Man and Mundo, Waratah Track, Ardern Trig, Kuringai National Park

View of rock platform midway to Ardern Trig

What is left of Ardern Trig

Man-like engraving

Mundo pointing back toward Topham Trig

Stone Arrangement

The side track from the Waratah Track to Ardern Trig is worth the trip - not recommended if raining! The "man engraving" is an unusual one - similar in ways to one at Topham Trig (lower) but in very simple-figurative style in terms of the arms and fingers - similar to one other at Cowan, one in Berowra and one other in the Central Coast.

Tree - like Engraving, Waratah Track, West Head

View over scattered and tessellated rock platforms 

Deep tree-like engraving

Located about 600 metres west of the double whale engraving site along the Waratah Trail is an unusual tree-like engraving. Most of this area appears to have been in-filled with sediment leading to a newer layer of vegetation across each of the rock platforms. Absolutely worth the journey.

Large single whale, Waratah Track, West Head

Whale Fin detail

Whale engraving platform

Whale tail detail

This "bora" style whale is fairly difficult to find along the Waratah Track. It's body contains several bands and is weathered quite badly. The majority of this platform is turning "white". It is well hidden on the south side of the Waratah Track with no track in. It is worth the effort to negotiate the difficult climb down and across several rock ledges and a creek to enjoy this significant space. This whale is almost identical to the whale in Point Clare that is also banded and of the same dimensions and another whale on the eastern side of Woy Woy Road in Kariong.

Man and Emu Site, Waratah Track, West Head

Several pairs of axe grooves are located on the edge of the cliff

Man engraving

Large single legged Emu engraving

This set of engravings is part of a larger group of engravings that seem to be infrequently visited due to their location near the edge of a cliff and with no trail in. This site is approximately 500 metres west of the Shield Engraving Site that is  500 metres from the start of the Waratah Track.

Wallaby and Emu, Waratah Track, West Head

Appears to be an Emu engraving

Wallaby and Emu body

This engraving site is located south west of the double whale engraving site on the northern side of the Waratah Track at West Head. This site is slowly being overtaken by moss and is about half-way along the Waratah Track.

Very large Echidna, Smaller Echidna and Daramulan

Corridor of engravings

Daramulan Figure

Smaller Echidna

Very large Echidna - about 5 - 6 feet in length

This once large site has been greatly affected by encroaching vegetation and is now on the edge of a large hanging swamp. There was at one stage about 70 or so engravings visible - about 20-25 remain. This site is approximately 280 metres south west of the Elvina Engraving Site and about 180 metres west of West Head Rd. There is no clear path to the site.

Shields and Man, West Head Rd, Kuringai National Park.

Large Shield

Male Figure in pool 

Appears to be the tail of an engraving

This once large site has been greatly affected by encroaching vegetation and is now on the edge of a large hanging swamp. This site is approximately 280 metres south west of the Elvina Engraving Site and about 180 metres west of West Head Rd. There is no clear path to the site.

Hunting Site, West Head Road, Kuringai National Park

Axe Grooves

Club

Hafted Axe

This once large site has been greatly affected by encroaching vegetation and is now on the edge of a large hanging swamp. This site is approximately 280 metres south west of the Elvina Engraving Site and about 180 metres west of West Head Rd. There is no clear path to the site.

Large Mundoe in Creek Bed, Bairne Track, West Head

Appears as a large mundoe on a rock surface amongst many that water flows over about 30 metres south of the Bairne Track in the Bairne Trig Area. From another angle this site appears as a series of three parallel lines. There are a number of rock platforms in this area containing no engravings.

Sugar Glider and Shields, Bairne Trig

Large Fish

One of several shields

Large Sugar Glider

A significant engraving site, located about 50 metres west of the original Trig Station, can be revealed by brushing back the casuarina needles and pouring water over the rock surface. This is the location of the main site that W.D.Campbell recorded in 1899. An additional site was recorded 63 feet to the south west but was unable to be located.

