Sunday 31 October 2021 

Walkers on narrow winding bushtrack to Judges Beach

Lesley under the cliffs near Long Beach

The wildlife on Quiriga Beach is getting more exotic

Heather, Karen and Niamh at the old farm stockyards

Bob and Bron bringing up the rear

Taking a break at Judges Beach

Photos courtesy of Karen and Donna

Our 10.5 km walk today started at Long Beach and continued east, skirting Maloneys Beach and entering Murramarang National Park. Walkers followed the narrow winding bush track to emerge at Judges Beach. This was the eastern most point of the walk, and we took a break here on the grass overlooking the beach to enjoy the deserted cove and views.

On the return leg, we passed the old wooden stockyards, crumbling quietly under termite assault, the indigenous canoe tree, Quiriga Beach and Reef Point. We stopped for lunch at a picnic table on the cliffs behind Northcove Drive to savour the views over the water and back to Batemans Bay. From lunch it was a short walk back to Long Beach.

Karen

Thursday 28 October 2021

Photos courtesy of Donna, Brian and Peter

Brian and Christine were our walk leaders for last Thursday’s walks along the coast up to Surf Beach. Brian took on leading the “medium” 10.5 km walk from MacKenzie Beach to Surf Beach and Christine the easier option of the 5km walk from Mosquito Bay to Surf Beach.

Not having walked this stretch of coast before and with some of my local friends (notwithstanding them having lived in the district for 30 + years) asking “can you walk all the way along the coast there?” and me replying “apparently ”, I jumped at the chance to follow Brian on the longer of the two walks.

On the morning, however, we were not the favoured choice. Christine had all the following and Brian just had Donna and me. Needing 4 to do the walk we shanghaied Pat from the other group to join our walk – and I am so glad we did. As an original BBBW member she kept me entertained the whole way with her bush walking travels. I realise just how much a novice I am at this game.

Our group made good pace, joking that we might catch the others but that was not to be as we could not resist stopping at just about every cove, cliff, and beach to take in the views. And, as those of you who have done these walks before will know, the views are everywhere. The weather was perfect for walking; certainly not too cold and really not too hot. A gentle breeze appeared occasionally to keep us cool and light cloud cover kept us out of full sun – mostly.

The seas were their usual deep blue and although despite trying to spot them, we missed the whales seen by the first group. But there was plenty of birdlife and a few late flowering spring wildflowers to enjoy. And, by taking a side glance every now and then, the sight of some magnificent houses built along this coast kept us fascinated. Lunch for both groups was back at Surf Beach – a perfect place for an end of walk swim.

A splendid morning of walking. Thank you, Brian and Christine.

Peter

Thursday 28 October 2021

Photos courtesy of Bob and Bronwyn

Christine led our group of eight on a tour of beautiful bays, headlands and beaches. Just what the doctor ordered, as we emerge from months of lockdown.

Not long into our walk, at the top of the headland above Mosquito Bay we were greeted by the sight of two humpback whales, probably a mother and calf, just south of Black Rock.

We got to enjoy the delicate colours of the native bush flowers and the azure waters of Lilli Pilli and Circuit beaches. Our choice of morning tea stop, at the southern end of Circuit Beach, excited a cheeky Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, who perched in a tree on the headland just above us and carried on quite a commentary. As we mounted the headland north of Grandfathers Gully, a majestic Sea Eagle glided in on the warm sea air and perched in the treetops on the opposite headland.

The trail from Mosquito Bay to Surf Beach was easily navigated (with, of course, the occasional tree root and gravelly slope). The exception would be Grandfathers Gully Creek, where erosion of the northern bank has made it rather tricky to climb off the beach onto the headland track.

Thank you for a great walk, Chris.

Bron

One of the great things about Batemans Bay Bushwalkers is how many members continue to support the Club for decades after joining.  Accordingly, we recognise those who have been members for 25 years with the presentation of a special name badge.

Ian Holmes reached the 25 year membership mark in February this year, and we have finally been able to congratulate him.  Usually these presentations are made at our Members Quarterly Meetings, but we thought it more fitting to pin the badge on Ian at our first post-Covid bushwalk to Granite Creek in Mogo State Forest.

