Sunday 31 March 2024

Rob, Denise, Donna and Gavin. Glenn behind the camera.

Donna, Rob and Denise in front of a Mahogany?

Rob, Glenn, and Donna in the forest.

The treatment plant – visitors welcome…

Photos courtesy of Gavin and Denise. Walk report courtesy of Walk Leaders Gavin and Denise.

Five walkers overlooked their Easter Egg Hunt to complete this 11.8km (thanks Donna) circuit.

Starting with a kilometre or two of pristine beach the walk then headed off the beach across the sand dunes. 4km through pleasant woodland that was once a sand mining operation led us to the shores of Lake Coila. The lake is quite full and walking the edges required some zig zagging. Morning tea was spent in the shade on the lakes edge.

The return section of the circuit took us through magnificent swamp mahogany forest, and then onto the dreaming track. A side trip led by our local expert, Rob, took us to the Tuross Heads Sewage Treatment plant for a discussion on poo processing.

The weather was spectacular and all agreed that it was a varied and surprising walk..

Thursday 28 March 2024

The Stingray

Walking Group

Harbour View2

Morning Tea2

Morning Tea1

On the way back

More of the group

Harbour View

Photos courtesy of MaryT and Max. Walk Report courtesy of Walk Leader MaryT.

An overcast day with only a small chance of a shower made the activity in Narooma for 11 club members a very pleasant morning. The two promised sightings were achieved.

A large ray accompanied us in shallow water as we walked along the boardwalk and a large colony of seals lounged on the rocks and in the water along the seawall. Morning tea was enjoyed by the group at the half way mark, with a bonus, a sea eagle displaying its seemingly effortless ability to soar above us.

Most walkers took the opportunity to drive to Dalmeny where we had fish and chips in the park under sunny skies.

Saturday 23 March, 2024

View across the beach

L to R: Simone & Jeff (new walkers) Kate, Lauren, Niahm, and Chris.

Photos courtesy of Brian. Walk report courtesy of Walk Leader Brian.

Seven walkers enjoyed this scenic coastal walk, which follows the cliff top throughout the eight kilometres.

Climbing from Malua Bay Beach, we passed through lovely Garden Bay, before a morning tea stop at Mosquito Bay. This is where the mostly residential section of the walk was left behind as we entered the State Forest and the scattered houses around Lilli Pilli, Circuit Beach and Grandfather’s Gully.

Magnificent views across the bay were a constant companion and with a light breeze and a calm sea, there was a tranquil sense to our sauntering.

Of particular interest was the continuing track work in many places along the route. This included bridges across gullies, stairs, including a very steep stairway at Mosquito Bay and the broad stairway up Grandfather’s Gully.

The walk was completed with the descent to Wimbie Beach, then on to Surf Beach and our destination at Denhams Beach.

Thursday 21 March 2024

Morning Tea

Ian surrenders

Lenore nearing the beach

Max runs out of water

Sea Eagle

Sea Eagle photo opportunity

Under the Horse Island bridge

Photos courtesy of MaryT and Max. Paddle report courtesy of Max.

Embracing the chilly morning breeze at the beach launch of our kayaks on Nelson Parade in Tuross Head, four paddlers braved the elements to paddle across the expanse of Tuross River to enter the narrow and shallow mouth that borders Horse Island.

Once in the sun however, the thermometer soon rose to a more temperate level and the local 15 knot wind predicted was thankfully absent, leaving us to enjoy the scenery and the odd Sea Eagle perched in the trees nearby.

Having followed the banks of Horse Island around a dogleg we approached the bridge on Horse Island Road and landed on the left bank for morning tea. After setting off again we soon approached the Tuross River T-junction where Ian informed us that management had decided to take the shorter route rather than going around Cambathin Island.

Having gained consensus from all present, we continued around Horse Island into a brilliant sunny day and back to our launch site.

Having approached our launch site however, Lenore made a tactical move on her battleship cruiser (a.k.a her Hobie peddle craft) to which Ian promptly surrendered, and Max ran aground, leaving Mary to document the carnage. Proof of this momentous event is hereby provided. We jest.

All in all, a great day for all on the water.

Wednesday 20 March 2024

Civilised morning tea at Meringo picnic table

Assessing the clouds

Looks like the walkers have never seen an Echnida!

Happy walkers

Sea Eagles

Photos courtesy of Gay. Walk report courtesy of Walk Leader Gay.

Six club members walked the full length of the Bingi Dreaming Track in what turned out to be perfect weather! While heavy rain clouds loomed not a drop of rain was felt. The clouds kept the temperature down and a sea breeze ensured no humidity.

The sea was wild, the waves crashed, the frogs croaked, kangaroos and wallabies bounded through the bush, a lone echnida tried to hide in open sight, sea eagles put on an aerial display and lots of large black and orange spiders tried to hamper our progress but walkers were on the ball and managed not to become ensnared in their complicated intricate webs across the path.

And it was unanimous – we couldn’t have wished for better conditions to stretch our legs over 13.5kms!

Sunday 17 March 2024

Reflection on the Yabbie pond

Colorful Crew in the Rainforest

Group Shot

Leader watching over his flock

Leech removal time

Now…the crossing!

Weather break

Wet weather color

Photos courtesy of Rob, Amanda and Tom. Walk report courtesy Walk Leader Rob.

Eight walkers and a visitor experienced a new walk for the club on Cowdroys Creek, near Narooma. While the weather looked ominous at the start with conflicting reports of when and how much rain we could expect the crew set off in good spirits. The walk starts on the short sign-posted “Rainforest Walk’ off Kianga Rd and at the bottom of the gully we jumped into Cowdroys Creek and headed downstream.

