Monday 23 January 2023
Photos thanks to Mary and Ian
Seven members of the BBBW took the opportunity on this fine day to meet at Wray Street beach just west of the Batemans Bay bridge to paddle across the Clyde River to Pelican Inlet and then to meander through the mangroves.
Mary
Wednesday 11 January 2023
Photos courtesy of Mary
Eight members of the BBBW took to the waters of Bumbo Creek for a 11 km return trip to the top of the creek. It was great to see more members returning to the water and we hope to have others join us in 2023.
Mary
12-16 December 2022
The Hume and Hovell Track, between Yass and Albury, is 426km long and passes through a wonderful mixture of regional NSW landscapes – riverside corridors, grazing lands, woodlands, open and closed forest, pine plantations, sub alpine swamps and snow gum highlands. It has it all. The Hume and Hovell track, conceived in the 1970’s and opened in 1988, closely follows the original exploration route of 1824.
On this occasion, over five days, nine BBBW members sampled some of the best of the Track in its western section near Tumbarumba. We had four days of walking and one enforced rest day. This western area was relatively unscathed from the 2019/20 bushfires compared to the east where an inferno, in a few hours, wiped out most of the Batlow pine plantations and the Tumbarumba high country alpine ash forests. Our walks passed through both burnt and unburnt lands.
Three years after the fires, our selected area of walking was in good condition. The Riverina Highlands has had a run of good seasons and above average rainfall, so the landscape was a picture postcard of green grasslands, pine forests, full canopied trees and running rivers, creeks and gullies.
We set up base camp in the delightful Tumbarumba Caravan Park and contemplated the weather forecast – showers, maximum temperature 15 degrees, minimum 5 degrees, snow down to 1000mtrs, some frost patches. Gee, this was not what we expected in mid-December! Some rapid clothing adjustments had to be made but, in the ensuing days, the cooler temperatures made for excellent walking conditions.
[day 2]
The first day was a washout, wind and rain all day. Some braved the rain and explored the nearby Adelong mining heritage area. Others enjoyed the Tumbarumba township highlights or played cards and drank coffee. Barry and Jill, camped on the bank of the fast-flowing Tumbarumba Creek were on flood watch, ready to evacuate if necessary. That night, the Batemans Bay Bushwalkers were triumphant in the Union Hotel trivia contest!
[day 2]
On the second day we walked the 11km Lankeys Creek section and thoroughly enjoyed the open terrain of grazing lands, remnant woodland and the banks of a bubbling creek. An impressive brand-new suspension bridge, a wombat village, a paddock of camels and a defiant brown snake were memorable moments. That night, a local wine tasting session in Tumbarumba rounded off the day nicely.
[day 3]
Our third day was more strenuous, tackling a 17km between the Tooma Road and Mannus Lake. From an early start we followed Burra Creek downstream through old gold diggings and crossed Tumbarumba Creek before climbing 300mtrs to, and following, a high range. The track then drops down through pleasant open woodland to Mannus Lake.
The creeks were in full majestic flow, tumbling and falling across granite slabs and boulders. We were in constant “roar” and some of the cascades were rather impressive. We very quickly had wet feet because some of the track was boggy, in some cases under water, and deviations through tall wet grass were necessary. At lunch, Rob was finally able to put on the spare pair of socks he has been carrying in his pack for six years!
The gold diggings were impressive, featuring a deep channel and a 200-metre long tunnel blasted out of solid granite. Down in the gorge where the Burra and Tumbarumba Creeks meet, we crossed a new bridge, only months old and already tested by floodwaters.
After the steep climb out of the gorge and a traverse through badly burnt ridgetop forest we enjoyed pleasant walking through open woodland and meadow. We then descended to grazing land and followed an interesting arboretum strip planted some years ago with a variety of trees and shrubs. The banks of Mannus Lake, and our waiting cars, were a final welcome sight.
[day 3]
We tackled an easier path on the fourth day, walking the 11km Munderoo section. Features of the day were pine trees, pine trees, echidnas, black Angus, more pine trees, more echidnas, a very healthy brown snake, White Winged Choughs, and yet again, more pine trees.
On the way home we drove to Paddys River Falls and admired the now receding flood waters leap and churn their way toward the Murray River. Despite the high flow, we could stand at the base, and under the lip, of the falls and be impressed by the power of descending water in big volume.
[day 4]
On our last day we went way west to the unburnt Tin Mines section of Woomargama National Park, almost to Albury. This high elevation range is a treat of western woodlands and granite rocks. Driving in on the Tin Mine Firetrail, we started at North’s Lookout on Mount Jergle and walked 11km west, descending to and through the Ferndale private pine plantation and on to Tunnel Road.
