Pindar Cave
Encyclopedia
Pindar Cave is a geological formation which appears as a massive concave of overhanging sandstone rock, north of Sydney
, New South Wales
, Australia
in Brisbane Water National Park
. Although its name implies a cave, the whole formation is actually an overhang. There are no similar formations of the size of Pindar in any of the National Parks that surround Sydney. It is large enough for sixty walkers to camp overnight under its shelter away from wet weather. Although most visitors speak very well of their visits to Pindar, it is the worse for wear from a great many visits. It was a beautiful pristine site in the nineteen sixties.
. Pindar is northwest of the north shore of the Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge north of Brooklyn
. To the east of the peninsula is Mullet Creek and to the west is Mooney Mooney Creek. Both Mullet and Mooney Creeks are large drowned valleys formed at the end of the last ice ages when the waters of the world's oceans rose substantially.
From Sydney
there is only one practical access, which is by the CityRail
InterCity train that travels from Sydney Terminal (Central) to Wyong
via Strathfield
and Hornsby
and then on to Wondabyne
which is north east from Pindar. The rail service is hourly for virtually all of the day and night. One must travel in the rear carriage and inform the rail guard of one's intention to alight from the train at Wondabyne - one must alight from the very rear door of the train as the platform is less than half a carriage length long. When wishing to catch the train back from Wondabyne one must flag the train driver. There are no roads at Wondabyne, the backdrop escarpment is too precipitous.
The walk is about 13 km long and it takes three to four hours.
The track starts from the south end of the rail platform on the escarpment side, which is at sea level.
The escarpment climb
Just after the rail platform the foot track climbs to the plateau at about 100 metres altitude.
The vehicular fire trail
From the escarpment edge one proceeds along the fully formed very eroded fire trail for 1020 metres to the turnoff to the left to Pindar Cave. The actual turnoff is a large area of exposed flat rock.
The fire trail from the escarpment continues on to Mount Kariong and then eventually on to the Gosford suburb of Kariong.
The vehicular track
From the flat rock area, one then proceeds along an old pleasant non eroded vehicle track, which heads north west. It proceeds for 440 metres and then comes to a sudden ending in a small turning circle. This turning circle is due west of the flat rock turnoff.
The foot track
One can find the foot track to the left where the terrain slopes downward. The track varies in form a lot. An area where the track winds around steep hillside, a stretch of rocky plateau with beautiful views, a section of steep crumbly eroding incline turning into a stretch of moderate dense forest. Nearing Pindar Cave one travels through high brush in a swampy area wet or dry according to the season.
Brooklyn, New South Wales
Central Coast, New South Wales
Hawkesbury River
Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge
Kariong
Wondabyne
Wondabyne railway station
Woy Woy
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in Brisbane Water National Park
Brisbane Water National Park
Brisbane Water National park is a national park in New South Wales, , 47 km north of Sydney.The park has many pleasant and interesting walks that can vary from mild to rugged. One walk that can be easily accessed via public transport, is the walk to Pindar Cave on the escarpment above...
. Although its name implies a cave, the whole formation is actually an overhang. There are no similar formations of the size of Pindar in any of the National Parks that surround Sydney. It is large enough for sixty walkers to camp overnight under its shelter away from wet weather. Although most visitors speak very well of their visits to Pindar, it is the worse for wear from a great many visits. It was a beautiful pristine site in the nineteen sixties.
Location
Pindar is situated in the midst of a plateau peninsula of heath and moderate dry sclerophyll forest. The south end of the peninsula ends at the Hawkesbury RiverHawkesbury River
The Hawkesbury River, also known as Deerubbun, is one of the major rivers of the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its tributaries virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney.-Geography:-Course:...
. Pindar is northwest of the north shore of the Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge north of Brooklyn
Brooklyn, New South Wales
Brooklyn is a small suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Brooklyn is located 51 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...
. To the east of the peninsula is Mullet Creek and to the west is Mooney Mooney Creek. Both Mullet and Mooney Creeks are large drowned valleys formed at the end of the last ice ages when the waters of the world's oceans rose substantially.