The walk description promised a ‘creek walk with some bank scrambling’. The reality was the opposite as the creek was flowing stronger than when the reccie was done a few weeks ago and the pools were too deep to jump or wade. No one seemed to mind and we found some old bike tracks, long since abandoned, to navigate along the stream. The forecasted rain never arrived but wet weather gear was needed to wade through wet vegetation.

This is a very photogenic location enhanced by the flowing creek, small waterfalls, wet vegetation and colourful raingear worn by our walkers. The only negative was the leeches who were out in full force and all rest stops were made standing up with mandatory inspections of boots and pants for these critters. After 4kms of creek walking we found the pink ribbon left by the reccie walkers telling us it was time to join an old logging road and head upslope on the trail back to the cars. With no slips or falls and minimal blood stains from leech bites we all agreed this was a great walk.

Thursday 14 March 2024

Coila Creek Crossing

Coila Creek

Creek Crossing

El Prezidente Rob

Hazard to navigation

Termite Tree-Change

Walk Leader DonnaG

Photos courtesy of MaryT, Amanda and Peter. Walk report courtesy Walk Leader DonnaG.

Even though we were once again faced with a humid day and possible light rain, albeit with a lower temperature, ten walkers were up for an easy medium walk in the Moruya State Forest.

This walk was originally supposed to be the previously done Turlinjah Track, however after a reccie of the walk prior to walk day, it was discovered that 80% of the Turlinjah Track walk had been bulldozed to make way for winter hazard reduction burning. Whilst there is no criticism for much needed hazard reduction, it has significantly altered the walk, with many of the lovely bush tracks changed to much needed access roads for the RFS.

In lieu of these circumstances, during the reccie it was decided to follow some adjacent bike tracks in an effort to create a whole new walk. Fortunately a lovely forest circuit (same DD) away from the hazard reduction zone, was made and it was this walk that was done on the walk day.

The walk is just over six kilometres, with half of it following old disused bike tracks in an area that none of the walkers had in been before. We walked past huge Spotted Gums and Sydney Red Gums, and the vegetation changed from classic open bush track scrub on the ridges to lovely ferns and moss covered fallen trees adjacent to Coila Creek in the valleys. With the high humidity and overcast skies, a very thin layer of mist permeated amongst the tall trees which added a lovely atmosphere to the walk.

All in all, it was great to have found a new walk that everyone enjoyed and we look forward to doing it again some day.

Monday 11 March, 2024

Cool spot among the mangroves

Mangrove Photo op

Off to the mangroves

Rodney, Mary, Sharon and Ian.

We found a morning tea spot

Photos courtesy of Rodney and Max. Paddle report courtesy of Max.

The promise of a hot day turned out to be reasonably mild with the advent of some cloud cover as 5 paddlers headed off to the mangroves of Pelican Inlet on the Clyde River.

A foray into the thicket of the mangroves proved to be a bit of a challenge for some of the longer kayaks, while we noticed that Ian had cleverly commandeered his wife’s shorter “Riot” kayak especially for the event. Raising the rudders on the kayaks for easier navigation amongst the mangroves was a good move, and while paddling itself was a bit restricted, positioning your paddle forward in the water at 11 o’clock port side or 1 o’clock starboard proved to be a much better asset in quickly correcting the steering of the kayak through the course.

Further up the inlet we discovered a suitable spot for morning tea, where we embarked on a comprehensive discussion on solving the current problems of the world. After negotiating a few more mangroves we returned through the Oyster Providore wharves lining the river between Budd Island and the river banks, and across to Korners Park on the north side of the bridge for lunch before heading off home.

A lovely paddle had by all.

Saturday 9 March 2024

North Head Lookout

Ian imparting knowledge

Hopefully the map shows how far from the cliff we are

Lunch on the walk

The Canoe tree

The aforementioned goanna

Photos courtesy of DonnaG.   Walk report courtesy walk leader Glenn.

On a lovely sunny day walkers enjoyed a scenic walk following the South Coast track to the North Head trig and onto the lookout.

On the return, stopping at North head beach for a relaxing lunch.  On reaching Judges we followed the track to the cattle yard where after a bit of, off track, we found the canoe tree.

A goanna was not interested in us traipsing through the bush looking for the track back to our cars.

Picture perfect, taking in the scenery of Batemans Bay, Snapper Island, Yellow Rock, the Tollgates and vegetation etc.  Add a sea breeze, doesn’t get much better.

Wednesday 6 March 2024

Barlings Beach Approach

Coastal Trek

First morning tea

Coastal View

Midden at Long Nose Point

Second morning tea

The tricky bit

Photos courtesy of DonnaG and Amanda. Walk report courtesy of Rob.

Any walk along our coastline is guaranteed to provide spectacular views and when you follow a track that hugs the cliff tops the views are varied and always interesting. We started in Guerilla Bay and climbed up to Burrewarra Point before following the track along the south facing cliff line. We had a great view of surfers enjoying a strong swell from the south.

No matter how many times we walk this coast there is always something new to see and our Walk Leader, Geoff, pointed out an interesting midden near Long Nose Point that I must have walked past a dozen times and never spotted. Most middens are found in or near sand dunes. This midden was right at the base of the cliff and mostly covered by large rocks that must have fallen down the steep slope.

We then continued along Barlings Beach and finished the walk at the River Mouth Café in Tomakin which unfortunately was closed so no cold drinks for a group of hot tired walkers.