Backpacking Sydney

Newtown via Blackwattle Bay - Tuesday evening walk.

An approximately 10km walk (over 10,000 steps), at a brisk 5km/h, exploring the parks and foreshore around the CBD. *This week we will walk to Newtown via Blackwattle and Rozelle Bays.* *From Stand K we will walk down to Cockle Bay. We will then turn south and walk down towards Tumbalong Park. After this we will walk to Wentworth Park via the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre. We will walk along the shores of Blackwattle and Rozelle Bays and then past where "The Finest Children's Hospital in the World" once was.* **RISK:** Please remember that you attend our events at your own risk and that our Organizers do not accept any liability for any health or safety problems that occur during our events. **MEMBERSHIP:** *All members will need to be Financial 2027 to join this walk. **A fee of $10.00 is payable each financial year.** Please pay your fees before you RSVP.* Please do a direct debit deposit for Sydney: St George BSB 112879 ACC 016949122 Wendy Harvey. Please use your Meetup Profile name in the bank reference.

Nakasendo Way Japan by E Bike

Nakasendo Way by E Bike Tokyo to Kyoto about 500 km of cycle paths, back roads and forest paths, medium grade cycling made easier by modern E Bikes Cycling about 50km per day crossing two mountain passes, amazing scenery and fabulous ancient well preserved villages, think Megome and Tsumago plus Kiso Valley for those amazing thatched roof houses. Mountain views, rolling hills and the lakes of Suwa and Biwa the latter Japan's largest lake and we get to cycle around 2/3 of it on fairly flat cycle paths! Please ask for a full itinerary including day by day cycling and KM, accommodation At the time of RSVP please email david@discoverytravel.com.au your name and mobile number failure to do so at time of RSVP you will be moved to not going! Price is $2450 per person twin share plus bike hire as below. Deposit is non refundable and change and or cancellation fees apply for any cancellations, ask for details. Luggage are not included can be forwarded each day or over several days to reduce cost as remote cycling at its best! Bike racks and bags can be rented too. You are welcome to bring your own bike! **Cycling:** Bike hire is not included standard road bikes aprox jpy19000 per week Ebike aprox JPY24000 per week see link for more details [https://cycletrip.jp/ja/item_detail.html?s=471](https://cycletrip.jp/ja/item_detail.html?s=471) (The giant E Bikes are fabulous and comfortable to ride, fitting is extremely important) *Most days can be shortened or skipped by train if you wish* **Rinko bag:** These are required to take bikes onto trains, wheels need to be removed to fit into the bag and shoulder carried onto trains (We can mix in and help each other) Rinko bags can be pre purchased on Amazon or in Japan at Mont Bell (fabulous Japanese outdoor store) [https://www.montbell.com/jp/en/products/detail/1130425](https://www.montbell.com/jp/en/products/detail/1130425) **Cycling:** I suggest e bikes but if you are a hard-core cyclist welcome to take a road bike, Japan is a fabulous country for bike packing. Itinerary may change. This is an international travel trip and travel insurance with unlimited medical cover, including existing conditions is compulsory. By RSVP this meetup you agree to and are bound by the terms and conditions of Aussie Explorers which can be found here: [https://www.meetup.com/Aussie-Explorers/](https://www.meetup.com/Aussie-Explorers/) Aussie Explorers organisers and leaders accept no liability during this meetup, leaders try to ensure the safety and well-being of members at all times however as this is a weekend away travelling, exploring different areas and hiking in the great outdoors accidents happen, please take responsibility for your own safety and your belongings. Deposits are non-refundable, final price is subject to currency fluctuation. **Inclusions:** Accommodation and leader throughout, gpx file if you would like it to navigate on your phone. **Additional:** Luggage transfers each day are about AUD$15 if you would like it, Bike Rental is about JPY24000 per week, both us extras which add up best get a quote. Rinko Bag is about JPY9990 purchased in Japan

Catamaran sailing Lake Macquarie (camping caravan park)

