Sunday 23 November, 2025

A cautious morning tea avoiding leeches.

Priya enjoying her lunch break.

Some nice flat rock platforms on the way back.

The walk was finished just prior to the incoming storm.

Descending Mt Durras.

Stretching the legs on the beach walk.

Water well at the site of Mt Durras abandoned homestead.

Is Rob about to enlighten Lenore with some more geological info gems?

Priya, Gay, Renata and Donna enjoying the platforms.

A misty Mt Durras in the background.

The ‘humming’ stones.

Photos courtesy of Lenore, Rob, Amanda and Donna G.  Walk report by Walk Leader Lenore.

The early morning was wet and rainy. Eleven intrepid walkers gathered for the briefing and shared the journey to Pretty Beach campground where we commenced our circuit walk. We made the steady climb up Mt Durras whilst entertained by a dancing lyrebird on the trail, lazing kangaroos and a free spirited lone black cocky. Upon conquering a few false summits, we reached the morning tea spot which was at the ruins of the early settlers. It is understood that Durras Mountain was settled by James Smart in 1860, later to be known as McKay’s farm. This farm was used mainly for cattle, whilst there were many timber mills operating in the area around this time.

Once rested, we continued with a generally welcomed descent to Clear Point where we joined the Murramarang South Coast Walk trail. The spectacular coastal views both north and south did not disappoint. Our lunch spot was timed “perfectly” with the falling of a few drops of rain, our first on the journey. By the time our intrepid group had donned their raincoats, the rain was gone!

Our northern return along the coastline passed by the beautiful bay of the “singing stones” which were perhaps better described as “humming” on the day. The chirping frogs were plentiful. After a successful return to the carpark at Pretty Beach, the skies darkened. Once we were relieved of our packs and comfortably seated in the cars for our return journey to Batemans Bay, the rain fell!

Saturday 15 November, 2025

Rob presenting his geology lesson.

All accounted for after our leap over the gap behind.

How it’s done with long legs.

Stunning Murramarang rock formations.

Renata’s leap of faith!

Group pic on the rock scramble.

Red-bellied black retreating up the embankment.

Photos courtesy of Amanda and Donna G.  Walk report by Walk Leader Glenn.

Luckily for the group the rain stopped before we started winding our way south on the South Coast track. We then crossed west over the Old Coast Road on the forest tracks stopping at an open area for morning tea.  The colours and gnarly shapes of the wet gums were striking and we were in awe of the vegetation.

We made our way back over to Myrtle Beach and onto Dark Beach for lunch and even a swim. Rob was asked and then explained why the beach is black.  Next stop was the dyke at Emily Miller Point. To take the jump or not…. decision made, and all jumped over. We then made our way over the rocks/rock platforms down to the shore. Just about everyone had their photo taken standing in front of the gap. One of the group suggested it was like having wedding photos taken.

Rob explained how the dyke came about and gave an overview of the geology of the area. Thanks very much Rob.  We then made our way up onto Wasp Head via rock platforms and beach, arriving back at the cars just in time for the rain.

A great day had by all, Durras in all its glory.

Wednesday 12 November, 2025

Glenn amongst the Angophora costata.

Heading through yet another gully.

L-R Bruce, Tony, Margaret & Donna G.

Taking advantage of some shade for a break.

Spitfires on the move.

L-R Donna G, Helen L, Margaret & Glenn.

Glenn climbing out of a gully.

Photos courtesy of Amanda, Bruce and Glenn.  Walk report by Walk Leader Donna G.

Seven hikers set out on what started as a nice cool morning to tackle this 15km walk south of Moruya in the Moruya State Forest. The walk is along old disused logging roads, motor bike tracks and forest roads. As with many of our walks that were affected by bushfires, parts of this walk have had vigorous regrowth, so much so that some tracks have become indistinct and challenging to navigate. But this all adds to the adventure and excitement of the day.

Besides the off-track sections, the only `difficulty’ was finding an acceptable morning tea spot. I thought it was best to have morning tea somewhere on an open road, prior to heading to one of the off-track sections. Expectations were set pretty high, we just wanted a nice sized log in the shade (as the temperature was warming up), moss covered would be nice and a nearby coffee machine would be a bonus!  Well, the expectations were soon lowered and after walking the best part of a kilometre looking for something suitable, anything suitable, we were all literally brought down to earth, having to sit in the dirt on the side of the road! Thankfully there were no complaints, well none that I could hear, so we continued on with the rest of the walk without incident.

We crossed the bone dry Dwyers Creek, traversed a number of gullies and finally a bit more off track before emerging onto a welcome forest road for our highly anticipated return to the cars.  It was a great walk with great company and I don’t even think that we scared off our visitor Tony or our new member Helen!  Woohoo!!

Thursday 06 November, 2025

Denise showing how it’s done under Margaret’s watchful eye.

Gay working her way up a “gentle hill.”

The well camouflaged goanna.

Turnip Road cameo.

Navigating through some debris.

Resting between one of the many “gentle hills”.

Photos courtesy of Steve and Donna G.  Walk report by Walk Leader Margaret.

Twelve intrepid adventurers (including three brave visitors) set off to conquer the Golden Gully walk behind Moruya. The “gentle hills” turned out to be a rather generous interpretation of gentle and were a bit longer than expected, and, as nature insists, the downhill stretch followed suit. Turnip Road made a brief cameo appearance before vanishing into the undergrowth, and morning tea was shared with a small, curious goanna who clearly approved of our snack choices. The day warmed up more than the forecast had promised, so after some democratic discussion (and not a little relief), the group wisely voted to save the biggest climb for another time. Lunch back at the Moruya Car Park was a delight, complete with a cool river breeze and plenty of good conversation. All in all, it was a fine outing – legs stretched, visitors welcomed, and holiday stories enthusiastically exchanged.

