Sunday 5 March 2023
Photos courtesy of Amanda
The Monga State Conservation Area of 1,009 hectares lies to the north of the Kings Highway and just south of the village of Mongarlowe. It can be regarded as an isolated part of the Monga reserve system.
On a warm sunny day, seven BBBW walkers explored the open tablelands forest dominating this area. We walked 13 km across country, and along fire trails, about 50/50. Although a small part of the east section was burnt in the 19/20 fires, most of the area is quite open and the walking is easy and pleasant.
We climbed to Narranghi Trig (841m asl) but the view toward Braidwood was obscured by trees. We lunched by the dam at “Mrs Taylors”, an abandoned farm with only an old orchard to show its past.
Although there is nothing of spectacular note in the area, we recorded eight eucalypt species – E sieberi, E radiata, E dives, E cypellocarpa, E fastigata, E pauciflora, E viminalis and E obliqua. Unfortunately, none of the orchard’s fruit trees were bearing edible fruit but it’s highly likely, in the past, the local wildlife has sampled it.
It was a pleasant change to walk across undulating country through open unburnt forest!
Ian