Emily Miller to Myrtle Beach Return

Wednesday 21 February 2024

Picture courtesy of Mary. Walk report Courtesy Walk Leader Patricia.

It was good to see quite a few walkers turn up for the very pretty walk in the Murramarang National Park last week.
Nineteen people enjoyed the meandering track between Emily Miller and Myrtle Beaches through the beautiful spotted gums’ tall-straight trunks, with lush green understory beneath, plus a few native flowers.

A longish morning tea on the grass at Myrtle Beach followed which saw old friends catching up on each others news.
Then it was up the steps again and along a little track through the coastal bush and down onto Dark Beach, where we looked at the different types of ancient rocks that are now attracting geologists to see the sequence of rock formations that span more than 150 million years.

Overall a very nice walk.

Ulladulla to Burrill Lake Circuit

Sunday 18th February 2024

Photos courtesy of Mary and Donna. Walk Report courtesy of Donna.

Sharon had a great turn out for her walk. Although the weather was humid, everyone was keen to get back out of the trails. The walk begins at Kings Point and meanders along the shores of the beautiful Burrill Lake within the Ulladulla Wildflower Reserve. Being a Sunday, we witnessed boats towing enthusiastic water skiers and ski tubers. Whilst total serenity was not achieved on this part of the track, it was great to see families out enjoying themselves on the water and having a great time. We then continued on the lovely bush tracks, past an old massive sea eagle’s nest, high in a tree and down to a beautiful, quiet lakeside spot for morning tea.

Following morning tea we made our way uphill along the bush tracks though some stunning forest. The flora within this reserve was certainly looking its best following the wet summer. The scribbly gum trees were also looking good and certainly lived up to their name. Lunch was taken down on another waterfront position on the lake with beautiful views.

All in all, this walk was thoroughly enjoyable and one that we look forward to doing again in the future. Thanks Sharon.

Moruya Two Mines

Thursday 15th February 2024

Photos courtesy of Rob, Tom, and Kate. Walk Report courtesy of Walk Leader Donna.

Fourteen walkers turned up for our first walk of the year. The walk also doubled up as our social walk for the program whereby three further members joined us for lunch afterwards. This walk is an abbreviated version of the Moruya Three Mines walk, a shorter and easier version with, of course, just two mine sites.

The first site that we visited was a large long concrete furnace that was constructed around 1914 but abandoned soon after. The intention was to roast sulphide contained in the ore. However this method of extraction proved to be unsuccessful and the furnace was abandoned soon after. Other than looking like a relic from Angkor Wat, covered by a fallen tree and gradually being claimed by vegetation regrowth, the furnace is still in reasonably good condition. However, it’s still mystifying how this long maze of concrete chambers actually worked. Perhaps that’s why it just didn’t! Following our short bush bash out and back to the furnace, considerable time was then taken to remove numerous leeches from our legs, the only real extraction that we were interested in by this time.

We continued on to our next mining site at the nearby Francis Hill. Historical records indicate that gold and silver were first reported to be found in the area in 1839, however this was no longer a secret by the 1860’s when the gold rush was in full swing. We inspected the remains of a hut and a stamper, both still standing. The stamper is a ten head gravity stamper that had been built around 1890 by Francis Guy, a saw miller from Batemans Bay.

After a break it was time to return to the cars as the Chicken Schnitties and Chicken Parmies were calling us. Once at the cars our President Rob Lees informed our group that the walk would be the last for Bev Brazel, whom was present, with the Club. Bev has sold her house and purchased another one in Canberra to be closer to her family. Bev has been a member of the Club for many years and has made a wonderful contribution. Not only has Bev been a Walk Leader who has always been obliging and led too many walks to count, but she informed us that she has attended virtually every Camp that the Club has held whilst she has been a member. Following Rob’s words, we headed to the Waterfront Hotel and had a nice lunch and catch up.

We’ve all enjoyed the company of Bev, we appreciate her contribution and wish her well in the future and like Rob said, Bev you can join us on a few Monga walks, it’s kind of not too far from Canberra!

Clyde River Batemans Bay to Nelligen Paddle

Friday 26th January 2024

Photos courtesy of Mary T.   Paddle report courtesy of Mary T.

The Nelligan to Clyde is a regular and popular paddle each year. Due to the tide times, 7 paddlers did it in reverse to take advantage of the incoming water and the promised southerly later in the morning. We set out from Korners Park beach in the Bay, and unfortunately the promised southerly was not as strong as we had hoped, giving us a lift for only a short time.

However due to the heavy rain and run off from the Budawangs, the flow of water counteracted somewhat the incoming tide. The Clyde River was very high despite the low tide. Finding a spot to land and sit for morning tea proved a challenge and lunch had to wait for our arrival in Nelligan. We were accompanied on the river by many other water craft enjoying the day.