Please email directly and supply information below, as well as RSVP. Also use email for queries (not Meetup messages). Cost and more details are below. Enjoy pretty Lake Macquarie (2 hours from Sydney) while zipping along on our catamarans and getting a good introduction to sailing. More exciting than being on a yacht ! We have 18-foot, 16-foot and 14-foot catamarans. No experience is required. Come for either the weekend or a day (we recommend coming for the weekend). Email Mark Lovi (yhasailingbookings@gmail.com) as well as RSVPing. He will then send you details. In your email, please advise the following: * Do you have your own transport ? If so, are you prepared to give others lifts ? * If you don't have your own transport, what suburb do you live in ? * Contact phone number. * Do you have a tent ? We can hire but you must have your own sleeping bag. * Can you swim (we wear lifejackets but cannot take non-swimmers) * Are you reasonably agile ? We don’t need super athletes, but you are sitting on a flat deck (not a seat) and you need to be able to move 3 metres to the other side of the boat at reasonable speed. A simple test is whether you can lie flat on a carpet and stand up within 4 seconds without using furniture. * We cannot take people weighing more than 95 kg (even if agile). COST: Sailing fee $70 (weekend); $40 (day), camping $26, lift $15, tent hire $10. You need your own sleeping bag. This is a group event and requires people to be on time to assist in rigging boats. If coming Saturday, arrive by 10:00 am ready for the outdoors. If coming for the day only be prepared to stay until 6pm. For Sunday, be prepared to arrive by 9am and stay until 5pm. Camping is at a caravan park with facilities. We are a long-established sailing group run by the YHA. We hold sailing weekends every 4 weeks. NO SAILING EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY. Catamaran sailing is a fun and exciting way to experience the water, as the boats zip along in the wind. The boats are easy to sail and offer a good opportunity for anyone who wants to learn or experience sailing by getting some practice on either handling the jib, trapezing (hanging out the side of the boat on a harness) or skippering. We are not a "racing" group, we just like to be on the water and away from Sydney for a weekend, taking it easy.

Catamaran sailing Lake Macquarie (camping caravan park)

Please email directly and supply information below, as well as RSVP. Also use email for queries (not Meetup messages). Cost and more details are below. Enjoy pretty Lake Macquarie (2 hours from Sydney) while zipping along on our catamarans and getting a good introduction to sailing. More exciting than being on a yacht ! We have 18-foot, 16-foot and 14-foot catamarans. No experience is required. Come for either the weekend or a day (we recommend coming for the weekend). Email Mark Lovi (yhasailingbookings@gmail.com) as well as RSVPing. He will then send you details. In your email, please advise the following: * Do you have your own transport ? If so, are you prepared to give others lifts ? * If you don't have your own transport, what suburb do you live in ? * Contact phone number. * Do you have a tent ? We can hire but you must have your own sleeping bag. * Can you swim (we wear lifejackets but cannot take non-swimmers) * Are you reasonably agile ? We don’t need super athletes, but you are sitting on a flat deck (not a seat) and you need to be able to move 3 metres to the other side of the boat at reasonable speed. A simple test is whether you can lie flat on a carpet and stand up within 4 seconds without using furniture. * We cannot take people weighing more than 95 kg (even if agile). COST: Sailing fee $70 (weekend); $40 (day), camping $26, lift $15, tent hire $10. You need your own sleeping bag. This is a group event and requires people to be on time to assist in rigging boats. If coming Saturday, arrive by 10:00 am ready for the outdoors. If coming for the day only be prepared to stay until 6pm. For Sunday, be prepared to arrive by 9am and stay until 5pm. Camping is at a caravan park with facilities. We are a long-established sailing group run by the YHA. We hold sailing weekends every 4 weeks. NO SAILING EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY. Catamaran sailing is a fun and exciting way to experience the water, as the boats zip along in the wind. The boats are easy to sail and offer a good opportunity for anyone who wants to learn or experience sailing by getting some practice on either handling the jib, trapezing (hanging out the side of the boat on a harness) or skippering. We are not a "racing" group, we just like to be on the water and away from Sydney for a weekend, taking it easy.

