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Maloneys to Square Head

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Thursday 3 October 2019

Barry enjoying his paddle!
Philip and Evelyn enjoyed getting their feet wet
4 sooty oystercatchers flee from 4 bushwalkers. Square Head in the distance
Heading down the side of Square Head
Erika and Judith at Square Head

Spring had arrived for sure as 20 walkers set off from Maloneys Beach in warm sunshine with the temperatures rising.

We didn’t have long to wait before the option of a paddle presented itself, when the tide was not as low as preferred at a rock platform near the end of the beach. Here, most decided to keep their feet dry and walk along the cliff to Long Beach whilst a few water lovers paddled in the warm sea round the outcrop to meet the rest further along.

We all know Maloneys and Long Beaches for their expansive golden sands and smooth waters, but today we got close up to beautifully textured and coloured rocks , had stunning views of the Clyde estuary and islands, the sea was crystal clear and with the backdrop of hills this walk showcased the area in all its glory.

The Square Head track with its spotted gums and burrawangs provided cool shade and filtered views of boats on still water, before we wended our way back. This time we all walked on the cliff and returned to join the large eastern grey kangaroo mob on the grassy foreshore of Maloneys Beach and our waiting cars.

Thank you Philip and Erika for a lovely walk.

Helen

Tomaga River Catchment

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Wednesday 25 September 2019

Lesley and Group with Smashed Tree
Ferny Glade
Track throughTailed Rapier Sedge
Quilted Spotted Gum
Lesley, Bob and Lee with hanging boulder sculpture

Photos by Karen

Thirteen walkers enjoyed a very pleasant hike in the Mogo State Forest. The walk started on the crestline of Dog Trap Road that was logged a few years ago and is experiencing rapid regrowth.  Following an old logging road we headed downhill to the Tomaga River. Only Australians could call this dry creek a ‘river’ but the moist environment with dense vegetation in the valley creates a perfect home for many birds. The bike track followed the river for about a kilometre and while our noisy hikers usually scare off most birds, we experienced the calls from many varieties close by. Along the river we saw a number of hybrid Sydney Blue Gums and Spotted Gums with very interesting quilt-like patterns going up their trunks for over 20m. No-one could seem to explain the cause for this phenomenon and we are hoping our resident club foresters will view the pictures and provide an answer.

We stumbled across an interesting hanging boulder sculpture left by an artist that is apparently part of a larger display in the forest closer to the Botanical Gardens. This art piece is well off the usual Gardens tracks so we felt pretty special to see it. All downhill walks have to end with an uphill climb but all the hikers agreed this was a great walk and congrats to Bob for leading it for us.

Rob

Burrill Ramble

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Sunday 22 September 2019

Moira, Mary, Ian, Gay and Karen at the start of the Giriwa Track
Rock shelter
Stan in front of the tree and rock shelter
Tree and rock shelter
Last leg through bushland from the coast to the cars

Photos by Glenn and Gay

Mary and Stan’s 15 km Burrill Ramble showcased another gem on our doorstep.

We enjoyed the Giriwa (means goanna) walking track, with views of lake and forest. Following the foreshore, signage informed us of the Dhurga speaking Murramarang and Budawang people culture, the traditional custodians of Burrill Lake. We also had our first distant glimpse of Pigeon House mountain.

Our next track took us to the Burrill Lake rock shelter or bimbala meaning cockle shell, nestled in rainforest. This is truly amazing. In the 60’s archaeologists used carbon dating to confirm aboriginal occupation going back at least 20,000 years.

We finish the day walking over the rock platforms, keeping our feet dry, through bush to the cars.

Bush, lake, rainforest, rock shelter, beach, rock platforms, history and a perfect day.

Thanks Mary and Stan

Glenn

Pigeon House Mountain

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Thursday 19 September 2019

Amanda, Judith, Philip and Simeon having a short rest
Pretty, pink dew drop flowers were abundant
Amanda, Judith, Philip and Simeon at the top
The clouds parted and some blue sky was spotted!
Philip descending the many steep stairs on the return

Photos by Erika & Philip

Our small group set out up the first steep section of the climb with a small possibility of rain ahead. We stopped for morning tea at a rock outcrop just before the flatter central section of the walk.

Once we reached the flat section we were greeted by an abundance of pink, mauve and yellow wild flowers lining the track. The vegetation and the drooping flowers were bejewelled with droplets of water from the earlier rain. Our desire to stop, admire and photograph the floral displays pleasantly slowed our progress for some time.

As we neared the second steep section of the climb the mist closed in and light rain began to fall. The rain continued on and off, as we continued our ascent, and the clouds covered the top of the mountain. Upon reaching the base of the ladders, that would take us to the summit lookout, we could only just make out the outline of the rocks above. The rain stopped as we carefully climbed the wet steel staircases and a patch of blue sky opened as we reached the top. However the clouds continued to sweep across the mountain, and as we had our lunch we were only afforded a few fleeting glimpses of the landscape beyond.

After lunch we retraced the route back down the many steps, through the fresh moist smells of the bush and the enchanting wild flowers, to the start of the walk.

Philip

 

 

Mallacoota Walking Camp

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Monday 9 – Friday 13 September 2019

Photos by Karen M, Mary T, Donna, Brian, Jim and Tom

31 members enjoyed 4 days of walking around the seaside village of Mallacoota in Victoria in early September 2019.

Everyone on Quarry Beach

Day 1 – Tuesday

Brian on rocks at Quarry Beach with Karen C looking on
Secret Beach Cave
Sand swept rocks
Exploring the Cave on Secret Beach
Stan, Karen C, Karen M, Mary M, Heather on the boardwalk on the small loop

About half the group spent an hour or so visiting the excellent WWII Bunker Museum on the Airport Road, Mallacoota. The bunkers have been restored by local Volunteers and tell the story of Mallacoota’s contribution to coastal surveillance during WWII.

Meanwhile several other members walked the 2km loop from Davis Beach Carpark to the mouth of Betke River and back along Betke Beach.

Then everyone met at Betke Beach Picnic Reserve to walk the Mallacoota Coastal Track.
Easy Walkers walked to Quarry Beach and back via the Betke River Loop – 6 km
Easy/Medium Walkers walked to Secret Beach and back via the Betke River Loop – 9.5 km
Medium Walkers walked to the end of the track at Pebbly Beach and back via the Betke River Loop – 11.6 km

Day 2 – Wednesday

Bastion Point
Mary M and Nancy on the seawall at Bastion Point
Rounding Bastion Point
Tip Beach
Nancy in the lead on the Heathland Section
Mary T testing out a very large bird’s nest?
Mary M, Donna, Karen M, Jim, Stan, Tom, Glenn, Nancy, Chris and Gay on a bridge crossing

Easy Walkers started at Davis Beach Carpark and walked the Heathland, Casuarina, Shady Gully and Lakeside Tracks back to Mallacoota Wharf – 4 km car shuffle.

The rest of the group started at Mallacoota Wharf and walked through the Caravan Park to the Pittosporum Walk which leads to Bastion Point. From there they rounded Bastion Point to Tip Beach and Davis Beach Carpark. Then they followed the Heathland, Casuarina, Shady Gully and Lakeside Tracks back to Mallacoota Wharf – 8.5 km.

Day 3 – Thursday

Genoa Peak Group – Jim, Gay, Glenn in the lead
The ladders are in sight
Elizabeth climbing the ladder
Gay climbing the ladder to Genoa Peak
Geoff on the last ladder to the Peak
Glenn and Chris on the Peak
Brian, Chris, Tom, Geoff, Elizabeth, Glenn, Gay, Jim, Karen M on Genoa Peak

Easy Walkers started at Buckland Jetty Boathouse and walked back to Mallacoota Wharf on the Lakeside Track – 5 km car shuffle.

Easy/Medium Walkers started at the Captain Creek Jetty Trailhead and walked to the Jetty on the Top Lake, returning the same way – 7 km. They then visited the Double Creek Nature Trail – 1 km.

Medium Walkers drove to the Genoa Peak Trailhead and ascended the Peak – 3 km return. They then visited Genoa Falls – about 500m return, followed by Double Creek Nature Trail – 1 km return.

Boat Trip
Sea Eagle catching dinner

About half the group spent Thursday afternoon cruising the Bottom Lake through the Narrows to the Top Lake with one of the local commercial tour boat operators, spotting sea eagles during the trip.

Day 4 – Friday

Jan H, Ann and Jan M at Genoa Falls
Genoa Falls
Camp Kitchen – Bob and Dennis enjoying the fire
Geoff, Tom, Elizabeth, Donna, Glenn, Gay and Jim on the Captains Creek Trail
Black cockatoos spotted on the lake track
Tom and Glenn at another obstacle on the track

Easy Walkers started at Mallacoota Wharf and walked to Bastion Point via the Pittosporum Walk – 6 km return

Easy/Medium walkers started at Buckland Jetty Boathouse and walked along the Narrows Track to the Top Lake – 8 km return.