Engravings ,Original Bairne Trig Station, West Head

Original Bairne Trig Station with Surveyor Mark 33 36 47.8 /151 17 8.2

A series of feint engravings south of the native bee colony that is about 100 metres north of the original Trig Station.

Large Rock Platform about 130 metres from the original Bairne Trig Area.

W.D.Campbell in 1899 recorded two engraving sites on Bairne Trig at West Head. The locations of these were very difficult to identify due to encroaching vegetation and the suggested actual co-ordinates of Bairne Trig itself. 

Bairne Trig is located on the south east edge of the upper platform - strangely perhaps not the highest point on the hill. It is located on a rock that has seemed to have broken away from the main rock platform. It is tricky to find and another site I probably wouldn't attempt to reach outside of winter.

Large Whale and Sacred Ibis Site, Mackerel Trail, West Head

Sacred Ibis - dry view

Sacred Ibis - wet view

Whale Detail

Whale Engraving Platform

This engraving platform is located on one of many interconnecting rock platforms 15 minutes walk from the Basin Track Aboriginal Site, on the south side of the Mackerel Track. This site is quite tricky to reach. A large whale engraving, a rare sacred ibis engraving and some animal tracks are present.

Fish and Wallaby or Large Sugar Glider, Willunga Trig Area

Large fish-like engraving

Animal Track

Wallaby or large Sugar Glider engraving

This small engraving site is about 120 metres north west of a large rock formation on the right hand side of the track that leads toward Willunga Trig. These engravings are very weathered and difficult to identify This engraving platform is about 20 minutes walk from West Head Road along the Willunga Trig Track.

Daramulan, America Bay Track, West Head

View of the large Daramulan figure engraving platform.

Daramulan's special boomerang

Daramulan's head detail

One of at least two fish present

One of the two large snake engravings

This significant engraving site is located about 15 minutes walk from the roadway entrance of the America Bay Track at West Head. This site is one of perhaps many in this particular area that were documented by William Dugald Campbell in 1899.

The main Daramulan figure is at least 5 - 6 metres long. This engraving includes what some people may describe as a "special boomerang". This same style of boomerang is present at Mount Kuringai, near a Baiame figure.

It has been suggested that this sight once contained around 20 or so figures. This is a possibility. This area seems to be greatly affected by encroaching vegetation and the impact of water run-off. The snake engravings are consistent with others in the area and those also at the Baiame site near Wakehurst Parkway at Bantry Bay.

Shield, Waratah Track, West Head

Shield not previously recorded

Located approximately half way along the Waratah Track to the left hand side  of the trail is a small sloping rock containing an small yet elongated shield. This is in the vicinity of the third whale engraving along this track.

Series of Deep Engraved Grooves, Waratah Track, West Head

Deep Engraved Grooves

Located along the Waratah Track are many small rock surfaces - many contain axe grooves around small natural water pools.

Flathead-shaped Engraving, Waratah Track, West Head

Flathead Shaped Engraving

This flathead-shaped engraving is weathered and present on the entry to the Whale Site about 3 - 3 1/2 km along the Waratah Track. There are several other engravings - some more weathered and damaged on the main trail in this location.

Engraving, Waratah Track, West Head

Engraving

This engraving is located on the southern side of the track that leads directly on to the Whale Engraving(s) surface. It seems that there were many more engravings on this surface including a large 5-6 ft fish that seems to have been destroyed. Location is about 3 km along the Waratah Track. 

Large Whale (2), Waratah Track, West Head

Large Whale (2)

This large whale is about the same length of the other whale that is located nearby. The girth of this whale is far greater. You need the right sunlight and water to fully see the engraving. There is at least one engraving inside the whale and another diamond shaped engraving nearby. Location is about 3 -3 1/2 km along the Waratah Track.

Whale (1), Waratah Track, West Head

Head of Whale

There are two very large whales engraved on the main rock platform that is oriented toward the north, about 3 kms along the Waratah Track. It is unlikely that you will find both unless the sun is at the right angle and water flowing over the surface. There is a beautiful clump of native rock orchids near this whale on the edge of the ledge. This Whale is about 25 -26 Ft long - not the longest recorded but significant.