Wednesday 16 April 2025

Crossing the Shoalhaven River

Leader Gavin hoping the wedged rock doesn’t decide to move

Making our way through the slot canyon

Rob checking out the marble and limestone formations

Glenn emerging from Marble Arch

Foot soak after 12 klms

Forging through

The fun begins

Through the tunnel

Photos courtesy of Amanda, DonnaG, Gavin and Denise. Walk report courtesy of Walk Leaders Gavin and Denise.

Eight walkers left from the Berlang Campground in the Deua National Park on a glorious autumn day. The first obstacle was the Shoalhaven River which was less than knee deep and not too cold. We left our water shoes on the other side and continued onto Big Hole. The track was well formed and passed through tall eucalypts. Once we climbed to the ridge the track levelled out and the canopy became more stunted.

A warning sign heralds the ‘Big Hole’ which is 100 metres deep and approximately 50 metres radius. Those who had done the walk before commented on the sparkling new viewing platform.

From here the track became less distinct and meandered up and down until reaching the edge of the Reedy Creek Gorge. A very steep decent of 150 metres on dodgy steps dropped us into Reedy Creek and the opening to the magical Marble Arch Caves. Water prevented us from passing right through the gorge, but the caves and the gorge itself were spectacular.

Returning the way we came rounded out a 12 kilometre walk and a special day.

Sunday 13 April 2025

Spotted Gum

Keep your powder dry

Morning Tea

Rocks and Reflections

Tree ferns

Philip with the tree

No Yabbies!

Walk Leader Donna about to lead us into the leafy gully

Ian and Deb discussing trees

Group Shot – magnificent tree

Photos courtesy of Erika, Philip, Martin, Helen, Amanda and DonnaG.
Walk report courtesy of Walk Leader DonnaG.

Ten walkers headed off into the Bodalla State Forest for a new walk called Stony Creek Ramble. This hike starts from Big Rock Road and heads down a steep old disused bike track to Stony Creek, although there were some mutterings heard from down the back comparing it to a wallaby track rather than a bike track! We arrived in a dry part of the creek and headed up the other side, joining a network of bike tracks and trails before dropping back into the creek where there downed trees and large water puddles made for some creative attempts at avoiding the dreaded wet hiking boots.

Once out of the creek we had morning tea before heading along an old logging road and descending down an off track section back into the creek from the west. This section of the creek was clear, wide and reasonably dry with someone even comparing it to an old Roman road. The banks were open with beautiful tree ferns and spotted gums along the way. There were lots of photo opportunities in this spectacular part of the forest so we took our time enjoying the surroundings. We visited a spectacular massive spotted gum which was obviously very old although none of us could come to a consensus as to what its age could be, other than very old. We also inspected quite tall stumps that were the remnants from logging operations that pre dated chainsaws. All of the stumps each had three notches that were used by loggers to climb the trees. The notches gave the stumps the appearance of having faces and Phil couldn’t resist checking one of the faces out up close and personal.

We continued along the dry creek bed before making our way uphill to our lunch spot and then back to the cars. Everyone agreed that this new walk was a ripper and one that we would all like to see back on the program in the future.

Thursday 10 April 2025

Group at the start

Potato Point Creek

Potato Point Lake

Gathered by the water

Walkers having morning tea with a feathered hopeful.

Follow your Leader

Feed me Mum

Morning Tea by the water

Are we there yet?

Leisurely stroll

Photos courtesy of PeterT, KarenM and KarenG, Helen, Martin and MaryT.    Walk report courtesy Walk Leader PeterT.

Eighteen bushwalkers joined the leader for a delightful stroll next to Potato Creek and past the caravan park. A short beach walk and a stumbley climb up an embankment created by recent high tides, led the group onto the flattened sand dunes, heading for the shores of Tuross Inlet. The leader, not quite remembering the way across the sand flats, had the group zigzagging to the lake’s shore for a well-deserved morning tea break.

Somewhat rejuvenated, the group visited a few more bays with striking views across the river mouth before heading back on the circuit. There was one large hill—no, actually two—as the group strolled through the Spotted Gum and Burrawang Forest on their way home. Lunch was enjoyed on the beach before a short walk at low tide brought the group back to the cars.

The weather was perfect, with a gentle breeze and a mild temperature of 24°C, making it a truly pleasant walk.
Thanks to everyone who joined the leader on this picturesque walk.

Saturday 5 April 2025

Walkers at low tide on the Munjip Trail

The view looking south

Gay and Bob mucking around

Rockhopping over the recently scoured Denhams Beach

Rocks between Denhams and Surf Beach

Photos courtesy of MaryT and KarenM.    Walk report courtesy Walk leader MaryT.

18 members enjoyed a morning walk along a section of the new Munjip Track. The magnificent weather and stunning views from the headland trails were contrasted by the beach walking at low tide. Fortunately the recent heavy rains had not impacted the track sections of the trail. However, the rough seas and high winds have left several beaches denuded of sand exposing rocks which are normally well hidden and dumped copious amounts of seaweed along the shores, both of which provided challenges in their own way. This 6 km section of the well signposted Munjip Track is a definitely walk that we should have on the club’s program.

Saturday 22 March 2025

Lake View

On the march

Lunch on the log

Photos courtesy of Rodney. Walk report courtesy walk leader Rodney.

This relatively short 5.5km walk started late in the morning at the Durras Lake Boat Ramp. The kangaroos scattered in all directions as thirteen walkers headed out of the village on the firebreak behind the houses, up to Fern Drive and then on to Durras Lake via the old tip site and disused gravel quarry area. Some very light rain cooled the group down as they climbed the narrow and sometimes steep track through the old quarry workings. They observed the new casuarina plantings on the old tip site and the secondary forest growth through much of the heavily logged areas.

Then followed a pleasant walk along the ridge top to Punt Arm and lunch by the Lake, as promised. The sun came out for the return journey at a lower level through some of the remaining original forest on the edge of the Durras Lake Wetlands, where some impressive swamp gums are still standing. During one brief stop on the return leg we realised that more than half the group were octogenarians. That, we felt, was quite an endorsement of bushwalking for fitness!

Saturday 8 March 2025

The Crew on the break

Fig Trees

A view through the mangroves

The group press on.

Photos courtesy of Peter and MaryT. Walk report courtesy of Walk leaders Ed and KarenG.

Twelve member walkers and two visitors made an early start to the drive to the Ringlands Narooma Circuit: a pretty and varied walk, popular with club. The walk began with a 1.5 kilometre trudge up Flying Fox Road until turning off to amble along the waters edge of Wagonga Inlet from Shell Point to Flying Fox Bay.

Our walk was mostly uneventful except we did attract the attention of two fenced Maremma dogs, keen to protect their free ranging chickens, prior to leaving the road. While we were enjoying our morning tea a friendly seal started waving to the group. Some of us were a bit surprised at the number of oyster beds along the way, though we were uncertain about whether their number had grown or whether they were simply more visible due to the low tide.

We lunched at Picnic Point on Ringlands Bay, seated on a large fallen log overlooking the waters. By time we reached the small remnant of rainforest with its two large fig trees, we were super glad of the shaded cool it provided. From there it was, thankfully, only a short walk back up to our cars for our tired, but happy walkers.

Thursday 27 February 2025

Ian explains…

Morning Tea 1

Morning Tea2

The crew at Myrtle Beach

Phytology

Relaxing Lunch

Stepping out

The Big Tree

Tree Crown

Twisted Spotty

Photos courtesy of Amanda, Brian, Priya and Lenore. Walk report courtesy of Walk Leader Lenore.

There were 14 keen starters for this walk on this warm, overcast and humid summer day. We made our way along undulating shaded fire trails, some well established and others well disguised. A few small detours were required to get around fallen timbers and overgrown bush. The trail through the coastal spotted gums with their individual forms was beautiful. This lead us onto Myrtle Beach where a few took the opportunity to refresh with a swim in the beautiful ocean.

