A beautiful, shaded valley walk through ferns and Coachwood trees, offering a moderate challenge with steep slopes and stepping-stone creek crossings. Keep an eye out for local wildlife along the way!
The Meeting Point: Meet at the fire trail entrance located at the end of Excelsior Avenue, Castle Hill. Gather the youth for a roll call and a safety briefing about walking on steep terrain.
Leg 1 (The Descent): Start the track directly from the end of the street. Head down the trail to take in the elevated views looking deep into the Coachwood and Excelsior Creek valleys.
Leg 2 (The Valley Floor): Follow the path as it descends into the valley. The trail winds through dense fern gullies and towering Coachwood trees, providing plenty of shade.
Leg 3 (The Creek Crossings): Navigate the valley floor along Excelsior Creek. You will need to manage the group across two separate creek crossings using the installed stepping stones.
The Turnaround / Return: Complete the loop following the valley track markers to ascend back up the slopes to the starting fire trail on Excelsior Avenue.
Wildlife Spotting: On warm days, Eastern Water Dragons are highly active sunning themselves on the rocks in Excelsior Creek. Remind youth to observe them from a safe distance without provoking them.