As you walk through the Valley, you can see changes in the type of landscape and plants you encounter. You can see remnants of the older historical plant communities that once covered different parts of the Valley.
At the western (Bexley North) end of the Valley, you can see dense, moist forest, and open woodland. Look out for fibrous-barked Turpentine trees and creek side rainforest trees such as Coachwood, LillyPilly and Water Gum.
Further east, from Girrahween Park eastwards, the landscape is characterised by rugged Hawkesbury sandstone. You’ll find open heathland in exposed areas like Nannygoat Hill, and you can find the pink-barked Sydney Red Gum (Angophora costata) in more sheltered hillside areas. Also look out for Banksias, Kunzeas and various Wattles.
On more fertile floodplain areas such as Turrella Reserve, there are remnants of floodplain forest trees such as Swamp mahogany and Paperbarks. Turrella Reserve was also once an extensive area of market gardens.
The lower reaches of Wolli Creek are dominated by mangroves and saltmarsh.
Although the larger plants – trees and shrubs – in the Valley are the most obvious, keep a careful eye out for all the smaller native climbers, ground covers, and herbs – and fungi as well.