Deep within Dharawal National Park lies the former site of North Cliff Colliery. This provides a unique opportunity to place a geocache within the National Park boundaries.
North Cliff Colliery was mined from 1980 to 1996, as an extension of the nearby West Cliff Colliery. The two shafts were finally sealed in 2000. According to paperwork lodged in 2023, remediation works of the site are currently being ‘investigated.’ Once remediation is completed (and the Mining Licence expires) the land will form part of Dharawal National Park.
Ground Zero is part of the Mining Lease, but outside of the Lease’s fenced off area. If you explore to the fence line one of the Colliery’s Headers can be seen. Both Headers, along with the Dam, will be removed as part of the remediation process.
It is a 10km return journey from the Parking Waypoint to GZ. I would suggest riding a bike, as the fire trail is very flat and provides great riding. Approaching on foot is slower, but allows more wildlife spotting. There are koala colonies nearby.
When placing this cache I spotted two Monitor Lizards (Goanna), an Echidna, two Red-Bellied Black Snakes, several Wallabies (one with Joey) and a large flock of Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos. There were many wild flowers in the late spring, with a lot of Flowering Gum, and Bottlebrush. I was too late in the season for the Waratah and Gymea Lillies that are prevalent in the area.