That particular walk was top heavy with bushwalking royalty – several other 25+ year members also turned up to shake off the Covid blues and get out onto the bushtracks again.

Ian is one of our regular walk leaders and has offered walks of all grades to our Program.  He devised and explored one of my favourite walks – the Clyde River Chinamans Point walk in Clyde River National Park.  Unfortunately this National Park remains closed due to extensive bushfire damage, although they are currently making repairs, and Ian’s walk will be scheduled again when the Park re-opens.

Ian has also served as Returning Officer, overseeing the change of Committee Members at our Annual General Meetings.  He is one of those valuable members who has made a significant contribution to our Club, and we are most grateful for his ongoing support.

Rob pins 25 Year Membership Badge on Ian

25 Year Members, Ainslie, Heather, Karen, Ian & Mike

Words by Karen, Photos by Amanda

Saturday 23 October 2021

The group in the iconic spotted gum forest

Passing through a grove of unscented rosewood understorey

Spring time is snake time

View of Dark Beach from the cliffs above

Photos courtesy of Karen 

One of our bushwalks today was along the coast and through the forests of Murramarang National Park, south of Durras. It was a short morning walk, followed by a picnic lunch in Durras Park adjacent to Cookies Beach.

Walkers picked a path through the myriad of tracks crisscrossing Wasp Head to find Emily Miller Beach, named after a coastal trading ketch wrecked there in the 1800s. On the way we interrupted a sunbathing red belly black snake who obligingly posed for a photo before slithering off into the leaf litter. This section of the National Park is well known for the unusual shapes of its spotted gums. The trees are somewhat stunted and their branches are twisted and warped by the salt air, winds and poor soils.

The trail emerges from the spotted gum forest to the cliff edge overlooking Dark Beach, named for its staining of grey sand. Choosing another trail heading west, we left the coast and headed inland, where we picked up a track leading back to Durras village and the walk start.

Karen

Saturday 23 October 2021

A sign – on the right track

End of Blitz Road

Gay crossing McCardys Creek

Springing across the creek

Some wildflowers still to see

Distracted by the view

One last hill

Views from the top

The long road home

Photos courtesy of Amanda, Gay, Karen and Peter

Eight bushwalkers joined me today on a 10km medium walk through the forest and fire trails about 8kms west of Nelligen.

The area around Blitz Road had been quite burnt but in the shadows and cool morning air it was a pleasant walk down to a couple of creek crossings. The road is closed as there is no bridge anymore but as bushwalkers we could easily find our way through the bush to connect to the road on the other side of the creek. Alas no wildlife to be seen around the creek!

It was a long slow gradual incline back up to the top of the ridge on McCardy’s Creek Road and it was humid! All agreed it had been a long time since we had perspired so much on a walk – but no one was complaining because we were out in the open air, catching up on our lockdown stories and enjoying views across to the Clyde River and out to sea.

After the walk, we adjourned to Nelligen for lunch beside the Clyde River with a welcome breeze – and some made the most of the café and ice-cream!

Gay

Sunday 17 October 2021

Disappearing into the undergrowth

Karen, Donna, Niamh and Glenn crossing Dwyers Creek

Another stand of the leopard ground orchids popping up everywhere this Spring

Donna and Glenn

Bushfire damage

Photos courtesy of Gay and Karen

Bushwalkers took advantage of the eased COVID restrictions and fine weather by gathering to explore the forest around Fox Gully and Dwyers Creek Roads south of Moruya. The southern section of the walk passing through Moruya State Forest remains largely unburned and the gullies are still lush with vegetation. The bush trails are lined with mauve flowering mint bush (Prostanthera sp) and dotted with the pink flowers of black eyed susan (Tetratheca sp). We followed a lone goanna on our track until he caught wind of us and reluctantly climbed the nearest ironbark until we passed. We also found a long thicket of pink flowering boronia in full bloom.

The northern section of the walk heads into Deua National Park. This was burned during the fires and the old tracks are rapidly disappearing under regrowth. Yellow Bacon and egg flowers carpet the tracks and verges and the vegetation around the creeks is thicker than ever. We battled our way across Dwyers Creek and plunged through 4 metres stands of brush kurrajong (Commersonia sp) choking another little creek.

