Evans Crown Reserve at Tarana

Located just east of the township of Tarana, NSW, lies a 425 hectare nature reserve named Evans Crown. 

A steep mountainous national park with large granite formations and outcrops, native animals and plants with spectacular views over the surrounding valleys.

Arriving shortly after 9.30am on Sunday, I made my way up the "goat track" to the top ridge of the reserve. From here, there are a number of bush tracks made over the years to varying parts of the park, but the crown pinnacle is just a few hundred metres to the south where 360 degrees views can be found.

This panorama is the first one I took when I made it to the top. The view is generally to the east, with the left viewing the northern aspect and the right, barely viewing the south.

This is one which I like but also frustrating. The view was amazing to the south, and moves to the west, towards Mount Tarana. The frustrating part was that I could see some eagles on the pinnacle, and thought it would be great to climb over to this next rocky outcrop. After climbing down, and moving through the bush, a few different rocky paths were taken, but couldn't find my way....next time....

A closer, shorter panorama in a southerly direction but showing the next rocky outcrop. I think the view is towards Oberon way.

A break down of the second panorama to provide a more balanced look.

A general view to the south-east but I liked the balance of the large boulder in front.

A different viewpoint of the crown as you walk towards the top. The white gums around the reserve provide a great burst of white. 

This photo wasn't for any other purpose but to give a balance of how large these boulders are. The gum tree next to this one would be close 40 metres high. This boulder is not the largest one in this reserve.

Located all throughout the reserve is a variety of dry and fresh moss of varying degrees of green. This one caught my attention due to the water droplets on the leaves. This is the advantage of RAW images for photography. I cropped the first image to the next one to show the water droplets. This kept the clarity of the image and much more pleasing result.

I noticed this little piece of moss and grasses in between two smaller rocks. To put it into perspective, the moss is the size of about a 50 cent piece. 

Located on a granite rock, I found this small feather. Though a simple shot generally, with winds increasing, it made the shot so much more difficult. I took 5 shots, and this is the only one that didn't blur from movement.

I found this wood worm tracks on the back of a small tree and thought the patterns were very interesting. 

I took this image because the patterns of moss on the granite were the same patterns and colours as the tree in front. With a quick colouring of the rock and black/white of the tree, I think the end result has possibilities.

I have a few more for the mountain, but am still going through the remaining images to work out which are keepers.

On the way back to Bathurst, I went via Flatrock, which is located on the Fish River. Along the way, I took the following shots....

Found a good vantage point of the Fish River by mistake. Looking at maps before I left, I realised when travelling along the back road from the reserve that the road which was meant to travel across the river actually ended up at the front door of a very unhappy farmer...oh well....nice place though.

Notice this shearing shed on top of a hill outside of Tarana. It seemed to be falling apart, with broken fences and sheets of iron falling away. Wanting to jump the fence to have a closer look, I noticed the farm house next door. It wasn't until I drove apart this later, I saw that no one has probably lived in the house for over 20 years....definitely have to fence jump this one another day.

On the Tarana side of Flat Rock and about 1 kilometre up river I took the following panoramic shots. I liked the second one with the slight exception of the ghosting of the tree on the opposite bank.

The next two images are of the old railway line which runs from Tarana to Oberon. There were stories a decade or so ago of reopening the line, but doesn't look like any progress yet.

The final shot is taken from a hill near Brewongle as I drove back to Bathurst. The panoramic shot provides a good view of the approaching storm, and views to the south and west.