Deep Time Sandstone Country: On Foot with a Geologist

Gathering at the convict road kiosk for morning tea, join geologist and author Gil Jones for a full day excursion focusing on the rocks and landscape of Hawkesbury Sandstone Country. The tour takes us on foot along the World Heritage Old Great North Road. Starting up Devine’s Hill (immediately north of Wisemans Ferry) we ascend the convict road which offers a continuous cutting through sandstone. Hear about the characteristics that reveal its origin in Gondwana more than 200 million years ago. Further along the ridge-top track we follow Finchs Line with panoramic views over the Hawkesbury landscape to the Blue Mountains - a landscape which has evolved in the last 100 million years. Our descent takes us along a roughly hewn track through open forest to rainforest on the valley floor.

* New Date Saturday 27th September 2025 (postponed from 19th April due to NPWS conservation works).

About the guide: Gil Jones trained as a geologist, specialising in Sydney sandstone. He has lived for over forty years in the Macdonald Valley exploring the rugged landscape on foot concentrating in the last decade on researching and writing about Darginyung culture expressed in the rock engravings, cave paintings and place names of the surrounding country.

Morning tea provided plus your own take home book 'Wasteland, Wilderness, Wonderland: Getting to know Sydney's Sandstone Country'. Written by Gil Jones. Published by Bue Mountains Education and Research Trust.