The (Slow) Road into Sydney

On the way to Bilpin we had noticed the entry to the Mt Tomah Botanic Garden, which is the cool climate section of the Sydney Botanic Gardens, so we decided to head back up the following morning (given we had decided to stay two nights to free up a full day for exploring.

On the way up we decided to keep going and drive up to Mt Wilson and Mt Irvine forest. This turned out to be a lovely drive, with lyre birds regularly careening across the road in front of the car and fantastic scenery all the way. Parts of it reminded us of the rain forest in the Otways, with huge ferns along the roadside.

When we arrived back at the Botanic gardens we again decided that visits to places that weren’t known about are often the ones that provide real value. The gardens were beautifully set out, with enough information to keep all of us interested. On our way back up to the main building and cafe we chanced across a class room that has been built into the gardens. At the entrance was an info board detailing the way in which the building was heated and cooled through running pipes under filled with anti-freeze under the room and out under the adjacent lawn, with the insulating properties of the soil providing a heat transfer in during winter and out during summer. As the door was open we walked in and immediately noticed the difference in temperature.

The main building had a fungi exhibit in it that also had Max fascinated for a good hour, so all in all the gardens probably kept the kids interest for longer than many places we have visited that are built specifically for kids.

Next morning we headed into Sydney and I realised once again that I certainly don’t miss churning through city traffic. We were staying at Lance Cove River Caravan Park (in the Lance Cove National Park), which is fairly centrally located, within walking distance to North Ryde train station.

The park itself is run by NSW Parks and Wildlife and as part of the service they offer a ‘Night Walk’ run by one of the Parks and Wildlife staff. This starts with an overview of the native animals living within the national park before we headed out to see what we could spot in the trees within the caravan park itself. The highlight was probably the bandicoot which hung around for a couple of moments before (s)cooting off.