This was our last paddle for the current program. We all look forward to the new program in the near future.

Durras Lake Paddle

Saturday 13 January 2024

Photos courtesy of Mary T.    Paddle report courtesy of Max W.

Our paddling group descended on Lake Durras on Saturday January 13th on what was to become quite a nice but hot day, and after launching and paddling out some kilometres to the open expanse, the group was soon preoccupied with looking for shady areas along the banks.

Persist we did however, and after some exploration of the different inlets a suitable spot for morning tea appeared and we happily indulged in some culinary refinement.

Enticed by the offer of refreshments at Rod’s place, we headed back to the boat ramp, loaded up our gear and enjoyed Rod and Gillian’s hospitality, having done approximately 9 kilometres paddling for the day.

Batemans Bay Harbor Float

Sunday 31 December, 2023

Photos courtesy of MaryT. Paddle Report courtesy of Max.

Having suffered the vagaries of inclement weather and resulting swift flowing currents on recent spoilt paddling events, it was with a sense of relief that six members of our paddling group thanked the kinder weather and took to the water on Batemans Bay Harbor on New Years Eve.

After launching from the boat ramp on the south side of the bridge, the group initially headed for a paddle along McLeods Creek but with the advent of low tide, we soon discovered Mary’s cleverly introduced term into the paddling vernacular; “lumpy water” (meaning, NO water for paddling).

Unperturbed, the group headed off through Lattas Point and the oyster leases at Budd Island before making a bee-line for Wray Bay, under the bridge, and past Riverside Beach before threading through to the moored yachts toward the southern riverside.

Once there we headed back, paddling under the various jetties and practiced reciprocal waving to the parents and kids that were on the shore. Having landed our kayaks and loaded them onto our vehicles, we sat down to drinks, nibblies and home baked treats such as Lin’s legendary cup cakes, Sharon’s fruit cake and Mary’s ginger bread men.

We toasted to the end of 2023, and the hope for a better world in 2024.

Wild Cattle Creek Pack Walk

Sunday 10 December to Tuesday 12 December 2023

Photos courtesy of Ian, Rob, Gay and Tom. Walk Report courtesy Walk Leader Ian.

It finally rained, swelling the creeks with drinking water again, and therefore this overnight pack walk was able to proceed.

Despite a promise of easy walking in unburnt open tablelands forest, only four club walkers (Rob, Gay, Tom and Ian) were tempted to explore the Wild Cattle Creek area in Tallaganda National Park, south of Captains Flat.

On the first day, after a pleasant drive through lots of forest, we dipped over the Great Dividing Range on to the Tumanang Fire Trail. Leaving the car at the junction with Crow Valley Fire Trail we launched into the Snow Gums NNW along a long ridgeline, bouncing about the 1300 m asl contour. Despite some loose rock underfoot, and small rotting logs (mostly unburnt for at least 50 years), the walking was very pleasant in open, grassy Snow Gum forest, a very welcome change from our coastal scrubs. To the west loomed the Tinderrys peaks.

Five kilometers later, we started to encounter the first signs of historical pastoral activity – an old fence, long abandoned, and a single goat, very alarmed by our sudden appearance. So we gradually descended, past some interesting wombat damage on a small stand of Brown Barrel trees, finally emerging at the junction of the two upper arms of Ballinafad Creek. It is here we made camp among a small stand of Black Sallee Snow Gums and gnarly old Mountain Gums. There was no shortage of water or firewood. Ideal!

On the second day we meandered downstream across grassy meadows before encountering an old Eucalypt oil camp on the banks of the creek, probably abandoned in the 1930’s. If the number of old distilling tanks is any indication it was obviously a significant cottage industry here. We explored the remnant ironware, trying to decipher the camp set up and being careful not to disturb the resident tiger snake patiently waiting for the sun to return. An old rotting dray was of significant note, the woodwork of which had obviously having escaped any surrounding bushfires which may have threatened over the ensuing decades.

We left Ballinafad Creek and struck east toward the Wild Cattle Creek valley. We took advantage of a fire trail which lead us southeast. The vegetation chopped and changed between Snow Gum and Brown Barrel with elements of Narrow Leaved Peppermint, Ribbon Gum and open meadows thrown in to taste. It was always grassy underneath and despite the long slow rise in elevation, the walking was very pleasant.

By late morning it was time to exit the valley so we struck a path to the fire trail and after a few kilometres of uphill slog we were back at the car. Distance travelled 18 km.

It was an enjoyable two day walk in good company through some lovely forest. It was also a great opportunity to blow out our backpacking cobwebs.