Features of this day were the lovely eucalypt woodlands, granite slabs and tors, a view of Hume Reservoir, lightning struck trees, a Red Bellied Black Snake, traversing the boundary of a private pine plantation, and a lovely lunch spot at the cascades of Home Flat Creek.
[day 5]
We drove home via the Murray River valley, checking out the cozy Jingellic village on the way. The more decadent among us were impressed with the free riverside campground and the wonderfully accessible pub right next door! Back in Tumbarumba, that night we lavished on pizza and on the stroll back to camp enjoyed a free ice cream at the town Xmas carnival in the wonderfully tree lined park.
In summary, despite a first day lost to rain, it was a very successful week. The town of Tumbarumba proved to be an ideal base from which to explore the western sections of the Hume and Hovell Track. Over four days we sampled some picturesque Australian rural landscapes at their seasonal best, including the interesting and walker friendly western woodland forests. The walking conditions were generally very good, in favourable cool weather, and it was appreciated with excellent companions.
Ian
Photos courtesy of Gay, Tom, Mary, Rob, Barry and Ian.
Thursday 24 November 2022
Photos courtesy of Mary, Philip and Erika
On a rather warm sunny day Rodney led a group through the Benandarah State Forest, up and down hills, through gullies following old forest tracks and bike trails with some some off track and the odd road.
The walk took us through lovely forest, bush bashing thick regrowth, beautiful open bushland plus a visit to an old gold mine site.
Considering recent rains, the area was surprisingly dry, making some of the tracks rather challenging.
The last of the spring flowers were on show, the bush was spectacular, and we were enjoyed an occasional cool breeze on a perfect walk to end the year.
Thankyou Rodney.
Glenn
Saturday 19 November 2022
Photos courtesy of Ainslie
There were only four of us- maybe this walk is too easy – but we all enjoyed the 6.5km walk.
It’s definitely worth doing the walk over the Mossy Point Headland and this was a lovely day to enjoy the views .
Of course it included a coffee stop at the boat ramp cafe before heading back to the cars via the track beside Candlagen creek.
Jan
15-16 November 2022
Photos supplied and complied by Ian
West of Nowra, at the junction of the Shoalhaven and Kangaroo Rivers is the Tallowa Dam wall. It forms the large water storage known as Lake Yarrunga which fills a significant part of the Shoalhaven Gorge.
This drowned, sandstone gorge is arguably the most spectacular flat water paddle on freshwater in NSW and among the best of Australia. It is surrounded by Morton National Park and is part of the Ettrema Wilderness Area. Bush camping is allowed on a number of sandy benches 15 kilometres upstream where the Shoalhaven River meets the lake.
It is 8 years since the Club visited Tallowa and on this occasion four members paddled and camped overnight. For the two days we had the place to ourselves.
Launching from the dam wall on the first day, and turning left (the Shoalhaven arm) we soon noticed two features – coffee coloured water indicating flood waters from upstream, and the ferocity of the 2019-20 bushfires which burnt to water level and even some trees out on the pondage!. The regrowth, as we have seen elsewhere on the south coast, is prolific.
The scenery is dominated by high clifflines with interesting outcrops and steep slopes into the water. At Hoddles Bluff the rock runs almost continuous from top to water level, about 300 metres. After recent rains a couple of waterfalls were still contributing to the lake. When we weren’t paddling we were ogling the rock formations above, a good way to get a stiff neck.
Although the weather was otherwise excellent, occasionally we encountered a southwesterly breeze down the gorge which had us hugging the bank for protection. In doing so we surprised many water dragons sunning themselves on the rocks.
By mid afternoon as the gorge narrowed and we were almost at our destination we thought we were imagining a current against us. It soon became apparent we were not wrong. The Shoalhaven River was obviously in mini flood and the strength of the river emptying into the lake was too much for us to paddle further.
As we sat in an eddy behind a large boulder contemplating our options, Lin spied a red bellied black snake ferry gliding across the river toward us. Both parties were simultaneously surprised and the snake immediately “rafted up” and floated off downstream. After giving the visitor a respectful few minutes to clear off we did the same and soon were able to select the next very comfortable camp site, a high sandy bench with a good covering of grass and an old campfire – perfect!.
Next day, the return journey was assisted by the same southwesterly, but this time as a tailwind, so we were often able to simply drift, soak up some sunshine and admire the lovely scenery. To our surprise we were back to the cars in half the time.
After a quick inspection of the dam spillway and the mini flood coursing downstream, we headed for the nearest coffee shop before returning home.
It was a very delightful two day paddle camp, always to be recommended.
