Drawing Room Rocks and Space Invader Magic

Spring is in the air, so we were up at 5am with the gently yodelling magpies and off to revisit Drawing Room Rocks, close to Berry and Kangaroo Valley. Gen shouldered her weighty photo backpack and I hauled 5 shortbread biscuits up the trail in the early morning light and beautiful sounds of the old rainforest.

Now is the season for lyrebirds, at least half a dozen on and around the trail and valley, scuttling into the undergrowth and leaving their fresh scratches beside the path. How can you not fall in love with a country with a bird that is such a brilliant mimic of all its kind, imitates people noises, and emits its own hallmark cascade of notes like a space invaders game. 

None other than the great David Attenborough was wowed by the Superb Lyrebird:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSB71jNq-yQ

The climb involves steep rock hopping and eroded stretches with root tendrils, interspersed with rainwater puddles.Within an hour we were onto the heathland at the top with the early rays of the sun banishing the chill. 

The name Drawing Room Rocks refers to a stunning lookout with natural flat tables and chairs made of rock. Spread at our feet was a landscape of forests, clearings, cows, farms, and a mesmerising sweep of coastline with the surf at its edge. 

Just before I turned to leave, I heard a peep at my feet and watched a dainty Eastern Spinebill, flitting like a hummingbird, sipping nectar from the trumpet-like flowers of the purple heather on the ground.