Coila Lake and Creek Paddle

Friday 8 December 2023

Photos courtesy of BarryK. Walk Report courtesy MaxW.

Having prepared the kayak for transport the preceding day, I was surprised to awaken to some rain at breakfast, but it soon ceased on our way to Kyla Park at Tuross Heads, where a group of six paddlers unloaded our various kayaks and headed off in overcast conditions with virtually no wind to hamper our progress.

Once on the water we noticed plenty of fish breaching and a host of jellyfish carpeting the waterscape. Toward the middle of the lake however, the wind did pick up and we all experienced the “benefits” of the aptly named “spray decks” on our kayaks. Not to be put off, we made our way to the western coast of the lake where we availed ourselves of some shelter, and Mary and the group made the decision not to pursue a journey up the creek.

Heading north we spotted a suitable beach for morning tea where Sharon kindly offered some delicious Christmas cake, and a short time afterward we came across Rob and Miriam’s home on the shore of the lake. Rob and Miriam greeted us, gratefully accepted Sharon’s Christmas cake and we proceeded eastward where a seaplane, some distance away, was practicing lake landings.

Mary was keen to check out where the boat ramp was on Foam Street as we headed south along the sea beach, followed by our journey back to our starting point, having travelled approximately 11.5 kilometres for the day. An enjoyable morning by all, and best Christmas wishes all round.

Durras Forest, Beaches and Rocks

Thursday 23 November 2023

Photos courtesy of KarenM. Walk Report courtesy Walk Leader GlennB.

Light drizzle did not deter a small group on a walk along well maintained tracks, enjoying the forest vegetation before heading over to the south coast track.
The weather cleared in time for a leisurely morning tea at the southern end on Myrtle Beach. After spot of beach walking, we followed the cliff line, through changing vegetation, to Emily Miller beach and onto Emily Miller Point.

After the ‘leap of faith’ over the dike it was time for lunch and an opportunity to admire the fascinating geology. Next rock scrambling and rock platforms all the way back to the remains of the metal boiler, the resort and cars. The early rain had brought out the beautiful colors of the bark, it was spectacular. The Durras trees were in all their glory.

Nowra Paddle Camp

Nowra Paddle Camp 20-23 November 2023

Photos courtesy of MaryT. Paddle Report courtesy Paddle Leader IanB.

Each year, the Club’s paddle group schedules a camp at the epicenter of a number of waterways not normally accessible from “home”.

This year, six of us camped at Huskisson and paddled a number of lower Shoalhaven valley estuaries – Currambene Creek, Coonemia Creek, and Broughton Creek. A fourth venue, Wandandian Creek, was missed on the last day because of miserable weather. On other days, the weather was near perfect – cloudy, mild and almost windless.

Currambene Creek’s launching was easy – straight behind our camp. We completed the 14 kilometres to almost the Princes Highway in leisurely time. As the creek banks tightened, the scenery varied greatly, from an avenue of pleasure craft to bushland/mangroves to large acreage back yards to farmland. It was always interesting and remarkably devoid of other people and/or boats. A quick car shuffle to get the kayaks home completed the day.

On the second day, we launched in bushland at Coonemia Creek and paddled both directions, out and back, for a distance of less than 12 kilometres. Waterbirds were abundant, principally cormorants and teal ducks but other lesser species were observed. Watching an Eastern Great Egret catch, juggle and eventually swallow a reasonable sized fish had us gagging.

In the downstream direction we emerged in Woollumboola Lake to paddle among hundreds of black swans. Morning tea on the sand/mud bank was a slightly smelly affair, but interesting, different…

The upstream was a quiet, close encounter with bushland banks and submerged logs. As we glided past a huge sea eagle nest in the forks of a large Blackbutt tree, we noted it was guarded from a nearby high branch by its owner.

Broughton Creek was different. Its wider, mud lined channel runs all the way through dairy country with only a narrow strip of stunted casuarina growth and moo cows in grass gracing its banks. Nevertheless, the 14 kilometres was pleasant, especially with a southeasterly up our backs.

Morning tea was eventful. The sticky mud proved a source of hilarity at disembarkment and the scramble up a steep kikuyu covered bank a challenge. A single wire fence is always a warning sign but Sharon was the first to prove it was live, thereby confining us to the narrow bank for our vegemite break. A bovine matron with freshly born calf struggling to its feet watched us with more than a passing interest. The later lunch spot was much more relaxing and rurally pleasant.

Our fourth day paddle was cancelled due to steady rain. Over the next 24 hours we shared a tasty communal dinner in a brewery within the industrial area (trust Barry to snoop out such a venue). Shopping and touring the next day pre-empted various departures in a run for home.

It was quite a successful paddle camp.