Mummy, my legs hurt

Where: Leura, Blue Mountains Distance: 4km Duration: About 1.5 hours We decided to brave the rain that was forecast and go for a wander along the very popular Prince Henry Cliff Walk that hugs the cliffline of Leura and gives gorgeous views out to Mt Solitary and across the Jamison Valley. Access is super easy when you park on Olympian Parade - just 50 metres or so of track takes you to one of my favourite lookouts, Elysian Rock. Now, I've been very slack with my blogging and am writing this many months later - from my Strava activity it appears that there was much crying and whining on this walk so perhaps that's why I don't have a pic of the view from Elysian Rock! Ah yes, it's coming back to me now. Holly was happy and bouncing along, Ty was not. Not. At. All. We didn't end up going very far, just a little out and back along the cliffs towards Katoomba, and then back past where we began, through Gordon Falls picnic area and to the Pool of...

Near Wolgan Valley Distance: 7.5km Duration: Around 2.5 hours A magical walk we did in winter, with crystallized frost on the grass and an interesting assortment of ruins from the old mining days. You've got to be pretty self sufficient for this one; Newnes itself is one hotel and a road - that's pretty much it - so bring lots of snacks and water, more than you think you'll need as you're a long way from anywhere if you get delayed! There's interpretive signage everywhere so you can see what's what. You can just explore a little area or do the entire site if you feel like it. We were lucky enough to see a wombat in broad daylight, hanging around the nearby campground and generally nonplussed about us staring at him. The kids got really close before he skittered back into his burrow! This was a really lovely walk with something everywhere you look to keep the kids occupied. The ruins are scattered on the side of a s...

Where: Middle Head, off Chowder Bay Rd Distance: 5.5km Duration: a bit over 2 hours Richie comes up with all the good ideas. Today we decided to go east for a change, heading towards the harbour to explore middle head forts. Complete with underground tunnels dating back to the 1870s and lots of gun turrets, ammunition stores and lookout points, it was a fantastic place to bring the kids. Very little was 'out of bounds' and they could go in around and over all the old structures, which kept them interested for a couple of hours.  The forts were built in the 1870's, used later during WWII, and the area is still active today with HMAS Penguin naval hospital located at the site. Although it was mid morning on a weekend, we only saw a handful of other people, and had lots of space to run around and explore. Apart from a few sketchy cliff edges and former ammunition stores to fall into like the one below, it was a great place for the little peo...

Where: Glenbrook, Blue Mountains Distance: 2.5km Duration: Approx 1 hour Despite living a stone's throw from Glenbrook and exploring the national park almost weekly, we hadn't yet been to this peaceful track overlooking Erskine Creek. First up however, we stopped along the way at Blue Pool, a great walk for the smallest of people that still feels interesting and 'bushwalky' enough, even if you happen to be going at toddler pace. I've been here a few times solo and always find it a stark contrast to the busyness of nearby uber-popular Jellybean pool. With Jellybean having its own large carpark it is a rare occasion when you can enjoy it without crowds. Unfortunately with crowds comes irresponsible people and in turn lots of rubbish. It's crushing to see how much litter is left carelessly at Jellybean, and likewise, how much makes its way down the creek to its confluence along the Nepean River. On this day, we were able to enjoy the rubbish-free Bl...

Near Newnes NSW Distance: 5km Duration: 2.5 hours including snack breaks We have been planning to get out to Newnes again for a while now, especially considering that the continued conservation of this magical areas hangs in the balance due to pressure from coal mining companies. I hope that it will be protected for years to come but just in case, we want to explore it thoroughly while we can, whilst it is still relatively untouched. Although there is definite evidence of human interference already; the native bush areas are in stark contrast to the endless clearfelled forestry-owned areas that you drive through to get to the walking tracks. The Newnes plateau is best known for its unusual rock formations known as pagodas; craggy stepped outcrops that have formed over millions of years. From the NPWS website: "The geological evolution of this park has produced Triassic Narrabeen sandstone cliffs, slot canyons, grand mesas and the beautiful, yet often strangely delicate...