars. One lane had an artistic work consisting of the trunk of a giant blackbutt tree suspended horizontally between two buildings. The artist proscribed interpretations to the trunk, the branches and even the roots of the tree. A traffic control/safety officer gave us his interpretations which differed considerably from the artist.
After the walk we enjoyed lunch in a city food court. All in all a very interesting and enjoyable walk.
October 2022
A (very) small but energetic group of walkers met at Woolwich for an interesting walk around the old Woolwich dry dock and surrounding bushland and parks. Thanks to David Clarke for participating in the walk and to Ken Fletcher for joining us for lunch.
Afterwards 36 happy diners retired to the Woolwich Pier Hotel for an enjoyable lunch. Unfortunately, 32 of those diners were from another Probus Club
November 2022
In beautiful late spring weather 4 intrepid walkers made the interesting and scenic journey from Rozelle Bay light rail station around Rozelle and Blackwattle Bays finishing up at the massive construction site for the new Fish Markets. We stopped for lunch at the Kauri Foreshore Hotel in Glebe before making our way back to the city by light rail to connect with buses back to the Forest area. Walks now go into abeyance for December to February before resuming in March 2023.
March 2023
The final walk for the 22-23 Probus Year was held on Thursday 09 March and with 10 people participating it was the best attended walk for quite some time. In great weather we met at from Sirius Cove Beach, Mosman and walked to Bradley’s Head and returned to Sirius Cove for a picnic lunch. All up we did a little over 6km and an enjoyable time was had by all. This was my last walk as Walks Coordinator – please support whoever takes on the role from April
April 2023
After a rainy start to the day 8 walkers enjoyed coffee at Dee why RSL then moved on to the walk to Dee Why Beach. Our route was altered slightly because of the rain, instead we followed some of the history trail along the beach front .The decision has been taken to re visit the Wildlife reserved later in the year. Walkers concluded their day with Lunch at the DEE Why RSL Cub
May 2023
Eleven members walked from Bayview along the shore line to The Pasadena Hotel and the Scotland Island wharf. Lunch was enjoyed in the sun overlooking the water at the wharf plaza area. What could only be described as a beautiful Sydney winters day the waters of Pittwater and the surrounding homes made the walk a highlight of the walking calender. Planning is under way for June walk and we look forward to a further increase in members attending .
June 2023
10 Members Joined together to walk the Balder Niagara Walking Track at Macquarie University Campus.
We were fortunate to have 2 members that had studied and worked at the University in the past, and were able to provide extra input into the walking track and its surrounds. Of particular interest was the current display at the University Art gallery.
After returning to Chatswood, walkers enjoyed the delights of the international food market in Chatswood centre for lunch.
I am sure all walkers enjoyed the peaceful surrounding and interesting Architectural and Facilities of the University
July 2023
Sydney lived up to its reputation for a great day by the Harbour 9 members walked through the Sydney Botanical Gardens to the Art Gallery, stoping on the way for a well deserved Cappuccino.
At the Gallery walkers Lunched and viewed the New northern galley as well as exhibitions in the older established section
August 2023
Anzac Memorial Walk Report – 10 August 2023
Six of us started out from our usual bus stop at 10am for Wynyard. Joined by another, we wandered up Martin Plaza marvelling at the architectural evolution of the cityscape. Stopped for coffee in Elizabeth St then on through Hyde Park to the War Memorial where our numbers increased again, to ten.
We entered the magnificent memorial built in Art Deco style, quite moved by the solemness of the building. The dome interior was covered with about 120,000 golden stars representing those from NSW who served overseas in WW1. Each of us explored this part of the Memorial which was first proposed at the 1916 Anzac Day march and finally completed in 1935 and then opened by an unnamed grandson of the British king.
We reassembled downstairs in the 2018 addition to the Memorial. Here, David, a Vietnam Veteran provided some history and interesting architectural information about the place. The 2018 addition includes the stories of all of the overseas conflicts in which NSW has been involved. From the NZ Maori Wars on.
We then moved on to Maloney’s Hotel in Goulburn St for a pub lunch, nice. Then home
October 2023 (No walk in September)
Four courageous souls braved the forecast high temperatures and strong winds and walked North Head today. Fortunately, at the time we walked a strong sea breeze kept the temperatures comfortable.
A large sum of money has been spent over the last few years upgrading the walking tracks and lookouts and the result is a huge improvement on what has been there for the last few decades. It is again a must-see stop for visitors to Sydney.
Unfortunately, some of the tracks were closed today due to the perceived fire risk but we still managed to walk around 3km via the trails between the major lookouts. Perhaps the weather will be kinder on another day
November 2023
Our walk was a wander around Kirribilli. A bit of down and up as you would expect on the Lower North Shore. There were six of of us and we really enjoyed it. The views of the harbour, city and Opera House were outstanding. A place for out-of-town tourists to look in wonder. Even we six locals found it stunning. Then around to and through the arcade of Jacarandas in full flower next to Milson Park. Up to the pub for lunch – Pretty Good! Then Home.
About 3km in all. We followed the route set out in the North Sydney Council publication – Kirribilli History Walk.