Thursday 27 June 2019

Gathering on the beach

Beautiful Long Beach coastline

Rest log

Photos by Carol & Donna

Thirteen Batemans Bay Bushwalkers set out on a 6 km circuit from Long Beach at low tide, to walk to Maloney’s Beach and back.  The group headed north along the sand and thence around the base of the headlands.

The rocks there have, from past geological activities, formed into small sharp, vertical shafts that require a steady balance and the careful placement of feet to avoid mishaps.  The group was fortunate and all traversed the area intact.

Walkers then climbed a narrow track, well worn by locals, to the cliff top and there enjoyed coastal views and some interesting beach house architecture that was the main topic of conversation on their return journey.

Denise

Saturday 22 June 2019

Judith and Jill on O’Hara Head track

The crowd on Snapper Point

Photo by Jan

This was an unusual bush walk because we did one small walk around O’Hara Head at Kioloa to start, then drove to a second walk starting at Pretty Beach.

The O’Hara Head Walking Track took us from the Kioloa boat ramp up to our morning tea stop.  From this vantage point we had magnificent views of Kioloa Beach with a huge sea crashing on the rocks below.  We continued around the well-marked track through the bush back to the cars.

From Merry Beach we walked the back way to Pretty Beach and continued after lunch, up to the Snapper Point Lookout where we enjoyed the expansive views of the coast looking south.   We continued along the cliff track then down many steps to the platform overlooking the rock shelf and the magnificent cliffs.

After the walk most of the 24 walkers gathered for afternoon tea at the Merry Beach Café.

Jill

Wednesday 19 June 2019

Walking up Bolaro Mountain

Bolaro Mountain views

Convict built stone road retainer

New bridge to replace the rotten one encountered last time

Photos by Amanda and Helen

There was frost in the air as twelve bushwalkers set out early from Batemans Bay to traverse the top ridge of Bolaro Mountain south-west of Nelligen. And there was real frost on the grass where we parked the cars near the Bolaro Homestead on Haans Road deep in the Buckenbowra State Forest.

The early climb to the north along the Bolaro Mountain Fire trail was rewarded by magnificently clear views from the summit ridge. To the North Pigeon House and The Castle were clearly visible, and the Ocean sparkled to the East. Although the forest in the area has been logged, there remain magnificent specimens of White Mountain Ash among the mossy covered granite boulders that outcrop beside the track. In other areas large Burrawangs flourished and, although they were heard calling, the Lyre Birds and Black Cockatoos proved elusive. However, the lucky drivers on the car shuffle did spot one frightened lyrebird scrambling off the road. Bush tucker was provided by wild raspberries (Rubus Rosifolia) spotted beside the track, while lower down the slopes stinging trees beside the track warned the walkers off straying too far into the forests.

The route down followed an old convict constructed track, which once linked with the Corn Trail to act as the key route for grain transport grains from the productive Buckenbowra farming area to the goldfields around Braidwood. After a long descent, the walk ended with a pleasant tramp through pastures in the valley, where a herd of lively Herefords seemed to expect us to deliver feed. By mid-afternoon, when the walk ended, the frosts had melted and everyone was tired and warm after their fifteen kilometre trek through beautiful forest bush. Everyone agreed there could be no better way to pass a clear winter day.

Rodney

Thursday 13 June 2019

Circumnavigating Broulee Island

Tony on the rocks – shaken but not stirred!

Low tide on the Island rock platforms

On top of the Island

Historic Grave of Elizabeth Malebar

Deciphering the Grave inscription

Photos by Donna

Twelve walkers joined Bev for a lovely day walking around Broulee Island in search of the historic grave of Elizabeth Malebar.  The walk commenced at Broulee Surf Club and made its way around the island.  After a morning tea stop, we made our way up the short climb onto the island proper.  Parts of the island are very overgrown however the excellent navigational skills of Bev ensured that the grave was promptly located.

Elizabeth Malebar was the wife of Abraham Malebar who moved produce on punts down the Moruya River to ships anchored in Broulee harbor.  The grave consists of a sandstone headstone and a sandstone footstone.  It is surrounded by a chain link fence which was erected by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in 1972.  The grave has regional significance as it is one of only a few known graves of its age in the South Coast region. It is the only marked grave on the island.  The inscription reads ‘Sacred to the memory, Elizabeth Malebar, died 27 June 1842, aged 45 years.  Wife of Abraham Malebar.’

Due to being the only harbor used between Wollongong and Eden, Broulee Island was quite the hub.  About a year prior to Elizabeth’s death, the Erin Go Bragh Inn (meaning Ireland Forever) was built on the island.  In the 1850’s, after the gold rush period, the number of residents in Broulee reduced significantly so the inn was disassembled and rebuilt in Moruya.  It was purchased by Abraham Emmott in 1859 and named Merlyn House.  It was used as a residence for over 100 years but was unfortunately demolished in 1978 to make way for new buildings.

After circumnavigating the top of the island we had a lovely lunch on north Broulee beach and returned to the Surf Club.  The history of Broulee Island is an interesting and historical one and it was a pleasure to be able to spend some quality time there which everyone enjoyed.

Donna

Saturday 8 June 2019

Bush bashing down the slope

Some big trees

Approaching the creek

Logging as it used to be done

Photos by Karen

This was another enlightening forest walk led by Ian, this time through the forests west of Termeil.  We started on Middle Ridge Road and walked the historic Old Coach Road northward and up hill to Boyne Trig.  From there are views east towards the Tabourie on the coast.  On the way we saw some yellow bellied glider feeder trees, turpentines, blue gums, yellow stringybarks and mountain grey gums.

Ian’s trademark is a good long section of no track exploring, so we then left the road, and headed down a ridge through bush.  It was quite steep and we encountered a few rocky shelves hiding recently flowering orchids.  We stopped at the bottom next to a creek for lunch, and then returned through more forests, some recently logged, some logged long ago, to the cars.  On checking the GPS we found we had clocked 14 kms.  Thanks Ian.

Karen

We found several outcrops of delicate white fungus in the Monga Rainforests on our walk with Ian on Saturday 25 May.  They were very small, porcelain white and had a divided cap, like petals of a flower.  Helen took these remarkable photos and has done some research to identify the fungus.

She’s thinking Humidicutis mavis. Caps to 50mm. “Resembles a white form of H.lewellinae and exhibits the same type of gill-splitting as the cap expands. Usually found in rainforest.”

Humidicutis mavis (we think)

Picture Helen sprawled on the forest floor to get this shot

Wednesday 5 June 2019

Comans Mine Track

Barry at the dam wall

Group at the Stamper

Tony above one of the deep shafts

Long well made mining tunnel

Just what cricket needs – bats

Ian at the cross tunnel

Barry emerging from tunnel

Roadside python

Downtown Nerrigundah

Photos by Ian, Barry, Helen & Karen

Twelve Batemans Bay Bushwalkers had a trip out to Nerrigundah in the week to take a walk around the historical sites.

Alluvial gold was found in the area during the 1860’s, starting a gold rush. The short return walk to Coman’s mine, which was opened in the 1880’s, did not disappoint us with plenty of relics to investigate including the impressive stamper battery, tram line rails and other artefacts.

After donning our head torches, our leader Barry took us to investigate a nearby mine tunnel and we “enjoyed” close encounters with the resident microbats.

After lunch on Mount Coman we carefully checked out several mine shafts nearby. As we returned to the forest road Ian taught how to distinguish various species of tree and a sleeping python was spotted in the afternoon sunshine.

To complete the history lesson, we convoyed with a logging truck to Nerrigundah CBD to view the memorial to Miles O’Grady, the policeman who lost his life to the Clark Gang bushrangers during their robbery spree in April 1886, and then on to the site of the Chinese pig roast oven.