Two Creeks Track walk

🌸CQ🌸WATSONS BAY🌸BONDI BEACH🌸COOGEE BEACH🌸

MEETING: Circular Quay Wharf 2 🌸✈️🌸 TIME: 10:00 for the 10:15 ferry to Watsons Bay 🌸⏰🌸 DETAILS: This is one of the best walks in Sydney, with glorious harbour and/or beach views the entire way. Watsons Bay-Diamond Bay-Bondi Beach-Tamarama, Clovelly, Gordon’s Bay, Coogee Beach with several spots to enjoy a beverage at the finish 🌸⛱🌸 LUNCH: Bondi Beach 🌸🍽🌸 COST:💲5️⃣ cash gratuity or (donation)for this walk.💵 🌸💲🌸 DISTANCE: 1️⃣4️⃣kms 🌸🦋🌸 THIS WALK IS GRADED AS: Spectacular, and hopefully the odd 🐳 🌸☀️🌸 GET OUT POINTS: the entire way 🌸🚦🌸 TRANSPORT: Ferry to Watsons Bay, return Bus to the City 🌸✈️🌸 GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING: 🌸💃🌸 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BRING A FRIEND PLEASE MESSAGE ME, unfortunately only the 2 legged kind, and not the 4 legged kind are included. 🌸🥰🌸 I am always open to suggestions if there is a destination/hike/walk you’d like to do…just message me 🌸 👣🌸 A heads up for newcomers and first timers. Our walking group is a fabulous Melting Pot of cultures, backgrounds, professions and life experiences. We love our Walks. We are INCLUSIVE OF EVERYONE………if you’re: kind, nice, fun, polite and respectful. 🌸😘🌸 On that note…. In recent times my walks are at capacity, which I’m capping at 40. Regulars, regardless of numbers are always welcome….just PM me if you’re on a waitlist. 🌸♥️🌸 We walk at a medium pace of 4kms per hour, stopping for breaks and to take in the views. It is a reasonable expectation that the group stays together. It is your responsibility to stay in line of sight. If you cannot walk at this pace, I will let you know of the next get out point. This is not negotiable. 🌸🐌🌸 As this is a walking group, bikes, ebikes, scooters, escooters, and pogo sticks are not compatible or welcome. 🌸👣🌸 Grading for my walks:
Easy: Mainly flat, suburban, loads of get out points, up to 14kms.
Easy-Medium: some stairs, a few uneven surfaces, up to 15kms.
Medium: Stairs, rocks, coastal beaches/sand, ups, downs, get out points limited, up to 17kms
Medium-Hard: uneven surfaces, need to take extreme care and be hike fit. Few get out points. Tracks, uneven surfaces, steep inclinations and limited resources. 🌸👯‍♀️🌸 WALKING GUIDELINES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 🌸✍️🌸 Carry sufficient food and water (2 litres) for the expected conditions of the walk. Pls don’t separate from the group, unless you let someone know, preferably me. The waitlist is completely discretionary….reliable regulars will ALWAYS be included. 🆗……….If you are a no show, you will not be welcome to join a future walk with me. (It’s a courtesy kind of thing). If people are on the waitlist, it is also very inconsiderate. Marking yourself as “Not Going” within 2 hours of departure does not allow reasonable time to notify anyone on the waitlist. 🌸🙅‍♀️🌸 On the odd occasion, the walk may change from the schedule, due to weather, unforeseen track obstacles OR emergency situations. 🌸🤞🌸 Please make sure your conversation is always courteous to other group members. 🌸😍🌸 PS…. IF YOUR ID PIC IS OF A COFFEE CUP, YOUR DOG OR CAT, A VIEW, and not a picture of you…You’ll stay waitlisted. 🌸❌🌸 SAFETY WARNING: Please stay away from cliff edges and be very careful when walking on wet and slippery rocks and surfaces. Stay within sight of the group at all times. 🌸🔴🟢⚫️🟠🔵🟡🟣🟤🌸 DISCLAIMER: Your health and safety is our priority, we take care to minimize risk and avoid accidents and injuries. However, Organizers and Hosts are not responsible for your health and safety and do not accept any liability for accidents and injuries that may occur during Meetup activities and events. Please take responsibility for your own safety and belongings. By RSVP to this event you and your guests agree to comply with the terms and conditions of the Aussie Explorers Meetup group which can be found in the link below: https://www.meetup.com/Aussie-Explorers/pages/28346396/Terms_and_Conditions_of_joining_Aussie_Explorers 🌸☀️🌸 HAPPY WALKING 🍃🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🍃 xxLisa

BEST HIKE IN 'Straya? Blue Mountains GRAND CANYON HIKE. Pub Lunch & Beer.

