For 25 years after the arrival of the first fleet in 1788, the fledgling colony in Sydney was confined by the seemingly impassable Blue Mountains, part of eastern Australia's Great dividing range. In may 1813, three explorers succeed in finding a pass through the mountains to the fertile plains beyond.
Today, beef cattle and sheep graze with the kangaroos while clear streams meander through the gently rolling hills. Brown and rainbow trout dart through the shallows and turtles swim in the deeper pools.
This is Tiger snake country.
We head off from Sydney at first light and make our way into the mountains with mixed emotions. Its the end of the season and the air is crisp with a stiff breeze and a sky filled with grey. As we descend, the winds ease and the cloud cover breaks into a beautiful Autumn morning. Now and again flashes of colour erupt as parrots rise, disturbed by our passing on the narrow potholed country lanes.
As we arrive, the sky is clear and the sun is warming the frost tinged fields of a small secluded site. The stream bubbles and gurgles over smooth granite boulders, with protruding logs and native grass covered banks providing a near perfect habitat for much of the local wildlife.
Higher up the banks, exfoliated slabs of granite house species of skinks, frogs, dragons, and smaller elapids as well as spiders, scorpions and a myriad of other insects.
Isolated outcrops of split boulders form an oasis for family groups of Cunningham skinks, larger and prettier than their Sydney cousins.
Down by the river from a subterranean city of rabbit warrens, emerges our target species,a large stunning Tiger snake to bask in the mid morning sun. unfortunately, reluctant to be photographed, it retreats deep underground to avoid our unwanted intrusion.
Further downstream and a small Copperhead is seeking the sun from an upturned tree root, still sluggish from the cold of the night before.
A larger specimen is soon spotted basking in a patch of grasses on the river bank.
Engrossed in our wanderings, the day is quickly over and as the sun sets, we pack up and head off back to the coast tired, happy, and dreaming of summer, tigers, and a return to a secret river.
Today, beef cattle and sheep graze with the kangaroos while clear streams meander through the gently rolling hills. Brown and rainbow trout dart through the shallows and turtles swim in the deeper pools.
This is Tiger snake country.
We head off from Sydney at first light and make our way into the mountains with mixed emotions. Its the end of the season and the air is crisp with a stiff breeze and a sky filled with grey. As we descend, the winds ease and the cloud cover breaks into a beautiful Autumn morning. Now and again flashes of colour erupt as parrots rise, disturbed by our passing on the narrow potholed country lanes.
As we arrive, the sky is clear and the sun is warming the frost tinged fields of a small secluded site. The stream bubbles and gurgles over smooth granite boulders, with protruding logs and native grass covered banks providing a near perfect habitat for much of the local wildlife.
Higher up the banks, exfoliated slabs of granite house species of skinks, frogs, dragons, and smaller elapids as well as spiders, scorpions and a myriad of other insects.
Isolated outcrops of split boulders form an oasis for family groups of Cunningham skinks, larger and prettier than their Sydney cousins.
Down by the river from a subterranean city of rabbit warrens, emerges our target species,a large stunning Tiger snake to bask in the mid morning sun. unfortunately, reluctant to be photographed, it retreats deep underground to avoid our unwanted intrusion.
Further downstream and a small Copperhead is seeking the sun from an upturned tree root, still sluggish from the cold of the night before.
A larger specimen is soon spotted basking in a patch of grasses on the river bank.
Engrossed in our wanderings, the day is quickly over and as the sun sets, we pack up and head off back to the coast tired, happy, and dreaming of summer, tigers, and a return to a secret river.