Thanks for an excellent informative day out.

Helen

Sunday 2 June 2109

Up to our waists in Lomandra

Jane under a spreading Swamp Mahogany tree

From Burrewarra Point south

Secluded cove

Jimmys Island

Photos by Carol & Karen

17 keen bushwalkers set out to to do this lovely walk on a sunny Sunday morning. Starting at Burrewarra Point we walked through the amazing banksias and Port Jackson pines, stopping along the way to look at the concrete Nissan Hut used by the Australian Airforce during World War 2. Lots of lovely viewing spots looking north on the way to the Lighthouse and Trig Point, and after rounding the point, more views to the south to Mt Dromedary on the far horizon.

Leaving the coastline behind us, we wandered behind the houses and headed down to the beach. Guerrilla Bay was quite a sight with lots of turbulent water. Added to our adventure was some rock scrambling and a enjoyable stop at Nudies Beach. Nuns Beach was another lovely secluded cove and a great place to see how far we had come around the coastline from the Lighthouse.

Some more rock scrambling as we passed by Jimmys Island on the way to Rosedale Beach. Leaving Rosedale at the southern end of the beach we headed up the steps to get a closer look at the Nuns Retreat. There are some lovely properties in this area including our very own Fiona Lodge (a retreat for people suffering terminal illness and their families). Back down onto the beach for our lunch stop . One last wander through the bush enjoying this beautiful coast and retracing our steps that will lead us back to Guerilla Bay.

Thank you to you all for coming – it was great to meet some people we hadn’t met before and to catch up with those that we hadn’t seen for awhile. Thanks also to Karen for your guidance and support. We look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Liz

Thursday 30 May 2019

Uphill through the forest

Pebbly Beach

The welcoming committee at Pebbly

Heading back to Depot along the coast

Those amazing rock platforms

Low tide on the Murramarang Coast

Photos by Erika & Philip

The morning greeted us with calm and sunny weather, nothing like the previous few windy days.

From the start at Depot Beach carpark our large group walked a short distance up Depot Beach Road before turning onto a rough bush track. After walking about 600m uphill through the bush we emerged onto Parkview Road, a good gravel road which we followed through the forest to the junction with Mount Agony Road.

Turning onto Mount Agony Road we followed it all the way down to Pebbly Beach, where we took the opportunity to stop for morning tea and take in the tranquil scene. As we walked onto the beach after morning tea we were approached by a large group of kangaroos looking for an easy snack. Clearly there are many visitors to the beach who ignore the “do not feed the animals” signs.

Heading south along the beach we soon came to the extensive rock platforms and the pebbly section of beach that gives Pebbly Beach its name. Having coordinated the walk with low tide we were able to enjoy the often hidden beauty of the water sculptured rocks, crevices and clear pools.

Our meander along the beach and rock platforms soon lead us back to Depot Beach, where we finished the walk with lunch at a picnic table overlooking the sea.

Erika & Philip

Saturday 25 May 2019

The group dwarfed by a giant pinkwood with an arch base

Another huge Pinkwood

Lunch under the tree ferns

Helen, Donna, Simeon & Tracey

One of the giant Brown Barrels

Hurdling another fallen tree

Photos by Ian, Simon & Karen

Ian led eight Batemans Bay Bushwalkers to a rarely visited and difficult to access part of Monga National Park rainforest. The 8.5 km walk took members through areas of White Ash forest, where long strands of bark shed by these trees meshed together with bracken, fallen branches and thorny vines to make progress very slow.

The effort was rewarded when the forest floor opened out to reveal a lower canopy thick with tree ferns, rocks and logs covered by mosses, ferns and fungi.  All of this, towered over by huge Pinkwood trees and Brown Barrel eucalypts.

The  walkers found that most body parts ached at the end of the day, but the magical memories will linger long after the pain has subsided.

Denise