Access - The rail trip to Wondabyne
The north railwayFrom Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
there is only one practical access, which is by the CityRail
CityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
InterCity train that travels from Sydney Terminal (Central) to Wyong
Wyong, New South Wales
Wyong was proclaimed a town in 1888 and is currently a major northern suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, located approximately 89 km NNE of Sydney. It is the administrative centre for the Wyong Shire local government area.- History :...
via Strathfield
Strathfield, New South Wales
Strathfield is an Inner West suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Strathfield is located 14 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the Municipality of Strathfield...
and Hornsby
Hornsby, New South Wales
* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...
and then on to Wondabyne
Wondabyne, New South Wales
Wondabyne is a suburb located in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, as part of the City of Gosford local government area.The suburb contains Wondabyne railway station, which is serviced by CityRail services to Wyong on the Main North railway line and is adjacent to a wharf on...
which is north east from Pindar. The rail service is hourly for virtually all of the day and night. One must travel in the rear carriage and inform the rail guard of one's intention to alight from the train at Wondabyne - one must alight from the very rear door of the train as the platform is less than half a carriage length long. When wishing to catch the train back from Wondabyne one must flag the train driver. There are no roads at Wondabyne, the backdrop escarpment is too precipitous.
Access - The walk from Wondabyne
Track notes, maps and photos of bush walkThe walk is about 13 km long and it takes three to four hours.
The track starts from the south end of the rail platform on the escarpment side, which is at sea level.
The escarpment climb
Just after the rail platform the foot track climbs to the plateau at about 100 metres altitude.
The vehicular fire trail
From the escarpment edge one proceeds along the fully formed very eroded fire trail for 1020 metres to the turnoff to the left to Pindar Cave. The actual turnoff is a large area of exposed flat rock.
The fire trail from the escarpment continues on to Mount Kariong and then eventually on to the Gosford suburb of Kariong.
The vehicular track
From the flat rock area, one then proceeds along an old pleasant non eroded vehicle track, which heads north west. It proceeds for 440 metres and then comes to a sudden ending in a small turning circle. This turning circle is due west of the flat rock turnoff.
The foot track
One can find the foot track to the left where the terrain slopes downward. The track varies in form a lot. An area where the track winds around steep hillside, a stretch of rocky plateau with beautiful views, a section of steep crumbly eroding incline turning into a stretch of moderate dense forest. Nearing Pindar Cave one travels through high brush in a swampy area wet or dry according to the season.
Dangerous bushwalking conditions
The track south from the fire trail south to Pindar can be dangerous if one does not take common sense precautions. Firstly if one does not know the track one should get up to date information on the condition of the track, available from bush walking club sources. Sometimes the turnoff to the south track is hard to find. One should have an accurate compass together with Gunderman and Gosford 1:25000 topo maps. If you can afford it, there is every reason to have a portable GPS with a fully charged battery, with you. Mobile phones do not receive signal from many lower elevations. Water in dry times is likely to be scarce.See also
Brisbane Water National ParkBrisbane Water National Park
Brisbane Water National park is a national park in New South Wales, , 47 km north of Sydney.The park has many pleasant and interesting walks that can vary from mild to rugged. One walk that can be easily accessed via public transport, is the walk to Pindar Cave on the escarpment above...
Brooklyn, New South Wales
Brooklyn, New South Wales
Brooklyn is a small suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Brooklyn is located 51 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...
Central Coast, New South Wales
Central Coast, New South Wales
The Central Coast is an urban region in the Australian state of New South Wales, located on the coast north of Sydney and south of Lake Macquarie....
Hawkesbury River
Hawkesbury River
The Hawkesbury River, also known as Deerubbun, is one of the major rivers of the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its tributaries virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney.-Geography:-Course:...
Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge
Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge
The Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge spans the Hawkesbury River just north of the town of Brooklyn on the northern outskirts of Sydney, Australia...
Kariong
Wondabyne
Wondabyne railway station
Woy Woy
External links
- http://bwrs.org.au Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad