Leader: Roger Briggs. 19 January 2006.

Walk to the Sentinel

As the bus pulled into the Cathedral picnic area, the huge granite rock - Cathedral Rock - stood out boldly against the sky. Just north of Cathedral Rock was the Hump (1695 m), a little taller than Cathedral Rock.

We climbed the rocks to the east of the picnic area, where stone steps made the ascent easier. Grassy areas were encountered first, with emerging clumps of Pale Vanilla Lily. Also within the grassy clumps were various daisies, Bidgee Widgee and a pelargonium with several flowers.

Lichens were growing on almost every granite rock face. Most noticeable of which was the lime-green Rhizocarpon geographicum. In one patch, on an exposed north-facing piece of granite, this lichen covered an area of 50 x 40 cm.

The walkers were astounded to see so many clusters of black spitfires feeding on the Snow Gum leaves. One sharp-eyed member found a cluster of almost pure-white spitfires, heading down the trunk of a Snow Gum, to pupate below the ground.

As we climbed higher to the path leading to another prominent granite tor - the Sentinel - two of the crimson-flowered triggerplants grew up to 60 cm high among the granite rocks. Here too, several patches of the mat-forming Ivy Goodenia with their rich yellow flowers.

In a narrow crack on a granite rock grew a golden mass of Orange Everlasting, so brilliantly odd in a barren spot. One of the prostrate Tea Trees ran out of earth to spread across, and fanned its branches up and along a granite boulder.

From here, near the Sentinel and the Castle, (two prominent rock outcrops) we could look down onto a bog area with several small pools among the Sphagnum Moss and other bog plants. Despite the ravages of the January 2003 fire, the bog appears to be regenerating. Even the Snow Gums in this area had 1m high new growth shooting from their mallee stumps.

Several Stick and Stone Ants' nests (Iridomyrmex sp) were encountered. Their nests were up to 30 cm across in the grassy hummocks. Macleay's Swallow-tail was flitting over daisies, wings continually on the move. A Bee Fly was drinking from the yellow flowers and a Spotted Dragonfly hawked over the area.

Paul noticed a 20 cm skink in one of the cracks in the granite, and the patience of several members was rewarded by the skink showing head and torso.

For those who went to Mahomet's Tomb there were spectacular views. The endemic Buffalo Mint-bush was also found, growing from the base of some granite boulders.

A group of Little Ravens called from the top of the rocky area, and a few Silveryes were seen among the Snow Gums close to the path. Somewhere to the south-west, on the way down from the Sentinel, a Golden Whistler and a Currawong called. Several people had their first sighting of a Crescent Honeyeater.

What a surprise to see so much, in such a restricted walking area.

Margaret and Eric McCrum

Mahomet's Tomb

A group of us meandered down towards Mahomet’s Tomb where the fittest of us were put to the test.  After wandering through narrow walkways and steep inclines we suddenly disappeared.  One minute you could see us entering through the partition of the rock and the next minute we had completely disappeared– giving us the feeling that we were participating in our own ‘Picnic from Hanging Rock’! 

We were then faced with the gruelling task of lifting ourselves up onto very steep rocks.  Certainly upon descending (long legs were a huge bonus) trying to find our way back through the rocks made you realise that you could easily take the wrong turn.  Needless to say there was a great sense of achievement (if only to take us back to our youth when we thought nothing of clambering over rocks) even when we had to slide down rough granite on the cheeks of our buttocks!.  Photographs from different perspectives could make unusual shots together with the different scenic landscapes.

I am now intrigued how this tomb was named. Or was it named because you could become entombed within it?

Marilyn Honeybun

1: Camels Hump from track to Mahomet's Tomb.
2: Granite tors on Mt Buffalo.