The first gathering for the year will be held at Bundeena, which is one of southern Sydney's best kept secrets. Bundeena is named after the Dharawal Aboriginal place name, said to mean either "daughter from the hills" or "noise like thunder".
Bundeena is a sleepy village which is located on the southern shores on the Port Hacking River opposite Cronulla and is surrounded by the magnificent and historic Royal National Park. The area is also an artistic centre, and a holiday and retirement destination.
Bundeena is accessible by either ferry or car. The ferry leaves Cronulla and crosses Port Hacking to Bundeena every hour. By car, Bundeena is 56 km from Sydney via the Princes Highway and Audley Road, Sir Bertram Stevens Drive and Bundeena Drive. You do not require a NPWL permit to drive to Bundeena, however you will need one if you plan to join the beautiful bushwalk from Bonnie Vale to the adjoining suburb of Maianbar.
For those who wish to travel by ferry from Cronulla, contact me on 0458 366 022 prior to departure from Cronulla to arrange transport from the wharf.
Program:
10-12 noon
- Visit to Richard and Sandra Laney's well established Australian native garden at 20 Baker St., Bundeena. If coming by ferry from Cronulla, walk towards the shops from Bundeena wharf, turn left at the first street, Loftus St., then first right Bournemouth St, then first left, Baker St.
- Guided bushwalk from Bonnie Vale to Maianbar. A relaxing flat walk for most of the way through beautiful cabbage tree palms, luminescent Angophora costa, and magnificent Xanthorrhoeas. Meet John Arney from the Sutherland Group who will be leading the walk at the boom gate to the Bonnie Vale camping area. You will have to park either park in the parking areas along the Bonnie Vale Access Road if you have a NPWS permit or you can buy a day pass from one of the pay machines. Bonnie Vale Access Road is the first road on your left as you enter Bundeena.
- Visit the 'Balconies' in the Royal National Park, a spectacular geological formation where the cliff top has been eroded by the weather over thousands of years into a series of irregular jagged layers of sandstone. If you are not prone to vertigo, you can take a sit on one of the balconies jutting out from the cliff and soak in the scenery as your feet dangle 30 meters above the thundering surf below. This is the beginning of the Coast Track to Otford.If coming by ferry from Cronulla, follow Brighton Street from Bundeena wharf, turn left on Scarborough Street and then right on Eric Street that will take you all the way to the park. It is a pleasant 1.5km walk through the laid-back community of Bundeena. If you come by car, there is plenty of parking on the streets near the park gate. Enter the park gate and walk a short distance to a spectacular geological formation known as the Balconies
An Extra Activity: Garden visits/artists studios
This is especially for members, friends and family who don’t wish to do the bush walk.
The artist’s studios are at the artists' homes, often with quirky, interesting design and landscaping using both exotic and Australian plants. Normally, these studios are only open on the first Sunday of the month. This ‘extra’ Saturday means there won’t be the crowds usually encountered on the monthly Bundeena art trail. The artists often use the bush land, Royal National Park and Australian plants as inspiration for their work.
The following artists' studios will be open between 10am -12 noon and will display an Art Trail flag
Studio 4 Carolina Sullivan - 7 Scarborough Street - Painting and Fibre Art
Studio 15 Gillian Hughes - 42 Eric Street - Painting
Studio 18 Sonja Karl - 58 Bundeena Drive - Mixed Media
Studio 20 Jean Weiner - 52 Brighton Street - Painting
Studio 21 Kerry Evans - 12 Short Ave – Painting
These small group of artists are fabulous and the styles are very diverse
You can download a map to see where you are heading from the website www.arttrail.com.au
12-1 pm Lunch and plant sale
- Bring your own and enjoy it on the shores of the Port Hacking River, or
- Purchase lunch from at the Bundeena shopping centres where there are a selection of cafes and takeaways, or
- You are welcome to enjoy your lunch in Richard and Sandra Laney's garden, where tea and coffee will be provided.
1-3pm: Meeting at the Bundeena Community Hall, 17-37 Liverpool St, Bundeena
Cost: $5 for members and $10 for visitors, to cover the cost the hall hire and afternoon tea. Payable on entry.
Talk by Ann Young: Mosaics of vegetation - the rocks and dirt story.
Anne will discuss different plants and different plant communities form mosaics across a landscape? How do different rock types and different soils affect these patterns? How do we read the landscape to understand the beautiful and often intricate patterns of vegetation? What are the common elements in different environments? Ann will explore the varied and fascinating relationships between vegetation and the underlying rocks and soils.
Ann is an excellent and entertaining speaker. She is a geographer and environmental scientist who has co-authored books on sandstone landscapes worldwide and on Australian soils.
Following Anne's talk, afternoon tea will be provided by members of the Sutherland Group of APS NSW.
RSVP by registering: 4 March.
