HILLS INDEPENDENT HILLS 126 December 2025 | Seite 26

OUT & ABOUT

Discover your summer staycation in the Bushland Shire

Hornsby Shire Council is inviting residents and visitors to say Hello Summer and make the most of the season right here in Hornsby Shire. With so much to explore on your doorstep, from scenic walking trails and picnic spots to riverside views and water sports, it’ s time to discover your new favourite spot in the Shire, without breaking the bank.
Here are a few ideas to inspire your summer staycation:
Get close to nature and relax at Crosslands Reserve, a gorgeous setting in Hornsby Heights within Berowra Valley National Park that is great for picnics, camping, bushwalking and kayaking. There is also a playground with a flying fox and a bicycle track to keep the kids busy.
Join in the fun at one of Council’ s events for kids this summer: Play Hide and Go Creek and search for Craig the cheeky freshwater spiny crayfish while exploring
creeks and learning simple ways to protect our waterways or take part in the Big Summer Read, Hornsby Shire Libraries’ reading challenge with great incentives to inspire a love of reading.
You can also browse the markets in Hornsby Mall, enjoy lunch at a local café, or visit Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre for a dose of creativity.
Cool off or work up a sweat at Hornsby or Galston Aquatic and Leisure Centre, where you can swim laps, join classes or hit the gym in air-conditioned comfort. For those who prefer the outdoors, head to a park where fitness equipment and open spaces make it easy to walk, run and work out in the fresh air, such as Rofe Park, Berry Park or Ruddock Park.
Enjoy a perfect picnic day out at the stunning Fagan Park. With lakes, manicured gardens, rolling green space, bush walks, playgrounds, picnic shelters and barbecue facilities, it’ s one of Hornsby
Shire’ s most beautiful and award-winning attractions. It’ s also where Council’ s Australia Day event, Fun, Food and Live Beats! will be held on 26 January, from 10.30am.
Try a new playground like Brickpit Park Playground in Thornleigh, where older children can test their abilities and speed on the junior ninja course against a large mounted solar-powered stopwatch and all children will enjoy making use of the in-ground water sprays to cool off.
Enjoy a walk or cycle along the newly constructed Kangaroo Point Boardwalk and shared pathway at Brooklyn, between Kangaroo Point and Seymours Creek. Perfect for weekend adventures, this one-kilometre boardwalk winds through spectacular mangroves and bushland, and when you’ re ready to cool off, take a dip or relax riverside at Brooklyn Baths.
Head out to Wisemans Ferry on the Hawkesbury River – the perfect location
for a day on the water. The charming village is home to a three lane boat ramp, as well as a pontoon, amenities and plenty of parking for cars and trailers. There is also a new playground, a tennis court, and a mangrove walk by the waterfront.
“ There’ s so much to enjoy in Hornsby Shire during the summer months, from cooling off at one of our aquatic centres to relaxing under a shady tree with a book from the library,” said Hornsby Shire Council Mayor Warren Waddell.
“ It’ s easy to make the most of the season without spending a fortune, with plenty of options to stay active, connected and unwind close to home.”
Hello Summer is a Hornsby Shire Council’ s summer campaign to increase awareness of Council’ s events and facilities during the summer months. To learn more about what to do in Hornsby Shire, visit: www. hornsby. nsw. gov. au

HIDDEN IN THE HILLS

Five minute nature crosswords

by Lachlan Turner
Readers of my Hidden in the Hills columns each month have been introduced to many aspects of the diversity found in the local Hills District bushland areas.
Over recent years I have written a selection of short publications relating to environmental sustainability, organic gardening practices and general bushland knowledge. Some of these publications have been prepared with younger children and adults in mind, in that several of the booklets contain puzzles and activities for them to work through, in a fun way, learning more about what may be discovered in local bushland areas and around the home.
This month’ s column introduces the booklet entitled Five Minute Crosswords which features crosswords and observation skills; solutions are provided. Some are quite simple to solve, whereas others may require a little more thoughtful effort.
As school holidays are approaching, the activities contained in this booklet could be an interesting and handy diversion for a rainy day when there may not be a great deal to keep the youngsters busy.
Five Minute Crosswords can be accessed free of charge from my Flipbook library, on-line at the following link, https:// online. fliphtml5. com / awdd / zypr /
Enter this link, press enter and the book will open. Click on the arrows at the sides to progress through the book. Readers may prefer to pick up a free hard copy at The Community Environment Centre, Currie Avenue, Annangrove on any Thursday or Saturday. A range of other free activity books with an environmental focus are also available.

Fire alert, watch out

People who live in the Hills area are often close to National Park reserves. We can’ t help notice the way trees are starting to experience extreme moisture stress- just watch the leaves falling.
Those leaves evolve into a mat that can become a bed for flying embers. Sweep up the leaves, don’ t leave them lying around. Get Aussie Pumps Fire Survival Guide. It’ s FREE and is available from all the best pump outlets in the area.
Make sure your property and family are safe; it’ s not too late.
Protect your horse It’ s widely known that the biggest concentration of equine activity is
in Sydney’ s Hills district. Anywhere from Galston or Kenthurst through to the river, and back to Windsor and Richmond.
Horses are beautiful and elegant and that is why we love them. Here are some pointers for how to keep your horses safe.
Choose a suitable low risk area and move stock before extreme fire danger. Ensure there is adequate water and fodder in case they need to stay for a long period. Horses should be in an open paddock so they can move freely. Remove rugs and halters with plastic or metal fittings and consider using a rope holder.
For possible identification, spray paint your mobile number on their coat. Don’ t open gates that allow stock to access public roads. Contact Primary Industries for further information.
All of this and loads more is in Aussie’ s Fire Survival Guide. Get your copy and start planning and acting now.
26 ISSUE 126 // DECEMBER 2025 MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS! theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT