Wednesday 3 November 2021

Donna G with Bob in the wattle re-growth

Distinctive split rock beside the track

Extreme zoom of the red belly black snake

Granite creek

A burned teatree trying to regenerate

Photos courtesy of Karen and Donna F

Nine walkers set off on a lovely day for a brand new walk. This walk is a 10.5 klm circuit in the Mogo State Forest. It starts on Misons Road and follows bike tracks and initially travels alongside the upper reaches of Dooga Creek, on the western side of Pollwombra Mountain. Whilst this area was affected by the 2019/20 bushfires, the damage to surrounding vegetation is not as significant as found in other areas of the Mogo State Forest. There is still a substantial canopy and the regrowth is steady without being completely overwhelming and impenetrable. It is a really beautiful area that has, surprisingly, been rarely visited by our Club.

After following Dooga Creek, we headed east where we then headed up the western face of Pollwombra Mountain and then followed more bike tracks along the contour of the mountain. We walked through a lovely spotted gum forest and made our way along the northern contour of the mountain. The bike tracks in the Pollwombra area provide an excellent opportunity for hikers to navigate around the expansive granite outcrops and the views are amazing. We then headed to a beautiful watercourse which we have christened ‘Granite Creek’ owing to the granite rock surrounding the whole area. It was encouraging to see rock orchids, perched atop huge granite formations, that have survived the fires. Whilst conducting the reccie for this walk we even spotted a yabbie in the pools of this creek.

We then continued along the bike track, past the remnants if an old drug crop, a water tank and chicken wire enclosure, back to Misons Road and to the cars. All in all it was a great day with great weather and great company. Another beautiful day out in the bush.

Donna G

Wednesday 3 November 2021

Bron, Carol, Joan, Deb, Lesley and Niamh on the boardwalk platform at Cullendulla Creek

Photo supplied by Lesley

Six bushwalkers joined me for an easy 5km walk.

Meeting at Surfside, we cut through the bush reserve to the Cullendulla Creek boardwalk which runs through the mangroves.  The weather was perfect for a morning tea break and catch up on the boardwalk platform overlooking the creek.  Returning to Surfside Beach, we followed a different route via the streets back to the start.

Lesley

Sunday 31 October 2021

Sharon, our leader

The small group of walkers

Cut notch to insert a plank on which the axemen stood to fell the tree more than 80 years ago

Rob impressed with the history

Photos courtesy of Amanda

Four walkers explored the Big Bit road area of the Boyne State Forest. Being a local, our walk leader Sharon knows this area well and assembled a really interesting walk along the creeks, bike trails and old logging roads. A highlight was Benandarah Trig Station on Big Bit road which at 232m ASL provides a unique 360 degree view of the region. As our walk was on a Sunday we ran into a number of weekend bike riders. These guys were really friendly and it reminded us that their trails make great hiking routes for our club.

At lunch on one of the creeks we discovered two old tree stumps with notches made by loggers 80-100 years ago. A great hike with a historical feature thrown in to make it a great day. Thanks again to Sharon for leading this walk.

Rob

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