Two walks in one here, on my first visit to the recently established Guula Ngulla National Park. The name means Koala Country, and there is a population in the park, but also emus, which is the closest to Sydney I’ve seen them. There are good views over the Wollondilly River from the short ascent to Baldy Billy Peak. After returning to the main track, you descend steeply into a valley to emerge at a pleasant stretch of the Wollondilly River.
The land is an ex-farm, and there are clearings and weeds like prickly pear left behind, but still plenty of forest. So, although not a spectacular walk, I found the terrain and look of the place unique and enjoyed it. I also enjoyed running across an emu at close range, though I was not fast enough to get a photo. Worth a trip out to this remote and lesser visited area of the Southern Highlands. Track notes at the end.
Baldy Billy Peak & the Wollondilly River: The Scenery
A sure sign this is ex-farmland, given they used to grow these for various reasons. When first introduced they spread light wildfire in Australia, but were eventually killed off by a moth.
Those brown plants in the fore and midground are covered in sticky seeds, as was I after walking through them without realising. When I did notice them I started to avoid those plants, but instead picked up another kind of sticky seeds, this much worse as when I pciked them off they stuck micro fine fibres into my skin which were stingy. So, sticky and stingy.
Track Notes
The route is on fire trails and easy to follow.
Baldy Bill Peak
There’s an initial descent through forest and a couple of clearings to the first signposted junction. (This was where I met the emu.) From there its a pretty easy ascent to Baldy Billy Peak, with just the last bit being steep.
Wollondilly River
Return to the main track and descend steeply into an intimate valley with a thin layer of cliffs and bluffs high up on the opposite side. When you get to a fork in the fire trail you can go left or right. I think the official route goes left. The trail disappears but you can just make your way through open vegetation to the river. I ended up walking for a while downstream, where I picked up troublesome seeds from the many weeds, and may not have been worth it.
There’s more info on the NPWS website for the Baldy Billy Peak walking track, and Wollondilly River walking track.