Both groups then visited Genoa Falls and Old Genoa Village.

Medium Walkers started at the Captain Creek Jetty Trailhead and walked back to Mallacoota Wharf via the Narrows Track and Lakeside Track – 15 km car shuffle.

Evenings were spent in the rustic camp kitchen at the Mallacoota Foreshore Caravan Park cooking dinner and toasting jaffles over their two open fires. Or enjoying a meal at the pub or Lucy’s Restaurant. Not to mention the excellent local bakery for breakfast, lunches and sweet treats.

Karen

Benandarah Forest

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Wednesday 11 September 2019

The old ganja garden
Group in a clearing
Bushbashing back to the track

Photos by Erika

Eleven bushwalkers and two Canberra visitors set out at a brisk pace, just north of Batemans Bay and west of the Princes Highway to walk 12 kilometres of trails in the Benandarah Forest.

The walk entailed several gentle hills and gullies as well as the crossing of 4 bone dry creek beds.  A few spring wildflowers did manage some blossoms but there seemed to be an almost total absence of birds that normally fill the forest tree tops with their noise and spring activities. Perhaps the dry conditions have led them to relocate to wetter regions.

Future walk leaders be warned, Rob has set the bar even higher than usual by bringing along with him chemist quality glucose jelly beans and handing them out to boost the flagging energies of walkers before they embarked on a 2.5 kilometre section of bush bashing.

The group paused for lunch at the bottom of a dense, bushy gully right next to a failed and long abandoned marijuana cultivation endeavour.  Buckets, plastic fertiliser bags, fluid containers and other items just left in the bush.

Refreshed, the walkers climbed up the gully’s side to the road above and hiked another 2 kilometres back to the cars.  It was a good workout that stretched muscles and quickened pulses.
Thank you Rob.

Denise

 

Mummaga & Brou Lakes from Dalmeny

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Thursday 5 September 2019

Picking our way through the scrub by Mummaga Lake
Gay and Les
Karen and Donna on Brou Beach
Emerging at Brou Lake

Photos by Denise & Mary

Batemans Bay Bushwalkers’ midweek walk started at the bridge crossing Mummaga Lake at Dalmeny.  The lake has receded, and doesn’t look open to the ocean after 3 months of no rain.  We picked our way through the scrub between the beach and the lake to a spot by the water for a morning tea break.

Then we headed into the spotted gum forest on old tracks through Eurobodalla National Park towards Brou Lake to the north.  We had lunch in a sheltered spot at the mouth of Brou Lake (also closed), and then followed a National Park Track along the top of Brou Beach dunes south towards Dalmeny.  Our last 1 km was along Brou Beach back to the start.

Karen

 

Cullendulla Creek and Square Head for Bridal Veil Orchids

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Saturday 31 August 2019

Descending from Square Head to Cullendulla Creek
A spray of orchids overhanging the creek
Individual orchid flower
More orchids in a sheoak grove on the creek
Lunch above the mangrove mud

Photos by Rodney

A fine sunny day encouraged 17 bushwalkers to enjoy the walk to Square Head, Long Beach from the car park at the top of Blairs Road.  This walk is surrounded by Spotted Gums and Burrawangs while giving extensive views to right and left of the Bay and Long Beach as the track leads to the edge of Square Head where a wide expanse of the ocean out to the Tollgate Islands can be seen.  On this day there was no sighting of a playful whale but there have been times when a group has been lucky.

From Square Head the track follows around the clifftop and then descends via steps down to Cullendulla Creek where the group followed the shore line and then on a track through Casuarina trees where at this time of year there is a blooming of Dendrobium teretifolia orchids (otherwise known as Rat’s tail, Pencil or Bridal Veil Orchids).  They are known as epiphytes – a plant which grows on another plant – and mostly grow on Casuarina tree trunks along creeks/rivers often near mangrove areas.  This year was noted by regular locals as the best year ever seen for these orchids on this walk.

The track follows Cullendulla Creek and led the group to a small wharf to sit and enjoy lunch before heading back with the unusual sighting of four Pied Oyster Catchers on the opposite shore.  The group then made their return up to the car park, finishing a well enjoyed walk by one and all.

Joan and Bob