Wednesday 29 October, 2025

Peter checking out another entrance.

A weir on Kellys Creek downstream from the mine.

The main entrance.

Donna, Margaret, Renata and Peter at yet another entrance.

Remnants of a cable.

Morning tea.

Does this granite outcrop resemble a Great White shark?

The elusive Eastern Bentwing Bat in its adopted habitat.

Photos courtesy of Steve and Donna G.  Walk Report by Donna G.

Five participants set out for Kelly’s Mine on what can only be described as a perfect day for hiking. Kelly’s Mine has been a long standing favourite walk of the BBBW Club for many years. There are lots of remnants in the immediate area near the main shaft, although a progression of nature is slowly reclaiming the area.

Kellys Mine is one of a number of mines that were established in a 25 acre area of Bimbimbie in the 1890’s in the quest for gold. The mine was established on a series of narrow, high grade quartz-sulphide veins with up to 12 parallel reefs stretching for almost two kilometres.  A 900 foot tunnel was constructed with a maximum depth of 350 feet. The evidence of this is very apparent with massive mullock heaps throughout the area. Officially, the mine produced about 5000 tons of ore yielding almost 200 kilograms of gold!

In the 1980’s a 33 metre long adit was re-established to access and sample the mineralised vein system. The sample results revealed grades of up to 16.9 ounces per ton however there are no reports of activity since. Subsequently, the main shaft and all associated secondary openings have since been covered with bars to allow Eastern Bentwing bats to enter and leave the tunnels as desired.

Funnily enough, when I led this walk last year much of the tracks were overgrown around the mine. As it’s become drier quite a bit of vegetation has thinned out and died. Also, horse riders have done a great job in clearing the tracks as well so hopefully we can still access this interesting area for many more years to come.

All in all everyone enjoyed the walk and it was a pleasure to be able to show four members a really interesting area that all of them had never seen before.

Incoming President Bruce (L) and outgoing President Rob (R).

L-R – Mike, Ainslie, Bev, Trish, Jan and Helen.

L-R – Stan, Mary, Philip and Ian.

L-R – Jean, Sarah, Kathy and Betty.

L-R – Bob, Ed, Karen G, Russ, Rosalie and Karen M.

L-R – Molly, Elizabeth, Carol, Bob and Joan.

L-R – James, Betty, Pat, Heather and Mary.

Commemorating our first official Club walk. Morning tea at the creek next to Billy’s Hut.

Billy’s Hut will be waiting for the 50th commemoration!

Report by Karen M.

As part of our 40th Anniversary Celebrations, Batemans Bay Bushwalkers held a Reunion Lunch with retired members at the Soldiers Club. It was well attended by past members who have stopped walking for all sorts of reasons, but for whom the Club played a major part in their lives, and without whom we would not be the Club we are today. Many were Walk Leaders and Committee Members, and all were regular walkers. We spent many hours together on walks, and weeks together on Camps and Safaris, and it was a great opportunity to greet old friends again and catch up on the old days.

The Club has an excellent archive of historic documents dating right back to the inaugural meeting in 1985, including old walk reports, press clippings and an extensive photo archive. We brought several of those documents along to the lunch as well playing a slideshow of photos dating from 1985 through the ensuing 4 decades.

To also mark our 40th Anniversary, we revisited the first official BBBW walk to Billy’s Hut, held a birthday cake afternoon tea at the Annual General Meeting, and also a Members 40th Anniversary Lunch at the Soldiers Club after the September Quarterly Meeting.

Our 40th year is not over yet, and we still have several great walks programmed before the hot weather sets in and we adjourn until February 2026. Hope to see you out there.

Wednesday 15 October, 2025

Pat, Joan, Helen, Mary M, James, Stan and Kate with rock formations at the end of Mill Beach.

Mary, Joan and Stan with typical Murramarang tree formations.

From the track to the sea.

Morning tea under the trees.

Visitor Kate and Stan.

The group.

A perfect day for a walk.

Photos courtesy of Mary T.  Walk report by Walk Leader Mary T.

A superb day of sunshine, low winds and warm temperatures were just the enticement for a walk in Murramurang National.Park. Two visitors joined club members to walk along forest tracks and the coastal headland. The trees of Murramurang never fail to delight us with their twisted trunks and growth patterns sending out branches from the ground to form ‘basin’ like structures. Today, those ‘basins’ were empty of rain fall.

Comments were made that morning tea tastes so good in the bush where there were logs to sit on amongst the shade of gum trees overlooking the ocean. At the end we took a short walk back along the almost deserted beach where we met a couple from Sydney who declared that the area was a little piece of paradise. Can’t argue with that!

Sunday 12 October, 2025

Last of the wildflowers on G Ridge Road

Steve leading the hill climb

Erosion in the undergrowth

Majestic country

Abundant wildflowers

A basking Monitor Lizard

Yellow Pea Bush

Remains of the creek in Golden Gully

Ros and Andrises find a birds nest on the track

Photos courtesy of KarenM, Helen and Steve. Walk report courtesy Walk Leader Karen M.

Bushwalkers headed out to Wandera State Forest west of Moruya for the weekend walk. We started off in Golden Gully, then headed up a steep hill to G-Ridge Road, before taking Snake Gully Road to complete the circuit.

The tracks were lined with the last of the wildflowers – mainly yellow pea bushes. We surprised two big monitor lizards which both headed for the nearest tree, giving us a great view and some good photos.