From TIMEOUT Magazine: *"One breathtaking bushwalk claimed the crown as the nation’s favourite. The gold medal went to the **Grand Canyon Track** – a challenging yet short hike through the lush rainforest of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park. The 6.3-kilometre circuit passes gently cascading waterfalls, giant ferns and moss-covered rocky overhangs that look straight out of a fairy tale."* Yup. A fahkin' fairy tale that ends with a beer and lunch. (Moved this to October as more sunlight will make for a better day!) **THE HIKE.** It's a 6.3kms loop hike. NSW Parks estimates 3-4 hours, which means this hike is medium in difficulty (430m of altitude gain is a lot of steps, but it's not that bad when you're there). It's absolutely beautiful - waterfalls, greenery, views, and more. It's like somehow Mother Nature carved out this perfect crevasse - hiking it has you exiting civilisation into Jurassic Park-esque world. *Fitness matters here, but we will be hiking at a relaxed pace so we enjoy our surroundings.* Last time I had a video of the hike here. I deleted it. Just come. At Step #1 where we view Evans Lookout, it's truly a "Woowowowowowow" type start. It only gets better from there. **THE TRANSPORTATION.** A train arrives at Blackheath Station at 951am. Let's meet at the pub across the road. There's parking and toilets there. However, let's try to get enough drivers for this one. The train arrives in Penrith at 827am. **[Perhaps drivers pick us public transporters there? Let's discuss this all in the whatsapp chat that you must join on this hike!](https://chat.whatsapp.com/KngCa1lMtdUEAoSy6zXuGP)** **LUNCH.** "[Spikes Bistro](https://www.facebook.com/p/Spikes-Bistro-Blackheath-61574548437651/)" (where all the locals are going these days) is now a family run joint at the golf course with GREAT food. I'll make a reservation right on the same balcony we had last time! It's a perfect ending to The Grand Canyon, and the family is thankful to have our business. Let's support the locals who support us. **ANOTHER HIKE.** We'll have cars. Shall we do another short hike? I'm open. Charles Darwin Trek is newly open, and it's an easy one with top, top views of Wentworth Falls. Valley of the Waters? Another 10/10 waterfall hike. Or no doubt you'll be able to get a lift to Blackheath Station if you need to get home. **THE DRIVERS.** We need some drivers for this one. If you drive each passenger you take from will chip in some cash - I'll see to it. We looooove you drivers! **THE LOGISTICS.** a) Gratuity $15 Cash or PayID on the day. b) Let's try to start hiking by 1030am absolute latest. c) Last minute Cancels and No Shows... *I'm not even going to say it.* d) Have a backpack filled with... well, you know all this shit by now. Make a list. Be safe. Be smart. This will be a hike you won't forget - I can't wait to see the "Holy shit, WOW" look on all of our faces! See you soon. MJ 0439 635 699 **In pressing the “Attend” button for this hike, you acknowledge that:** a) You are healthy and fit to complete the hike describe; b) You have read and will follow [NSW National Parks Bushwalking Safety Guidelines](https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/safety/bushwalking-safety) for this hike; c) You have no chronic / underlying health issues that deter you from completing this hike; and d) You understand your host is just that – your host, not a professional hiker – and that you and you alone are responsible for your hiking health, safety, and wellness; and e) You’ve been advised to obtain individual [hiking insurance from 1Cover](https://www.1cover.com.au/adventure-travel-insurance/hiking-trekking/?utm_source=google&utm_source_platform=gads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=13564994076&utm_term=adventure%20travel%20insurance&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=13564994076&gbraid=0AAAAAD_bfRAu6Io5ZkHeiIYCP_evtsQ_z&gclid=CjwKCAjwz5nGBhBBEiwA-W6XRLm8Itjn1am8sdPMxVhBtRmsDOWkolLlVATJcXW5jW-9JgB7hb9kMhoC7M0QAvD_BwE).

