Covid countdown - And the winner is............

I need to bring this thing to a halt now. The Covid sort-of-lockdown will be a very pale shadow of its former self by tomorrow, when restrictions are further eased. So my search for the ultimate Covid exercise park is over.

And a very strong contender for the title is the one I stumbled on today!




It's called Cowells Lane Reserve, and it's to be found at Cowells Lane in Ermington. I'd never heard of it before today or set eyes on it.

Yet it's seriously big enough to be a very useful exercise park, with the potential for a 2 or 3 km running or cycling course around the well-made tracks and paths. And aesthetically it's up there too!

There's going to be a people's choice element to this, so send in your votes by the usual channels. And watch this space!

Covid countdown - Epping's Forest Park

This one was another pleasant surprise. I've passed it hundreds of times, and caught a glimpse of greenness. On closer inspection, it's a very nice space. A thoroughly meritorious little park.

Not an exercise park perhaps, but definitely eight out of ten for aesthetics.

Covid countdown - Terry's Creek traced

When following the Terry's Creek Walk the other day from Eastwood up towards its source a few km to the west, I gave up a little too early. Today I went back and checked out the James Hoskin Reserve, in Carlingford. And it's here that Terry's Creek seems to start its journey.













Turns out it's quite a nice little park.

Covid countdown - Terrys Creek Walk

My Covid-not-very-locked-down adventure today was another very productive one. I found a Terrys Creek walk.

Not the real bushwalk one along the bit east of Eastwood - the one that connects with the Great North Walk. This one is the upper, western bit of Terrys Creek, from Eastwood up towards Carlingford.


It's a series of walkways, bush corridors, and parks, and could be about 3 km long. Except it's only continuously navigable for the upper 2 km. At the Eastwood end you need to dodge around on the streets from time to time.

Below: Fred Spurway Park

Covid countdown - Eastwood's Brickyard Park

This interesting little park was created in recent years on the site of the Eastwood brickworks, much of which have been retained for educational and aesthetic effect.

It's the centrepiece of a rather densely packed new housing estate.

Definitely nine out of ten for aesthetics and interest, but probably only a one or two for exercise potential.

Covid countdown - Some Denistone parks

This one's Denistone Park. It's got a scenic hillside grassy area, with fine views to Parramatta and beyond in the west.











Most of it is remnant Blue Gum forest though. I followed what looked like a well used walking track. Turns out it's a mountain bike track, and there's quite a network.






On then to Valerie Park, which seems to be the name of the narrow strip of bushland running along the western side of the railway just south of Eastwood.

At its southern end, Valerie Park flows quite seamlessly into Darvall Park. Lots of facilities, plus a very big dog park.

Covid countdown - Epping's Edna Hunt Sanctuary

Yet another that's not widely known, it's a fairly big chunk of bushland bordering on and to the west of the railway line, just south of Epping station.

Edna? She and her husband Edward had a vegetable farm here last century.

Covid countdown - more Eastwood parks: Lambert to Brush Farm

Covid countdown - Asquith Park

This must be legal exercise park #87. And it's another goodie.

Covid countdown - Sheldon Forest revisited

Sheldon Forest is one of the North Shore's fine little remnant forest reserves. I'd visited a few times in the past, but today it was time to explore it a bit more thoroughly, and come to grips with all its tracks and access points.

I did it mostly downhill, starting at the First Turramurra Scout Hall at the Pacific Highway end.

At the southern end you can choose between three main exit points. I took the westerly option, through Rofe Park, and emerged at this colourful spot near Tamboon Avenue.