Around Mt. Oberon

The next day, I did a walk on my own, instructed and equipped by my tour provider. I began in Norman bay near the camp ground, then went along the shoreline and turned inland around Mt. Oberon, then going back via Telegraph track to the car park and bus stop on the telegraph saddle. Normally, people do it the other way round and I think, that's the better idea. Going telegraph track for a pretty long go in blasing sun uphill is pretty tiring - especially after that great beginning. I'd say one should keep the best for last. Anyway.

Norman bay has the mouth of Tidal river and a large camp ground. On the beach one does not see much of either - but maybe it was simply too early for people on holiday :-)

Anyway, South of the bay a nice rocky path goes uphill and splits to Norman lookout point before turning to Oberon bay.

The weather was fine for most of the day. When passing Mt. Oberon, it still appeared somewhat dangerous.

Oberon Bay is scenic, but due to strong currents no good for swimming. Anyway, I wouldn't do it when planning some more km of hiking. Once the feet's skin gets soaked and soft, one's chance to get blisters and sore feet improves largely.
Pacific gulls do not have any of these problems - they can have a swim or take off to where ever they like. I've seen these gulls frequently, but never again such a large group.

At Oberon Bay, the path goes inland through a wattle forrest. Large parts of the forrest burned down a few years ago. Along the track one sees some strange rocks in the distance reminding one to faces up on the hill.

Large parts of the forrest burned down a few years ago. The area is visibly in the process of recovery, still one sees a lot of destruction. People told me, this is why there is less tourism than before - Australians know better where to go and where to keep off. Well, for a tourist not only the apparently perfect nature is of interest. Australia is a land where one needs to be aware of bushfires, as long as I don't need to go too close to the burning fire, I don't mind.

Anyway one sees clearly the wattle suffers much more from fires than gum trees do. Wattle only grows back from the ground, not from the burned branches like the eucalypts do.

The last part of the track is pretty tiring. Until the trees fully regrow, it's blasing sun, dusty and most of times uphill. So I had a little rest and did did not realize I was harming the rights of a rock-owner. I only saw a lizard rushing rushing away and put my camera where it was. The moment I had a look into my backpack that lizard took it's chance and wen't back to it's place: right into the loop of my camera belt. So I slowly grabbed my camera trying to do a picture of the little hero. And indeed, the lizard stayed this time in proud posture.

I like ferns for their ornamental fronds, so a new, not yet familiar type will always catch my eye. Now searching the web for more information, I am sure it must be a Coral fern, probably Gleichenia microphylla.

But after a while, I eventually reached the end of telegraph track - the telegraph saddle car park and bus stop. From that stop a free bus operates to the camp ground - a real relief. At the camp ground, one finds shade, snacks and a internet connection, too. My tour operator would pick me up, so I had time for a coffee and a look around.

So I found two Crimson Rosellas, one always chasing the other. First, I thought this was a couple, possibly mating. But then, I realized the the green one was not a male, it was a child having a lesson how to find food on a camp ground. The chick was sure the lesson was too slow...