Shanti reports…

Since our Avoca Homestead adventure was only about 4km - and a long drive to get there - Mum thought it would be a good idea to have a nosey down some of the trails at Castle Hill Village. She’d been wondering if there was access from the Thomas River Valley through to the back of Castle Hill Rocks - and found the answer - there’s a fence, so a presumed no.

Anyway, the sign said we were on the Thomas River trail. We soon dropped to the river. Yay. Mum still didn’t throw anything for me. Then we branched onto the Leith Hill Loop. Mum expected a gentle stroll, but it climbed up a fair bit through forest. The sign said it was 5km and takes 2 hours - that should have been warning enough!

You pop out at the bottom of the scree line for some stunning views, then you drop back down through the trees again.

We were heading back to the car, but when the Thomas River Track junction came up, Mum turned to follow that. We had a quick look there too and Mum ran the track on the way back. A 1.5km run. Now that’s a first.

Below are photos of the scree slope and me cooling off in the Thomas River - a few twigs were finally thrown.