Parking:There is parking along Balls Head Drive but it is small considering the extension of the reserve. Lush now, the site was earlier stripped of its vegetation, becoming almost bald by the 1930s, as its stands of timber answered the needs of the Great Depression. The midden walk looks over Berrys Bay and over to McMahons Point. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options await you. In 1828 a Government Order had reserved all waterfront land 100 feet (approx. Yet what attracts us, what holds our attention, is as likely to confront as it is to comfort. The tracks are easy, for entry-level hikers. At Balls Head Reserve, well-used concrete walkways follow the original paths laid down in the 1930s on this hybrid (both natural and designed) site. 3. But, children learn, grow and improve from curiosity. Description:Balls Head is named after Henry Lidgbird Ball, a Royal Naval officer and commander of a First Fleet ship, once home to the original custodians Gammeraygal or Cammeraygal Aboriginal People. Covering 1.8 ha, the bushland reserve is mostly Blackbutt Gully Forestgrading into Angophora Foreshore Forest toward its southern margin. The second of these, 'The Sacrifice of Balls Head' protested against plans to build a coal bunkering depot there in 1916. Fishing spots, fishing reports and regulations in. One of the tracks, the Habour View Walk is suitable for wheelchairs and offers scenic views of the Sydney Harbour and the CBD. T1 - North Shore & Western Line and T9 - Northern Line, Nearest toilet: Wollstonecraft Train Station, Meet:Saturday of the first full weekend of the month (see dates in table below). The Coal Loader Bushcare Community Nursery Group was formed to produce local native plants for the rehabilitation of Council's Bushland Reserves and to support our Bushcare Programs. . A little further down Balls Head Road youll be directed right toward to the Coal Loader via WaterhenDrive. It is an important link within the middle harbours cluster of bushland reserves and a wildlife corridor for North Sydney Council. Angophora Foreshore Forest and Blackbutt Gully Forest are the dominant plant communities, Badangi Reserve preserves the only example of Forest Red Gum Foreshore Forest (Eucalyptus teriticornis) in the North Sydney LGA and supports endangered wildlife such as the fishing microbat the Large-footed Myotis. In the 20th century, the area was used as a major oil storage facility. This forgetting has implications. Wear trainers or suitable shoes for walking. A sense of adventure as you motor across red plains. Coronavirus Crisis a Wake-Up Call for System Change, 101 Miller Street Supports Our People, Culture, Customers and Brand. For thousand of years, the Cammeraygal People lived in this area, fishing in the harbour and sheltering in and under the sandstone rocks and overhangs. Destination New South Wales (Corporate site). It is North Sydney Councils most prominent reserve, with nearly 10 ha of beautiful bushland on Waverton Peninsula, the first piece of bush seen looking west from the Harbour Bridge. Description:The Bushcare Community Nursery Group was formed in 2011 following the opening of the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability to produce local native plants for the rehabilitation of Council's bushland reserves and to support the Bushcare programs. *Meetings that fall on a long weekend or the Boorowa tree planting trip must be confirmed by the Group Convenor. The park is accessed via Balls Head Drive, Waverton, New South Wales, Australia. Harry Howard Bushcare Group formed in February 1999 following the suggestion of Councillors at an on-site residential meeting regarding a nearby controversial development the previous year. There is car parking in the reserve and on Balls Head Road. Balls Head Reserve is not only a great destination for some light bushwalking, but its also a perfect spot to have a relaxing picnic in natural surroundings. Turn right and youll find yourself among the buildings of the old Coal Loader which now houses the Genia McCaffery Centre for Sustainability. It took years of dedicated work by the volunteers to restore this remnant of Angophora Foreshore Forest. Meetings that fall on a long weekend or the Boorowa tree planting trip must be confirmed by the Group Convenor. Dont forget to wander around Carradah Park too, and enjoy even more scenic views and beautiful parkland in a history-rich location. Now managed by North Sydney Council, the Reserve is a beautiful place to wander around and explore. In the years following 1993, a transformation project changed the area from industrial to recreational. Its become a place to relax, be inspired, or simply grab a coffee and learn more about sustainable technology, community gardens, native bush nurseries, and regenerated parklands. There are plenty of places to stop for a picnic and the uppermost track will will take you to toilet facilities and barbecues. Despite being a bit chilly, we had a great day. At Balls Head Reserve, well-used concrete walkways follow the original paths laid down in the 1930s on this hybrid (both natural and designed)site. fishing rods, blanks, gaffs, harpoons, coolers, cooler racks, large rod racks, beach carts. It stands as an early articulation of conservationist sentiment. Tunks Park bushland is an important wildlife corridor between Mortlock Reserve and Flat Rock Gully in Willoughby. Perhaps its pertinent then to interrogate this attraction, to unpack the affinity. Along the different tracks, you can find several benches to have a rest, and picnic areas (some of them with barbecues and water taps). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello and welcome! 