The Rosewood Walk

The Rosewood Walk runs along and up the valley from the Moon Bridge through a section of remnant rainforest. The rainforest is made up of a wide variety of ferns (20ish different species) under a canopy of Scentless Rosewood (Synoum glandulosum), Sweet Pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum) and Five-leaf Water Vine (Cissus hypoglauca). Mixed in with the more common canopy trees are Hard Corkwoods (Endiandra sieberi), a species of native laurel that is easily recognised by its corky bark. Black Wattles (Callicoma serratifolia) are also seen scattered in the forest.

On the creek side of the track are many Magenta Lilly Pillies (Syzygium paniculatum). This species was the first Lilly Pilly recorded by Joseph Banks when he landed at Kurnell in 1770, and I believe was introduced to Cooper Park by early bush regenerators. Sadly remnant populations of this species are now endangered, as they only occurred along a small section of the NSW coast around Sydney and their natural habitat is coastal rainforest flats that were mostly cleared.

Near the end of the Rosewood forest are a large number of Lacy Tree Ferns (Cyathea cooperi) and Bangalow Palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) below a large Port Jackson Fig (Ficus rubiginosa) with wooden stairs leading up to it.

Continuing along the valley up the concrete stairs the canopy opens out and the lilly pillies now change to Blue Lilly Pillies (Syzygium oleosum). Toward the top of the concrete stairs the Blue Lilly Pillies are joined by Cheese Trees (Glochidion ferdinandi) and you will also see a large patch of Umbrella Ferns (Sticherus flabellatus).