Sunday 15 September 2024

The Group

Sandy Trek

Morning Tea

A perfect day

Should we jump in? Nah.

How good is this!

Photos courtesy of Tom, KarenG and Helen.         Walk report courtesy of DonnaG.

An impressive twenty four walkers joined Jenny for her inaugural walk as a walk leader for the Club. It was a great way to kick off the start of the final program of the year and the walk didn’t disappoint. The coastal leg of this circuit walk is the final part of the newly constructed Batemans Bay Coastal Headlands Walking Trail, which stretches from Batehaven to McKenzies Beach. We started at Malua Bay Beach and headed south. The surf was quite rough following a storm the previous evening which meant that a deviation was required to take us over the headland rather than along slippery smooth rock platforms. As well as being a route that many of the walkers had not walked along previously, we were also afforded some spectacular views from the cliff line of the huge swells out to sea. We made our way down to Pretty Point Bay and along some dry rock platforms until we arrived at a lovely protected area for morning tea.

Following morning tea we continued up to some stunning lookouts at the aptly named Pretty Point. Along the way it was obvious just how much work has been done to construct walking platforms, bench seats and viewing platforms for the new walking track. It was also pleasing to see the regeneration of native vegetation that had been decimated in this area following the fires.

Before too long we made our way to McKenzies Beach (the end of the Batemans Bay Coastal Headlands Trail) where a crossing of George Bass Drive was required to make this walk into a circuit. Jenny did a stellar job, ably assisted by Margaret our Tail End Charlie, getting twenty four walkers across the road and into the adjacent bush without incident. Of course no walk is complete without a little undulation so with a bit of huffing and puffing we headed up an incline where we continued along some nice bush tracks. These tracks joined a street with lovely elevated views to the east of Malua Bay which led us back to the start at the beautifully renovated Albert Bamman Memorial Park for lunch.

Many thanks to Jenny for showing us some new areas on your first walk as a leader. The impressive feat of completing the walk with the same large number of walkers that started was duly noted and we look forward to you leading more walks in the future!

Thursday 24 September 2024

Time to start walking

Apacris

Hanging Mountain mist

Enjoying the “view”.

Misty trek

Striding out

Photos courtesy of DonnaF, Amanda and Elizabeth.       Walk report courtesy Walk leader Rob.

After a month of sunshine and no rain the weather gods lulled us into a false sense of security. The group drove up into the coastal foothills to the lookout at Hanging Mountain (800m ASL) expecting panoramic views. As we approached the summit the rain started and didn’t stop till we were heading back down. Nevertheless most of us had rain gear or umbrellas so headed down the 1km track off Little Sugarloaf Rd to the new steel viewing platform built after the wooden one burnt in the 2019 fires.

On a clear sunny day the ‘white background’ in the group picture would show a fantastic view south to Gulaga and east to the coastal towns of Bodalla and Tuross Heads. The misty conditions did make for some great photos of the silvertop ash forest trees on the ridgeline.

Next program we plan to try again and hopefully show a group photo with a stunning panoramic view backdrop.

Wednesday 4 September 2024

The Crew

Economy Class Seating

Business Class Seating

A Hill Climb

Made it to the top

Oh those hills!

Rob explaining the tracks signs

Photos courtesy of DonnaF, Gay, Peter, and Helen.     Walk report courtesy Walk Leader Gay.

With a chilly start to the day and not a breath of wind, conditions were in our favour for a hike in the bush tucked away between the Princes Highway and South Durras.

Eleven members and two visitors completed the 8.5km circuit. The group wound its way through magnificent tall trees, up and down gullies, along fire trails skirting a few fallen logs and in one particular section doing their best to avoid being tripped by vines or hidden logs among the thick leaf litter.
The last uphill hike brought us back to the cars and all agreed it is a delightful area for hiking and enjoying our local flora and fauna.

Thursday 29 August 2024

Beginning of the lesson

A geological walk through time.

Down at the harbor

Discovery time

A find

Peaked interest

Caught in time

Rob sharing the news

From another time and life

Photos courtesy of Tony and DonnaG, Helen and Martin, and Max. Walk report courtesy of Walk Leader Rob.