Ian
Wednesday 16 November 2022
Photos courtesy of Amanda, Rob, Philip and Erika, Karen McL and Helen
Thirteen lucky walkers took advantage of a break in recent unsettled weather to set out on a walk to Pollwombra Mountain summit. This relatively new walk is a 10 km circuit that takes in a side trip to the summit trig. We headed off along bike tracks just off Misons Road where all walkers were warned of the possible need to shortly cross a swollen creek that had been running quite well after recent rains. Much to the embarrassment of the walk leader, when we arrived at the creek, it was apparent that there was not only no flowing water but there wouldn’t have been enough water there to bathe an ant! Oh well, at least everyone didn’t get wet feet.
We commenced our steady ascent out of the gully and trudged up the northern slopes that eventually lead to the northern side of Pollwombra Mountain. We stopped for morning tea at an old trench in the ground which is obviously evidence of some sort of mining exploration that took place on the mountain many years ago. We then set off along the side of the mountain where we eventually reached the track that leads up to the summit. The track up to the summit is surrounded by Burrawangs and various wildflowers as well as stunning granite boulders. It is a very pretty walk but due to the vigorous vegetation regrowth at the summit the ocean views have become glimpses.
After having our glimpses, we headed back down the summit track but took a side detour through the granite boulder field on the western side of the mountain. The boulders in this area are quite amazing and many of them had large clumps of Orchids growing from crevices. Although flowering had ended it was still nice to see healthy Orchids flourishing.
We continued down the track where we eventually found a rocky outcrop for lunch and then continued on to Misons Road where we returned to the cars. All in all, it was a great day with good weather, threatening thunderstorms to the northwest left us alone and the rain held off until the drive home.
Donna G.
Thursday 10 November 2022
Photos courtesy of Helen, Karen G, and Karen McL
Anticipating the next rain front to sweep through on the weekend, 19 bushwalkers took advantage of the mild sunny weather to enjoy a morning walk through Murramarang National Park between Maloneys Beach and North Head Beach.
We took some local tracks through dappled forest to the canoe tree and old stockyards, before finding the newly constructed South Coast Track running behind the Judges property and over to a new lookout at Three Islet Point. The new track then winds through forest to sandstone steps down the steep slope to North Head Beach.
The return journey is much the same until we branched off on the track to Quiriga Beach, up some new steps to Acheron Ledge and back to Maloneys via the ridge track. Just an aside – why is this headland named after Acheron in Greek mythology – the river of pain, woes, and lost souls in Hades?
From our vantage point above Maloneys Beach we could see where steps are to be constructed down the cliff to the South Coast Track trailhead and carpark.
Karen McL
Saturday 5 November 2022
Photos courtesy of Gay, Donna F, and Helen
It was a great day for a cliff and beach walk with sunshine and a strong breeze to keep us cool, as eleven of us walked from Malua Bay to Grandfathers Gully and back.
There was advice about precipitous paths close to cliff edges, slippery rock platforms, overgrown tracks and a “dodgy” path down to a beach – which of course would be fine! All true, but naturally it was fine with no untoward events occurring!
We enjoyed fabulous views and seeing beaches from a completely different angle. With only a little road walking we journeyed mainly on cliff paths, rock platforms close to wild waves, and a couple of beaches, taking in the sights of Malua, Garden and Mosquito Bays, Lilli Pilli and Circuit Beaches to arrive at Grandfathers Gully.
At Mosquito Bay boat ramp a huge smooth stingray greeted us and again on our return! Some had a rare view of a newly hatched goanna spotted by the path as it retreated into a termite mound.
There was plenty of wild and garden flowers to be seen and we all got to check out the real estate with sea views.
A great walk, thanks Donna.
Helen
Wednesday 2 November 2022
Photos courtesy of Mary and Donna F
After all the recent heavy rains that caused many of the coastal lakes to open to the ocean and prevent us from walking it was a real pleasure to be out hiking again. Our Walk Leader, Mary, is to be congratulated on finding an alternate walk on such short notice, racing out to do a reccie and then turning on a beautiful sunny day for a hike.
Twenty walkers enjoyed the 10km hike in the Murramarang National Park following sections of the new South Coast Track along the coast from the Resort to Richmond Beach and then turning inland to follow some more familiar trails back to Durras.
The Park Service are to be complemented on the path they have chosen for the new track which offered spectacular views of the coast line including a new track to the headland at Richmond Beach with an uninterrupted view south to North Head and Batemans Bay. We heard that this point will have a lookout platform as part of the track upgrade. Sandstone blocks have been placed along the track to provide steps down steeper sections and in creek lines that will resist erosion and reduce track maintenance.
A new section of the track took us along the cliffs above Myrtle Beach and a view back north to the ‘leap of faith’ that many club members have done as part of a walk to Wasp Head. The view is oriented to perfectly see the gap in the sandstones caused by the erosion of the basalt dyke.
A great walk for those of us desperate to get back out into the bush doing what we enjoy.
Rob