What with the hills, disappearing tracks, good company and loads of unexpected botanic gems, it was a fun adventurous day out.

Karen

Sunday 17 October 2021

A rest by the creek

Single file

Making the way through the regenerated bush

Enjoying morning tea

Photos courtesy of Rob and Amanda

After a wet and then windy week, our walk day dawned bright and clear.

Like the old friends that we are, we greeted at the meeting place with pleasure, and after enduring over a year of cancellations and lockdowns, it was good to see so many familiar faces.

The area of the walk was on the northern slopes of Mt Pollwombra, and though the forest was devastated by the firestorm, there were the optimistic and resilient signs of defiance in the flora.

Fire destroys, but also stimulates, and there are plants which respond better than at other times. Of the many unusual wildflowers seen was a tiny, delicate species of polyanthus, growing on the edge of a granite slab and the proud masts of terrestrial orchids surviving in the harshest places.

Morning tea was in the well-named Granite Creek, a small gully with great granite slabs both sides, and even a small waterfall. It was a joy to be out in the bush, enjoying the sights, sounds and good conversation. A most enjoyable experience, thanks to our good leader, Rob L.

Bob

Friday 15 October 2o21

Crowned Tor

Intrepid Group

Wallaby skull guards Bimbimbie Road

Standing Stone crowned with Rock Orchids

Another view of the Standing Stone

Group at Standing Stone

Photos courtesy of Karen and Donna

After an extended lock down period due to Covid restrictions, the resumption of the club walks was eagerly anticipated. However, a dismal weather forecast caused the first walk to be delayed until the following day. The forecast was still not ideal but seven bushwalk deprived diehards turned up, just thankful to be out on the trails once again. As luck would have it, the bushwalking gods were smiling down upon us with rain only occurring prior to and after the walk.

Betty’s Mogo Orchid Walk, as the name suggests, is a walk in the Mogo State Forest created by the one any only Betty. The walk is a 10km circuit and has all the hallmarks of a ‘Betty Walk’ with bike tracks, hills and beautiful granite outcrops with some orchids thrown in. Not only rock orchids, but many beautiful leopard orchids were observed. These particular orchids have rarely been seen on our walks prior to the 2019/20 fires.

This area was significantly affected by the fires as evidenced by trees that were either dead or lacking any decent regrowth. This absence of a canopy, coupled with logging operations prior to the fires, has resulted in vigorous growth of the understory. There was a lovely variety of spring wildflowers, ferns, sedges, grevilleas, banksias, wattles and burrawangs, to name just a few. It was also great to hear and see various birds that were noticeably absent following the fires.

We walked past granite outcrops now more visible from the trail due to the reduction in trees and then followed some great bike tracks along the base of a large granite belt. After ascending a short but steep off-track section, we arrived on top of that belt where we had morning tea. Due to the reduced tree line, there were some great views overlooking the township of Moruya to the south and Pigeon House Mountain and The Castle to the north.

We continued along the ridge and then headed down a steep, rocky and slippery track which tested out everyone’s balance after our Covid hiatus. Evidence of just how difficult this section was lay on the side of the track up the next hill, a recently used broken snatch strap. At the top of that hill, we made our way to the main attraction of the walk, granite tors and standing stones set amongst a beautiful burrawang forest, interspersed with lovely wildflowers and interesting fungi. Fortunately, the orchids atop the distinctive granite tor on the southern side of the mountain are completely intact. Even though the orchids are not flowering, it is a relief to know that they were not destroyed by the fires. Unfortunately, many orchids on our other club walks were not so fortunate. Similarly to this tor, the large standing stone on the northern side of the mountain also has surviving orchids on top.

We continued onwards and downwards along the fire trail that would eventually lead back to the cars, enjoying the day for what it was, just a great opportunity to be out in the bush. Everyone agreed that it was enjoyable to be out walking with club members once again. It has been a difficult year, but we all look forward to catching up on one of the many walks still planned prior to the completion of the 2021 club walking season.

Donna G.