IN PERSON! Apache Kafka® x Apache Flink®Meetup - Oct 2026

Hello everyone! Join us for an Apache Kafka® meetup on **Oct 13th from 5:30pm**, hosted by Mantel in Sydney! The address, agenda, and speaker information can be found below. See you there! **Venue**: Mantel Level 21, 580 George St, Sydney NSW 2000 \*\*\* **Agenda:** * 5:30pm: Doors open * 5:30pm - 6:00pm: Pizza, Drinks, and Networking * 6:00pm - 6:30pm: Jaehyeon Kim, Senior Data Engineer, Kasada * 6:30pm - 7:00pm: Chris Arthur, Customer Success Engineering Manager, Confluent * 7:00pm - 7:30pm: Additional Networking \*\*\* **Speaker:** Jaehyeon Kim, Senior Data Engineer, Kasada **Talk:** From Prototype to Production: Building a Real-Time ML Feedback Loop with Kafka and Flink **Abstract:** While many platforms power real-time decisions, most machine learning workflows remain stubbornly batch-oriented. This session presents a practical case study on redesigning an offline Python-based recommendation prototype into a highly scalable, real-time contextual bandit system built entirely on Apache Kafka and Apache Flink. We will explore how Kafka serves as the backbone of the feedback loop by managing real-time event ingestion and user feedback streams. From there, we will dive into how Apache Flink performs continuous, stateful online model training directly within the stream. Join this session to learn how to safely manage ML model state inside a distributed stream processor, decouple continuous Flink training from low-latency serving, and successfully integrate online learning workloads into your event-driven architectures. \-\-\-\-\- **Speaker:** Chris Arthur, Customer Success Engineering Manager, Confluent **Talk:** Atomic Writes Across Kafka and Your Database: What KIP-939 Changes **Abstract:** If you've ever built a system that writes to both Kafka and a database, you've hit the dual-write problem: how do you guarantee both writes succeed or fail together? Today's answer is usually the outbox pattern — a reliable but heavyweight workaround involving extra tables, pollers, and CDC pipelines. In this talk, we'll cover what 2PC participation actually means for Kafka's transaction protocol, how it differs from Kafka's existing exactly-once semantics, and what this unlocks for teams building event-driven systems that need real atomicity between Kafka and external stores. \*\*\* If you would like to speak or host our next event please let us know! community@[confluent.io](http://confluent.io/)

🍜Asian Background Social: Lounge Asia Sydney (Easy English) 6pm

🌏 Make new international friends in Sydney. Come alone, practise your English, and enjoy a relaxed social night. 😊 A friendly meetup for networking, language exchange, and real conversation. **Why People Love Lounge Asia** 🍜 **Asian-focused** event 🤝 Many guests come alone 💬 No need for perfect English 🌏 No games or forced introductions — just enjoy the conversation ━━━━━━━━━━ **How to Join** 1️⃣ Tap "RSVP" on this page (1 ticket per attendee) 2️⃣ Show your Meetup QR code at reception 3️⃣ Collect your name tag and start meeting people ✅ Early RSVP is free ✅ RSVPs made within 24 hours of the event start time are $5 ✅ Limited capacity — please RSVP early Early RSVP is the best way to save your spot and join for free. Many people attend alone, so don't worry if it's your first time. ━━━━━━━━━━ ⚠️ IMPORTANT: TONIGHT’S RULES ⚠️ 🎟️ A VALID TICKET IS REQUIRED, BUT ENTRY IS SUBJECT TO HOST APPROVAL One ticket per guest. Guests on the waitlist cannot enter. A ticket does not guarantee entry. If entry is refused, you will receive a full refund. Please DM Michael, the main Lounge Asia organiser. Local hosts are not responsible for refunds. 🪑 SIT IF EMPTY Please take a seat if you see one to help create more space. 📧 SHOW SCREEN AT DOOR Have your confirmation profile/tickets ready for Chris & Kev. NO WALK-INS. THANK YOU! ━━━━━━━━━━ **How to Find Us** 📍 Venue Harts Pub 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, NSW 2000 ⏰ Time Saturday from 6:00pm – 9:00pm 🚶 Getting There 5 min walk from Circular Quay Station. 8 min walk from Wynyard Station. Easy to drop by after exploring The Rocks. Our Lounge Asia organisers will be there to welcome you 😊 ━━━━━━━━━━ 🍺 Please Support the Venue This event is free or low-cost because the venue supports our community. Please purchase at least one drink during the event. Your support helps us keep organising events at great venues. ━━━━━━━━━━ 💚 Please Be Respectful Lounge Asia is a friendly social event where everyone should feel comfortable and welcome. 🚫 This is NOT a pickup or dating event. Any anti-social behaviour or those who make others uncomfortable WILL BE removed immediately. 🚫 Any harassment, unwanted attention, MLM / crypto / religious recruitment, or anything that makes others uncomfortable. Organisers reserve the right to refuse entry or ask anyone to leave. 🪪 A valid government-issued photo ID is strictly required for entry. No photo ID, no entry. Driver's licences must be issued by the government of the country where the event is held. 📸 Photos and short videos may be taken for community and promotional purposes. If you prefer not to appear, please let an organiser know when you arrive. ━━━━━━━━━━ Lounge Asia is already growing in Australia and is now expanding across Asia — Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore. Our goal is simple: More friendship, more understanding, and more genuine connections across cultures. 📱 Join the Lounge Asia Australia WhatsApp Group Stay connected with the Lounge Asia community after the event. ✅ Hear about upcoming Lounge Asia events ✅ Meet local and international people ✅ Stay connected with people you meet ✅ Receive community news and event updates [👉 Join the WhatsApp group:](https://chat.whatsapp.com/CJV5i6FQMc7DVXezkJUUib) 📱 Instagram: @_lounge_asia 🎥 Watch Event Video: [\[WATCH EVENT VIDEO\]](https://youtu.be/tNak_cu9CXw?si=xiObPWs86vc93N18) 🎁 BECOME A FOUNDING MEMBER (VIP) We are building an official app to connect our community safely! Join the VIP list for early access and priority invites to special parties. 👉 [\[Join the VIP List here\]](https://forms.gle/T2KukvgEiGWEz3VR9) ━━━━━━━━━━ 🌏 Come say hi! Hey, come hang out! 来一起玩吧！ 一起來聊天吧！ 気軽に遊びに来てね！ 편하게 놀러 와요! มาเจอกันนะ! Tới chơi nha! Tara, sali ka na! Yuk, gabung! Хамтдаа цуглацгаая! Komm einfach vorbei! Jom join kita! See you at Lounge Asia!

