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map of WALKING TRACKS and sites
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bush walks at sT. MARY'S TOWERS
IF YOU INTEND TO GO WALKING:
• Please record in the Walk Book
in the Retreat House,
your name (including your Christian and Surname),
the track you intend taking, the time of your
departure,
and the intended time of return.
• Copies of the Walk Map are available at the
Retreat House
to take with you.
• In hot weather, please take a hat and some water.
• On return please be sure to INITIAL your
return
in the last column of the Walk Book.
• Should you need help in emergency please call 4630
9232.
DETAILS OF WALKS:
TREAND'S TRACK (30 minutes - one way)
The trail leaves the Subway Track above the dump,
and turns past the old killing shed. It then crosses the creek and along
a good dirt road. (Warning: the water in the creek is polluted.)
When the road draws level with the front gates, the trail turns
left and follows the fence, parallel to the Freeway till it reaches the
gully. The trail follows the gully until you are given the option of following
the creek (depends on the level of water) or following the trail that
ends at the dump track.
The walk is very easy and involves no climbing.
COCHARD'S CAVES (60
minutes - one way)
PURPLE &
WHITE markers
Follow Br South's Track to its end, then along
the fence towards the bridge. (You will pass the turnoff to the Grotto
Track.) The trail then winds down to the river, along an interesting
section to the caves.
A hard walk.
CUTCLIFF'S CORNER (60 minutes - one way)
Follow Br South's Track to a gate where you see
an Ashram sign and follow the fence line to the left and onto
the Fire Break Road. Follow the fire break for some distance.
This narrows near its end until you finally come to the southern perimeter
fence. Beyond this fence is the West Appin Colliery. If you
turn right and follow the fence through the bush you will come to the
Allen's Creek Gorge, where you will be able to sit on the sandstone ledges
and admire the gully before you. If you are quiet you may see rock
wallabies and other native animals.
Moderate walk.
THE GROTTO TRACK (60 minutes - one way)
Follow Br South's Track to the turnoff sign. Proceed across
the field to the top of the gully. You may then follow the Gully Track
or the easier Top Track. They intersect immediately above the Crib
Grotto. As you continue along the trail which leads to Verius'
View, you will notice the trail down to the Sacred Heart Grotto.
There is a small ledge to climb, and then it is an easy walk along into
the grotto. When you are inside, turn and look up, and you will see the
statue of the Sacred Heart.
Moderate walk
VERIUS VIEW
PURPLE & WHITE
markers
Go down into Sacred Heart Gully, but, just before you drop down into the gully, look left. The purple and white markers should be about 30 metres away. These lead to Verius View.
THE JUNCTION WALK
(60 minutes - one way)
YELLOW markers
Follow the dirt road past the dump and through the subway.
Turn left along Vandel's Way, right into De Boismenu Drive
and follow the track until you join Chevalier Road at the power
lines. Continue along the road, which veers to the left just before Kerrins'
Lookout A rough trail will then lead down the escarpment to the river,
and a beautiful swimming spot
Hard walk.
BISHOP GSELL'S LOOKOUT (35 minutes - one way)
Follow the dirt track past the dump and through the subway.
Turn right along Vandel's Way and follow it until you almost
reach the bridge across the Freeway. Continue along the top of a very
beautiful gully and out onto the lookout.
Easy to moderate walk
THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE (35minutes
- one way)
PURPLE with EYE IMAGE
markers
Follow the directions to Bishop Gsell's Lookout to a narrow mouth of a large and interesting cave. Go left of the pile of rocks about 20 yards and follow the faded purple arrows on rocks. Once through the narrow opening and down the steps, it opens into a large cave.
McGRATH'S RETREAT (45minutes
- one way)
RED & WHITE
markers
Follow Linckens' Lane past the camp site - KEEP
TO THE RIGHT. Continue to follow the trail to its end at McGrath's
Retreat
Easy walk.
ROCK SWIMMING AREA
This area is no longer part of St Mary's Towers property and is open to the public. Go down the old driveway and out the gate onto Douglas Park Drive, over the Freeway bridge and down towards the river. On the second hair-pin turn you will see some large vehicle barrier concrete blocks - this is the entrance to the track leading to the Rock Swimming Hole. Please take extreme caution if you should decide to dive from the Rock, as the river is not dredged and may contain hidden dangers.