After a blustery week perfect weather arrived for the Ulladulla Geology and Fossil Walk. This is a Social Walk that mixes an Easy walk, a bit of geology education and a pub lunch. The walk is located in Brodie Park , Ulladulla and consists of a ‘time walk’ where large pieces of geologic rock from different locations on the south coast have been positioned along a paved walkway, separated by a distance to represent their formation over the last 500Million years. Each sample is well documented and information signs give readers a good description of what was happening at each period of time. I think its safe to say everyone learned a few new facts about the geology of the south coast and peppered the walk leader with many interesting and challenging questions.

We then headed down to the harbor next to the sea pool for an exploration of the fossils seen in the siltstones exposed at low tide on the wave cut platform. Once the walk leader had shown the walkers what the fossils looked like they were off like excited school kids finding many good examples across the platform. Many of the walkers were surprised to hear that when the fossils were sea shells and corals alive on the floor of a shallow sea this part of the Australian coastline was located at about 65 degrees latitude south and the water temperature was less than 5 degrees. Glaciers and melting icebergs ‘dropped’ rocks into the sediments that were then covered by over 800m of sedimentary rock which has eroded away over the last 200Million years to be now seen today on the shores of Ulladulla Harbor.

Everyone now knows the lost microplate ‘Zealandia’ that broke off from Australia 100Million years ago is under the waters of the Tasman Sea and its parting act was to create the stress fracture pattern seen on the shores of the Ulladulla harbor rock platform.

There will be a test at the Christmas party but the crib notes can be found at www.gondwanacoastfossilwalk.com.au.

Saturday 24 August 2024

The Group

Happy walkers

Admiring the view

One of the Orchids

Along the Creek

Great photo!

Photos courtesy of DonnaF, and Joan. Walk report courtesy of Walk Leader Joan.

On a very warm late winter morning this walk began from the top of Blairs Road, Long Beach, Cullendulla Nature Reserve car park. Eight members and two visitors were welcomed and began the walk along the Square Head track through enormous Spotted Gums and Budawangs to a point which gave magnificent views to the north of Long Beach and beyond. Then returning to the cars the walkers went through a metal gate and down the wide track to the foreshore where morning tea was enjoyed with views across the Bay to the marina.

The next part of the walk continued to follow a track beside Cullendulla Creek where Casuarina trees grow and on the trunks of which can be seen the creamy white epiphyte orchids of Dendrobium Teretifolia (various names of Rats Tail Orchid, Pencil Orchid, Bridal Veil Orchid) which flower in August often near mangrove trees. The orchid aerial roots on tree trunks absorb moisture from the atmosphere and get water from the trickle down effect.
There were a great many photos taken and orchids were much admired and enjoyed on this walk.

Wednesday 21 August 2024

Starting down the trail

Perfect tree for orchids

Some of the many Cabbage Tree Palms

At the Cascade

A moment to pause for Rob

Creek crossing below the Cascade

Geology discussion

Photos courtesy of AmandaM, Erika and Philip.    Walk report courtesy of Walk Leader Glenn.

Members enjoyed a walk on a beautiful sunny day, along forest trails, over creeks and into a gully. Spotted gums, palms, tree ferns and the start of spring flowers were in their glory. A goanna had us guessing what it was up to when it scampered up a tree and dropped the remnants of what was probably a nest onto the track. Next a red belly black snake was enjoying the sun until the noisy bush walkers saw him slither away. On the way back to the cars we had a final exploration of the bush along the creek, and we left thinking of the need to further explore the creek area another day.

Sunday 18 August 2024

Admiring the view

Back into the wind

Learning the ropes

Northerly aspect

Supervising the rope climb

Walk Leader Denise

Walk Leader Gavin ensuring no dead or wounded

Worth the climb

The rope enabled Ascent

Photos courtesy of KarenG, AmandaM, Ingrid, Gavin and Denise. Walk report courtesy of Walk Leaders Gavin and Denise.

Eighteen walkers headed off from the Sherringham Farm gate for this seven km medium walk on private property, (and thank you to the owners for their kind permission to do so.)

The windy uphill climb was consistent and broken by a few water stops, and the views behind us grew more spectacular with each step. Just before the final ascent to the summit we stopped for morning tea.

The final rock ledge was tricky but aided by a rope and with some guidance from those around us, everyone made it to the rocky summit. The views from the top were inspiring with Mother Guluga and older brother Barranguba in clear view.

We returned via a slightly different route and some inadvertently touched on a Prickly Ivy bush. Ouch. Having negotiated the loose rocks and cow pats, once back at the farm we jumped in the cars and drove to the Tilba Tilba Cemetery for lunch, and from where the views up and down the coast were fabulous.