“Big tree” was impressive with its great girth. This opened the questions to Ian, our forestry guru which enabled a pause for knowledge as well as breath.
I think all were happy to return to the cars at the end of a solid day out, thanks to all.

Wednesday 5 March 2025

Bimberamala crossing on the way back

Bimberamala crossing on the way there

Rusting steam engine in the bush

Rob with the rusting steam engine

The aforementioned lurking in the undergrowth

Gold Stamper Battery

Lunch by the river on the rocks

Portable steam engine

Visitor Peter at the mine

Morning tea history lesson

Photos courtesy of Amanda and Rob.   Walk report courtesy of Walk Leader Rob.

Seven club walkers, including two visitors, did the walk to the Bimberamala Mine on a bright sunny day with welcome low-20’s temperatures.

In 2022 we hiked to the mine and met a 4WD camper at the river crossing who told us about a boiler on the river bank 300m upstream. I planned to visit the Bimberamala Mine and try and find the boiler he described. On Monday 3rd I led an exploratory walk to the river with Donna, Amanda and Lenore to find the boiler. We started on Browns Gully Firetrail and then onto a very overgrown CPT482/1 track before descending to the river and heading downstream. This was a beautiful stretch of the river with river gums, large pools and rocky beaches plus the odd steep cliff scramble. Two kilometres later while stumbling through thick bracken on a river bend Donna spotted the boiler. I was very relieved to make the find as we were all exhausted from the hike and continuous removal of aggressive leeches in the wet vegetation.

I sent some photos of the boiler to a friend at the Moruya Antique Tractor Association who informed me it was not just a boiler but a full steam engine. An internet search revealed a similar model in a museum in England

On our hike today we visited the mine and our visitors were impressed by the cool breeze coming from the Adit (horizontal mine shaft) which I explained came from the vertical mine shafts upslope that the adit intersected. The mine was too wet to explore and the leeches were starting to come out in full force.

We crossed the creek from the mine and saw the abandoned gold stamper battery. This then raised the question – why was the steam engine that would have powered the stamper located almost 1km away on the river itself down a steep track? Mining stopped in 1915 so this is a 100 year old mystery, but here is my hypothesis. We have seen other stampers at remote gold mines which assume were abandoned when the gold ran out and considering their heavy weight were too expensive to cart to another location. The attached picture shows what one of these portable steam engines looked like so being portable could have been pulled back along the track by horses or bullocks. Why they left it on the bank of the river so close (300m) to the road that could have been used to take it back to Nelligen who knows. Today we view the steam engine as a rusting engine whose wheels and flywheel as well as other pieces of the machine were stolen over the last 100 years.

We have mapped the location of the steam engine and it will be added to future walks to the Bimberamala mine.

Sunday 2 March 2025

Morning tea by the lake

Durras Lake

Photos courtesy of KarenM.   Walk report courtesy Walk Leader Glenn.

The group enjoyed a pleasant morning walk following the track beside Durras Lake, stopping for morning tea before going onto the Discovery Trail.
Through the wooden gate and we discovered schools of fish in the little creek. Following the track past Cabbage Tree palms and spotted gums we reached a area with a spectacular view over the gully taking in the trees on the opposite side.
Upon completing the Discovery Trail loop we followed the track back along the lake to the cars. A great start to the day.

Saturday 22 February 2025

Group shot

Judges Beach

Heads-up

Long Beach view

Photos courtesy of BrianM, KarenM. Walk report courtesy of Walk Leader KarenM.

Long Beach to Judges Beach is a 10 km Easy/Medium grade circuit walk. On Saturday the temperature was forecast to be 28 deg C, so we tackled the hills and the forest section first before it got too steamy. However, by the time we reached the coast again at Judges Beach, we were already starting to feel the heat. We took a break on the beach to cool down and then made our way back along the Murramarang South Coast track to the Maloneys Beach trackhead.

The final leg was along Maloneys Beach and under the cliffs at low tide to Long Beach where we were able to enjoy the breeze. Several walkers took advantage of the perfect conditions at Long Beach to have a swim, followed by a picnic lunch in the shade.