20km Taronga Zoo to Manly Be active, healthy & happy!😎

**Taronga Zoo to Manly - 20km** I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Gadigal and Gayemagal people and pay respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. ⛵**8:50 am Meeting Place & Transport:** **[Wharf 4 Circular Quay](https://tinyurl.com/5c5awdac)** Check your public transport options to get to the event [here](https://transportnsw.info/trip#/trip). Public transport back from Manly is by ferry to Circular Quay or bus from near the wharf, if you live on the north side. **⛵About:** This is a beautiful walk with stunning views of one of the most scenic harbours, beaches and cityscapes in the world. There's ferry rides at the start and finish too. Plenty of exit points but hoping you can go the whole way.😀 ⛵**Route:** 8.52am we catch the ferry from Circular Quay to [Taronga Zoo Wharf](https://tinyurl.com/4smuwbn4) which arrives at 9.04am. To start we walk around Bradley Head then onto [Balmoral Beach](https://tinyurl.com/2s3dm3mu) (5km completed). Then we hike to [Spit Bridge](https://tinyurl.com/76mxfchp) (10km completed) and onto the Manly Scenic Walk, stopping a couple of kms after the bridge at Clontarf for a lunch break. We then finish at [Manly Wharf](https://tinyurl.com/bdzmk8xa) (20km completed) around 2.30pm. You can stay and have a proper lunch &/or drinks or just catch the ferry back to Circular Quay. Bus home if you live on the northside. ⛵**Distance:** 20km ⛵**Type of walk:** Bush and urban. Well worn tracks and footpath. Steps and hills. ⛵**Difficulty:** Moderate, because of the distance. If you are unsure about the distance but would like to test yourself, this is a walk for you: there are plenty of get-out points. ⛵**Walking Pace:** We will maintain a steady pace all day and average 4-4.5 km per hour. ⛵**What to bring:** * Trailwalker shoes with good grip * 1 litre of water, refills along the route, optional hydralytes * Carbohydrate (starchy) snacks and lunch (or buy lunch at Manly) * Light rain jacket depending on conditions * Sunscreen and a cap or hat with a wide brim * Eagerness to explore ⛵**Gratuity:** There will be a $10 cash gratuity for this walk. Pay ID alternatively. **By RSVPing** this meetup you agree to and are bound by the terms and conditions of Aussie Explorers which can be found [here](https://www.meetup.com/aussie-explorers/). If you have any questions, please message me. I look forward to seeing you on this walk. I will post my mobile number closer to the day. **Mark F** 😎

