121. The Bundoleers, Tower Hill & Calectasia Falls
U3A HIKE NO 121
LINKS FOR AN INTERACTIVE HIKE MAP AND DOWNLOADABLE GPX FILE AFTER THE PHOTOS
A mild, overcast day was a positive sign for today's walk leaving from the intersection of Stoney Creek Rd and Rosea Track. Taking a short, uphill detour to the Bundaleers (a series of vertical cliffs popular with rock climbers), we were given a personal perspective by Gordon of the techniques and challenges faced by devotees of this sport.
Several kilometres further along the Rosea track we turned off toward Tower Hill, where a steep, narrow track followed alongside this rocky outcrop. Here dignity went the way of poles and packs to scramble up several large boulders to reach an elevated platform. It's times like this that it pays to bring your own partner for some moral and er, physical support...But the vista was well worth it!
Lunch near Calectasia Falls followed the change in terrain which gave us close encounters with the wildflowers and some prickly hakeas. Not a walk you would do without an experienced guide (and GPS), unless you had faith in pink ribbons and rock cairns. Once again, thank-you Gordon for your valuable knowledge here.
Retracing our steps (well, sort of) to the Tower Hill track and onwards, we arrived back at the cars around 3pm in time for a well-earned cuppa.
Several kilometres further along the Rosea track we turned off toward Tower Hill, where a steep, narrow track followed alongside this rocky outcrop. Here dignity went the way of poles and packs to scramble up several large boulders to reach an elevated platform. It's times like this that it pays to bring your own partner for some moral and er, physical support...But the vista was well worth it!
Lunch near Calectasia Falls followed the change in terrain which gave us close encounters with the wildflowers and some prickly hakeas. Not a walk you would do without an experienced guide (and GPS), unless you had faith in pink ribbons and rock cairns. Once again, thank-you Gordon for your valuable knowledge here.
Retracing our steps (well, sort of) to the Tower Hill track and onwards, we arrived back at the cars around 3pm in time for a well-earned cuppa.
Photos by Mark Bevelander
Native to the Grampians, the Blue Tinsel Lily is an unusual lily-like plant with stunning star shaped blue to purple flowers with bright yellow contrasting centres. It is the only member of the Calectasia family that is not endemic to Western Australia.
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