Journal of the Australian Native Plants Society Canberra region (Inc)
Field Trip to the Nattai area of NSW
By Written by Jeanette Jeffery with assistance from Kris Nash, Jane Roberts, Brigitta Wimmer and Peter Chandler
The August Field Trip of the Australian Native Plant Society, Canberra was to the Nattai area of NSW.
Sunday: 12 of us met enroute at Pot Holes Crossing, near Tahmoor to walk along a path above the Bargo River gorge. It being a Sunday and with bright sunshine, it turned out to be popular with the locals whose cars spread along the entrance track — although we met only a couple of them along the way.
The track follows the river providing pleasant views of the sandstone cliffs. We continued for about 2.5km to a wonderful view of Mermaid Falls. This area, between Thirlmere Lakes National Park, Bargo River State Conservation Area and Upper Nepean State Conservation Area does not seem to have any conservation orders on it but provides lovely early spring flowers. Keen walkers have placed tapes among the trees to guide others to lookout points, best access to and from the river and longer walks along the gorge. Our leader, Kris had scouted out the best route for us.
Boronia ledifolia with brilliant crimson flowers and Leucopogon setiger dominated among several wattles, Acacia terminalis, A. longifolia and A. echinula. Splashes of purples were provided by Dampiera purpurea, Hovea linearis and Hardenbergia violacea, and whites by Logania albiflora, Hakea sericea and Pseudanthus pimeleoides, a low growing shrub among the rocks which was a new siting for all of us.
Reaching Mittagong, our accommodation choice, we learned that plans for tomorrow were thwarted by last minute National Park road closures. After internet, book and app searches a plan for tomorrow was made.
Monday: In the morning, we ventured to Dobsons Cave at the edge of Nattai National Park where we had morning tea beside a pretty waterfall. It was bitterly cold when we set out, but the dense bush and gorge were welcome protection. The cave is on the edge of the Nattai River and contains many ferns — quite a surprise after walking through woodland with a heathy understorey. This area like yesterday has routes marked by walkers using coloured tape and fallen timber. At the start a sign indicates this is a ‘Special Place’ with a long list of what should not occur here and a very wide, ruthlessly cleared area for pylons. Once we entered the thick bush, we were greeted by similar plants to yesterday but in different proportions. Grevillea mucronulata and Acacia myrtifolia dominated amongst Eucalypts and Acacias.
Later we walked The Cave Creek track in Bargo State Conservation Area, a return 2.5 km walk with rainforest species, down to a small stream and past a fine array of ferns under a dripping rocky overhang. This track had recently been upgraded. Here we enjoyed rainforest species: many Ceratopetalum apetalum (Coachwood) lining the creek, young Callicoma serratifolia and ferns such as Gleichenia sp. Flowers came from Dracophyllum sp. and Choretrum candollei.
Tuesday: On the final day some of us were moving on to another ANPSC activity and some to return home. Thus, it was a group of 5 field trippers who set out to walk 13 km return to Ahearn’s Lookout. Although we were occasionally lightly misted, the rain mostly stayed away. The trail is located in the Nattai National Park and features wonderful views including viewpoints down the Nattai River valley and across to Mount Jellore.
We followed a sometimes overgrown but generally clearly marked track along ridges, winding our way around some interesting rocky outcrops, and skirting the tops of gullies. We passed through different vegetation types — rocky mallee heath, scribbly gum woodland and sandstone scrub forest.
The plants we saw flowering were similar to previous days, in particular many acacias and pink boronia, as well as scattered peas and heaths. Towards the end of the trail, we found Grevillea aspleniifolia, Grevillea triternata and a white form of Boronia ledifolia. The mallee Eucalyptus multicaulis stood proudly along the cliff edges. The flowering progression of Conospermum longifolium was interesting to observe — from tiny heads of dark buds at the beginning of the trail to high stalks of open white panicles towards the end.
We also walked past and casually noted the long thin cones on a banksia. This was subsequently identified (by Jane) as Banksia pencillata, listed as Endangered under Commonwealth legislation and restricted to small populations in the Blue Mountains.
Each of the walks provided many examples of wonderful peas — Dillwynias, Mirbelias, Daviesia often in bud, and several Pomaderris and so well worth a later spring visit for anyone. They also provide, for those who enjoy the task, further identifying discussions. This was another wonderful field trip among friends and we thank Kris for showing us this part of NSW.
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