4.4 out of 5 stars 47. Required fields are marked *. Your Name. If we forget that what we value today is something we both imagined and actively created, rather than something that was saved, then we relinquish the agency possible in proactive engagement with place. Aboriginal fishing in Port Jackson, and the introduction of shell fish-hooks to coastal New South Wales, Australia. Before the arrival of white settlement, the Cammeraygal people lived in this part of New South Wales. Tree ferns and Christmas trees were planted by members of the Womens Auxiliary of the Waverton Progress Association in 1931, while 2,000 people showed up on a Saturday afternoon in the same year to plant even more trees on the same site. Brea Reservoir is a reservoir located just 1.3 miles from Fullerton, in Orange County, in the state of California, United States, near Anaheim Royal Mobile Home Park, CA. I followed the Coal Loader Link Track, which meets up with the Isabella Brierley Track. This helps support the blog. The land has now become a public parkland offering stunning views over Sydney Harbour and Sydney CBD. Australian homes to inspire the very best residential architecture and design projects. The remnant Blackbutt Gully Forest sweeps under the sandstone arches of Cammeray's Suspension Bridge above Quarry Creek hugging the many sports fields and dramatic sandstone cliffs of Tunks Park. Balls Head Reserve located in Waverton was where I decided to spend my NYE2011 and I absolutely loved it. The Balls Head Reserve is a forested headland nature reserve situated on Port Jackson, 1.5 kilometres west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Custom Content. Please, note that the caf in only open Wednesday to Sunday, 7am to 3pm. It has so much to offer! The reserve is now maintained by North Sydney Council and contains a well-preserved natural bushland area, one of the closest to the city of Sydney. The best way to discover Balls Head Bushland Reserve is by walking. When you visit Balls Head Reserve, you should visit its neighbour too, Carradah Park, on the Waverton Peninsula. Sydney bus network: Routes 263 and 201 Grafton St opp Fall St, Cremorne (Stop ID 209011) and Grafton St at Fall St. Cremorne (Stop ID 209025), Meet:Sunday of the third full weekend of themonth and the following Wednesday (see dates in table below). This area has improved greatly since this time and is now home to many small native birds auch as the White Browed Scrubwrens. The relief of rejuvenation as you wade into an alpine stream. It is named after Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball, a Royal Naval officer who . Especially if, as a landscape architect, one finds ones self also attracted by this mirage, drawn to spaces that appear undesigned over the heroic gesture. Tunks Park East is possibly the most physically challenging Bushcare site to work. From there, you will find some stairs that will lead you to the start of the reserve. Cremorne Point (Stop ID 209035), Ferries: Cremorne Point Wharf F2 Taronga Zoo and F6 Mosman Bay, Meet:Sunday of the second full weekend of the month (see dates in table below). Nearly a century on from these plantings, its hard to imagine that anybody ferrying by the site now would consider what they see the result of concerted action, rather than preservation the act of erosion applying as equally to civic memory as to the foreshores themselves. Tunnels being constructed for the Balls Head Coal Loader. Balls Head Reserve is a great day out for the family with excellent facilities to enjoy. This area has improved greatly since this time and is home to many small native birds e.g., White Browed Scrubwrens. The view across Balls Head to Birchgrove, circa18701875. Image: Catch a flathead, baitfish and whiting. A sense of belonging as you return to your favourite holiday house. Bring sunscreen and a full water bottle. A day Fishing out at balls head and a bit of sugarloaf bay. Its a nice spot to sit, with or without kids, and on a weekday it is pretty quiet. You can find more info on the North Sydney Council web page. The Reserve is located at the southern end of Balls Head Drive on the Waverton Peninsula, and can be accessed from Waverton railway station, which is only a short 10-minute walk away. If youve had enough, continue up the hill to return to Waverton Station or take a left into Horace Street to continue the walk. Balls Head Reserve 4.5 65 #6 of 34 things to do in North Sydney Nature & Wildlife Areas Visit website Write a review About Features animals Learn more about animal welfare in tourism Suggest edits to improve what we show. Also on the site is a community garden and bushland nursery as well as public meeting rooms and art studio spaces. Neutral Bay (Stop ID 208924), Nearest public toilet: Forsyth Park Community Centre, Meet:Sunday of the fourth full weekend of themonth (see dates in table below). This authors intention is to pose the question of the issues and complexities inherent in the romanticization of industrial ruins and relics here, rather than to resolve this issue. 2 reviews of Balls Head Reserve "I have to say that the views from here are simply outstanding - you get great views of the bridge and the city, and all from a natural bushland in the heart of the city. It is part of the middle Harbour cluster of bushland reserves, an important wildlife corridor for North Sydney Council. Come along and help protect our precious bushland reserves. Nearest takeaway coffee:The closest caf from Balls Head Bushland Reserve is the Coal Loader Caf. Tunks Park is one of the most striking reserves in the North Sydney LGA and part of the middle Harbour cluster of bushland reserves, an important wildlife corridor. All the insider news, tips and inspiration you need to plan your next trip, delivered straight to your inbox. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. There is a cafe which is open Wednesday to Sunday from 7am - 3pm, and importantly, there are toilets. Bus stop nearby: M20 and 252 bus routes stop at Bay Road near Woolcott Street and Woolcott Street near Waverton Park (please, always check updates prior your trip on Transport NSW web page). Daytime view large image The Reserve is situated on a cliff so it there's a lot of rocks and isn't very grassy towards the top. Dont wait until New Years to explore this extraordinary bushland reserve! Locations:End of Lambert Street, CremorneandFolly Point, entrance to Primrose Park Walking Track(locations of meetings are noted in table below). Forsyth Park Bushcare site is a small pocket of remnant Angophora Foreshore Forest set in a gully between Yeo and Bent Street, Neutral Bay. Destination NSW acknowledges and respects Aboriginal people as the states first people and nations and recognises Aboriginal people as the Traditional Owners and occupants of New South Wales land and water. Location:First meeting of the month is atBrightmore Reserve/Little Young Street. Like most harbourside walks, the views you get on this one are amazing. 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