Thursday 15 August 2024

Happy walkers

Mosquito Bay passage

On the Beach

Long walk on the rocks

Spring weather smiles

Sparkling sea

Sharon’s Posy

Photos courtesy of Rob, DonnaF, Philip and Erika. Walk report courtesy of Club President Rob.

The Malua Bay – Grandfathers Gully walk is a perfect mix of cliff-top and shoreline walking undertaken at low tide. Eleven walkers set off on a typical winters day, overcast and cool but were soon shedding layers as the sun came out and we had perfect hiking weather. The magic of this walk is seen as you come round each embayment either on the cliff top or on the shore and are met with a spectacular changing view of the next section of coast. Eurobodalla Council has been busy upgrading this walk installing some new bridges over creeks and a ladder at Mosquito Bay to ensure we have continuous access along the coastline.

Of particular note was the imminent flowering of some young grass trees seen along the cliff top. Walking along the shore platform we had to scramble over some rocks that had fallen from the cliff face reminding us that the shoreline is slowly receding inland and not to dawdle there too long. A pod of dolphins, a sea eagle and a dubious sighting of an albino whale close to shore (or maybe a submerged rock) rounded out the wildlife seen on the walk.

Saturday 10 August 2024

Group shot – just move back a bit more – oops

First up: the beach.

What a view

On the trek

Up the last hill

An enjoyable lunch.

Photos courtesy of Rodney and Max.       Walk report courtesy of MaryM.

It is very rare for the club to schedule a walk that starts at 10.45am. However “thinking outside the box” this is exactly what Rodney, our walk leader did.
Not only that, but he also decided that this 5.5km walk would be taken at an easy pace and that any hills would be of gentle incline. This description certainly encouraged 14 members to grab their dose of outdoors, and join Rodney in a walk through the forest surrounding South Durras.

Initially the walking track headed down to Emily Beach before taking us back up towards the road from where we took an adjoining track that led us east through
open forest and then along the clifftop towards Dark Beach. Looking out across the water and down to the shoreline, we could see that others had also taken
advantage of this fine sunny winters day. Rock fishermen were testing their lines, a family were playing on Dark Beach and a few boats had taken to the water.

The whole track proved easy walking, and a leisurely lunch was enjoyed amidst the beautiful forest. Being in the middle of the day any bird life was fairly quiet, though our leader stated that early of a morning this particular area of bush is alive with the call of lyre birds.

It doesn’t really matter what level of “bushwalk” we venture on, for it is the combination of walking and nature that is the enriching element. If a particular walk should pose a few “challenges” along the way, which we overcome, then we can also add a sense of achievement. Do this in the company of other like minded
people and you are on a winner! Remember the word “walk/walking” has many synonyms describing its action, and on any one day our personal preferences can
vary from stroll, amble, tramp, wander to serious hike or major trek. The main objective however, is the same; to get out there, be amongst nature and move!

Wednesday 7 August 2024

Strolling through open forest

Morning tea beside the track

Red Coral Heath

Ed and Philip theorising

MaryT braving the climb

Erika and Glenn

The return crossing

Photos courtesy of KarenG, Philip and Erika, MaryT and DonnaG.           Walk report courtesy of Walk Leaders Ed and KarenG.

On a chilly (1 degree) morning, 12 intrepid walkers crossed the icy waters of Mongarlowe river. Some crossed in bare feet, others wearing water shoes. Only Mary managed to avoid getting her feet wet – she sensibly wore Wellies.

With our feet reunited with warm socks we set off on the 10 kilometre return walk around Mount Murrengenburg mountain. The walk consisted of good tracks through bush that has largely recovered from the 2019 bushfires.

We were blessed with a sunny, still day to enjoy a walk amid silver top ash. Along the way we encountered many wild flowers like the red coral heat and hairpin banksia. Also we encountered wattle in bloom, tree fern, many grass trees and Sydney gums. Around the mid-point of the walk we had excellent views over Buckenbowra valley, ‘The Castle’, ‘Pigeon House’ and all the way to the ocean.

By walks end, the day temperatures and that of the walkers, had climbed. We had traversed lots of undulations. So, with the carpark in sight, it was almost, though not quite, a pleasure to once again immerse our feet in the waters of the Mongarlowe River.

A pretty walk enjoyed by all.