Sydney Trails, Tales, and Glowing Embers

We are heading out for a walk along one of Sydney’s beautiful coastal trails to take in the views and stretch our legs before finding a quiet spot to settle in. This event is all about balancing a bit of movement with the chance to actually sit down and get to know the people you are walking with. We will keep a steady but relaxed pace, making sure there is plenty of time to soak in the scenery rather than rushing to the finish line. Once we reach our destination, we will gather around a fire to share some stories and enjoy the outdoors as the sun goes down. This is perfect for anyone who enjoys hiking but often finds it hard to have a real conversation while on the move. Whether you are new to the group or a regular face, you will find a welcoming atmosphere and a low-pressure environment to connect with fellow nature lovers. If you think you can make it, please let us know by hitting the RSVP button so we can get an idea of numbers for the evening.

Coast, History and Lookouts! Little Manly, Sydney’s Q Station and North Head.

**Most of us have done the Taronga Zoo to Manly Walk or some version of it, right? How about a walk just as good, but different?** **We will meet at Circular Quay Wharf 3 in time to catch the 9.30am ferry. If you prefer to go straight to Manly, please be outside Max Brenner at Manly Wharf no later than 10am (ferry arrives at 9.52am). Please be on time.** **From here we will walk along the coast to Little Manly Cove and then make our way to North Head in the Sydney Harbour National Park.** **Part of this walk is along a 6-foot stone wall built to segregate the military area (no longer under military control) from the rest of the peninsula. This can get muddy so wear appropriate shoes.** **Then we will make our way to Sydney’s Q Station where people were quarantined. We will visit the Third Class Precinct, Hospital Precinct and Wharf Precinct where we will have a break and visit the small museum (there is a beach here for those that want to take a dip).** **We will then climb 250 steps to reach the Former First Class Precinct and wonder around before heading out.** **Although there are no guarantees, there is very little chance of being infected by anything serious (so they told me).** **From here, we will head to the North Fort Precinct along the Sanctuary Loop, a walking track that points out all the wildflowers along the way, and we will do the Fairfax Walk where we will spend time at the Burragula and Yiningma Lookouts, with glorious views of South Head and the city skyline. We will have lunch here.** **After lunch, we will complete the Sanctuary Loop, visit the Barracks Precinct and make our way back to Manly via Shelly Beach.** **As is customary with my walks where possible, there will be the opportunity for a gelato at The Corso (Anita Gelato is my recommendation, but there is also Messina’s and others, as well as ice-cream at Ben & Jerry’s and Copenhagen, and a number of frozen yogurt shops).** **We will aim to finish at around 3.30pm.** **\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*** **DISTANCE: About 16 km.** **GRADE: Medium, a few hills but nothing too strenuous.** **NOTE: Plenty of get-out points, just let the Host know if you leave the walk.** **IMPORTANT INFORMATION:** · **Be Prepared: Wear comfortable walking shoes, bring water (refill points available), and dress for the weather.** · **Follow Instructions: Please follow the instructions of the Host at all times and keep the Host within sight** · **RSVP Responsibly and Be Ontime at the Designated Meeting Point: Update your RSVP if you can’t make it.** **GRATUITY: $10 applies to this event which can be paid in cash on the day or PayID is 0439 344987 Cristian Sylvestre.** **\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*** **DISCLAIMER: Your health and safety is our priority and we take care to minimize risk and avoid accidents and injuries.** **However, Organizers and Hosts are not responsible for your health and safety and do not accept any liability for accidents and injuries that may occur during Meetup activities and events. Please take responsibility for your own safety and belongings.** **By RSVPing to this event you and your guests agree to comply with the terms and conditions of the Aussie Explorers Meetup group which can be found in the link below:** **[https://www.meetup.com/Aussie-Explorers](https://www.meetup.com/Aussie-Explorers/pages/28346396/Terms_and_Conditions_of_joining_Aussie_Explorers)** **\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*** **Any questions or concerns, please send me a TEXT message (0439 344 987) rather than unnecessary updates on the comments section.**