148 Excursion to National Park. [ 



Vict. Nat. 

 Vol. XXXI. 



not far from our camp, where it followed up the very steep 

 northern slope of the Oberon Range to what is known as the 

 Bad Saddle. It is here that the telegraph hne, which connects 

 Foster on the mainland with the lighthouse on the extreme 

 southernmost point of the Promontory, crosses this range. 

 The Sealers' Cove track proper commences near this saddle, 

 and winds about along and near the top of the Wilson Range 

 to a saddle connecting Mounts Ramsay and Wilson, from 

 where it descends in a gradual and easy grade along the slopes 

 of the hills into Sealers' Cove. This track was formed under 

 the supervision of the Public Works Department for the 

 Committee of Management, and covers a distance of about 

 seven miles. It is about 4 feet broad, and is constructed for 

 riding or walking. It opens up some magnificent fern gullies, 

 both on the western and eastern slopes, some of the large 

 Slender-stemmed Tree-ferns, Cyathea Cunninghami. in the 

 eastern gullies towering fully 50 feet high. The scenery along 

 this track is all that can be desired. On the western side of the 

 saddle it commands extensive views over the Tidal River 

 valley and adjacent hills and the ocean beyond, with the 

 islands standing out clearly, while from the eastern slopes are 

 obtained beautiful views of the Wilson Range opposite, and 

 Sealers' Cove, with the Cliffy Island group, in the distance. 

 Numerous small streamlets cross the track, and well-sheltered 

 camping places have been foimed for those desiring to pass 

 the night among the hills. In places the track passes among 

 and under great tree-ferns, blackwoods, and lilly-pillies, where 

 the Lyre-birds, recently introduced, have already established 

 themselves ; or through dense growths of tall hazel, musk, and 

 blanket-wood scrub, and along the old deserted tramway 

 track, finally oj^ening upon the broad sandy beach, im- 

 mediately opposite a long jetty running into deep water, on 

 the southern side of which the Sealers' Creek empties itself. 



The jetty, originally erected for the purpose of loading timber 

 cut by a saw-mill then situated near the beach, has long been 

 neglected and fallen into decay, but it is understood this is 

 now to be put into good repair. It will then be possible for 

 j)arties to land here from the small coastal steamers, and walk 

 or ride through the Park to the mainland. Although, as a 

 rule, the dense growth of the timlier and undergrowtji on the 

 steep slo])es of the hills on either side of the track would not 

 permit of any divergence for collecting ]:)urposes, there were 

 opportunities on the track itself for a certain amount of col- 

 lecting and observation. Bird and plant life was observed 

 as we passed along, while fallen timber, &c., was turned over 

 in search of ground-frequenting animals. Birds were fairly 

 numerous, but often difficult to recognize. Among those noted 



