by John New
The Rouse Hill Regional Park is another of the relatively few areas of wide open, relatively unspoilt, grassy and bushy spaces around Sydney where people can bring dogs for a walk. According to the National Parks website, Regional Parks "offer open space and recreational and cultural opportunities for urban residents (including dog walking in some parks)". About 20 people and 16 beagles decided to check out the walking and sniffing possibilities of the Rouse Hill Regional Park.
The walk was a relatively short one around the park's boundaries. The park is not large but it is very popular on weekends, as we found when we arrived and looked for parking. We met near the main carpark and set off through the overflow carpark to some tracks maintained by the park's volunteer gardeners. The tracks meandered around under the shade of eucalypts. We skirted the busy play area as we walked along a concrete cycleway to the other side of the park, near the entrance.
We left the cycleway at this point and began a section of the walk along a horse trail. There weren't any horses but the beagles sniffed very enthusiastically as they obviously enjoyed the interesting smells. We followed the horse trail around the edge of the park back to the overflow carpark. We paused for a moment, and then set off once again to enjoy another wander through the eucalypts. We finished our walk at the play area.
Although the walk was relatively short, it was very picturesque and peaceful. It's an ideal place to bring your beagles for a sniff, run, and picnic if you live near Rouse Hill. Some Sydney Sniffers finished off a very enjoyable walk with some welcome afternoon tea. Other headed to the nearby fast-food outlets for a refreshing ice-cream.
Our next big event is the Christmas in July Scent weekend, Cootamundra, 7-8 July 2007. If you would like to come, please let Brian and Lesley Childs know. Details are in the Harking In and on the club's website. Also keep an eye out for the next lot of walks, which will be held from August to November 2007.
Thanks to John New for the pictures. It was good to get some family pictures in addition to our group picture.