BATEMANS BAY BUSHWALKERS INC.

Monday 22 – Thursday 25 October 2018

Participants Mary, Rob, Philip, Karen, Lyn, Ian, Donna, Bronwyn and leader Barry starting out to walk from Ben Boyd Tower to Saltwater creek camp site.

Photos by Karen and Mary

9 Batemans Bay Bushwalkers enjoyed walking the 32 km Light to Light Track in Ben Boyd National Park over 2 days.

We set up camp at Saltwater Creek and spent the first evening fending off hungry kangaroos, possums and goannas.  Despite our best efforts they got a block of chocolate, several muffins and some onions.

Day 1 started at Boyd Tower on the southern most tip of Twofold Bay, near Eden.  From the lookout there we first saw the palette of colours peculiar to this coast – the deep blue sea edged with foaming white surf, and red, pink and mauve rocks fringed by deep green vegetation.

Approaching Ben Boyd Tower.

Looking back at Ben Boyd Tower in the distance.

The track undulates south over headlands covered in tea tree forest, and through rocky bays and sandy beaches.  We stopped many times to watch the passing parade of whales migrating south.

Rob, Ian, Barry and Bronwyn.

The palette of colours.

Donna on headland rocks.

Karen and Lyn whale watching.

The group watching the whales.

Ian and Rob admire the colour and formation of the rocks.

The weather was a little humid, and we were pleased to complete our 14 km walk at Saltwater Creek Beach mid afternoon, so there was plenty of time for a dip in the creek, or a shower back at camp.

Goanna visitor.

Bittangabee Bay.

Looking down at Mowarry Beach.

Morning tea at Leatherjacket Bay.

Day 2 dawned much cooler, and perfect for our 18 km walk south to Greencape Lighthouse. Today the walk was a little flatter and passed through a variety of scenery.  As well as the dramatic and rugged red siltstone coastal geology, we walked through low scrubby heath festooned with Spring wildflowers, and tall eucalypt forests.

The group and reflections.

Leaving the frogs to enjoy their pools in peace.

Ian finds a frog amongst the pool rocks.

Karen and Ian on a shady part of the track.

Donna, Karen and Bronwyn on the track.

Yet another small creek to cross.

We spotted frogs at the creek crossings, and enjoyed a break at the serene safe harbour of Bittangabee Bay.  And did I mention the whales??

Lunch on the rocks.

Destination in sight.

Green Cape Lighthouse.

The lookout at Green Cape Lighthouse,

In addition to the scenery and abundant wildlife, the walk passes a number of European historic sites – Boyd Tower, Bittangabee storehouse and tramway, the Ly-ee-Moon shipwreck graveyard, and Green Cape Lighthouse.

Heathland to the sea.

Camp fire and stories.

Back around the campfire that evening, we thanked Barry for organising the camp and leading the walk – a most enjoyable excursion.

Karen

Wednesday 24 October 2018

Susan, Lesley, Jane, Bob and Len.

Len leading the way.

Beach ‘sculptures’.

Photos by Carol

On an overcast day six bushwalkers started from Pebbly Beach and began a climb up through the Murramarang National Park. When we reached a flat section we detoured off the track to Clear Point, a scenic area of ocean views with mountain scenes in the background. After a short stop we continued back along the track with numerous steps and steep inclines, spotting Cabbage Tree Palms (Livistona Australia) and purple Flag plants in flower. Eventually we reached Snake Bay where we scrambled over rocks to find a place to sit and have lunch while we watched the rough ocean waves.

On our way back to the cars we were lucky to spot three Lyre Birds who we heard calling in the forest. As usual we all enjoyed the day out in the bush.

Carol

Sunday 21 October 2018

First crossing – still pretty dry after the rain.

Leader Mary and Denise at second crossing.

Denise appreciating a huge Snake Orchid (Cymbidium suave) growing in dead tree.

Third crossing, remaining bridge over still dry crossing.

Karen and Cymbidium Suave.

Walking in the creek bed.

Photos by Denise and Karen

After rain the night before and a weather man’s prediction of afternoon showers to come, six bushwalkers strode out early. Forestry tracks and fire trails made up most of the 10 kilometre hike around Ryans Creek, the group crossing the water course three times in both State Forest and National Park.

The leaves of the understorey were still wet with droplets glistening in the sunshine, a pleasant sight after so many dry and dusty walks of late. There were even some puddles of water to be found both in the creek bed and filling up small dips in the surrounding bushland. This obviously met with the approval of birdlife as, they sang loudly from tree tops.

The first signs of spring were evidenced with many varieties of yellow pea flowers blossoming along the trails. Walkers found the damp bushland refreshing and uplifting after such a dry stretch. The forecasted showers never did eventuate.

Thank you Mary & Stan Marchant for such an enjoyable experience.

Denise

Thursday 18 October 2018

Rob, Barry, Philip and Karen enjoy morning tea in the sun.

Karen and Philip heading onto a side track.

Leader Karen on the edge of the creek.

Karen followed by Amanda and Philip leads the way up out of one of the creek crossings.

Philip performs ‘spot and pick off’ the leeches of which there were many.

A moss covered felled log with full length split aroused the interest of walkers.

Photos by Karen and Mary

The object of today’s walk was to explore the country west of Turlinjah between the Princes Highway and Little Sugarloaf Road.  This is the Moruya State Forest and also the headwaters of Coila Creek, which eventually flows into Coila Lake.  There are no marked bushwalks out there, but there are a lot of forestry access roads along the ridges, and trail bike tracks crisscrossing the gullies.  To make a walk, Batemans Bay Bushwalkers string together a series of these tracks, sometimes with a bit of bushbashing or creek walking, to form a circuit.  This is how we develop most of our walks because there are very few marked bushwalks in the Eurobodalla Shire.

It was a humid 14 km through some very hilly country.  The stretch along Coila Creek was really enjoyable, especially after the rains.  There are also a number of Sydney Red Gums (Angophora costata), growing along the ridges – not a common tree in our area, so special when you find several stands of them.

Karen

Tuesday 16 October 2018

Morning tea on one of many sandy beaches.

Bob, Lyn and Ian.

Karen and Ian avoid a sandbank.

Leader Ian ‘just cruising’.

Giving meaning to ‘laid back’. Seal just floating around.

Photos by Mary

Saturday 13 October 2018

Leader Liz stops to look at a pictorial track sign.

Another track sign.

And another.

Morning tea by the shore of the Inlet. Val, Stephanie, Lesley, Karen, Pat, Karen, Ed, Karen, Liz and Ros.

A ‘Lobster’ points the way.

Karen x two, Lesley and Heather admire the trees and view.

A ‘Pelican’ to guide us on our way.

John, Lesley, Ros, Karen and Liz.

Large fig dwarfs walkers.

Oyster leases being tended on the calm inlet.

Karen takes shelter to eat lunch.

Photos by Karen and Mary

We set out on the 13th day of the month with 13 walkers on our first walk as leaders with high hopes for a great walk and to bring you all home safely and what a great day we had.

The weather as usual was always going to be a unknown but it never dampened our spirits. Great walking along the bitumen and on to the the track for our morning tea stop at Shell Point looking back across the water to Narooma. Lots of amazing spotted gum, grey iron bark and coast grey box and lots of healthy burrawangs. Seeing the oyster leases and the stories of Ringlands Farm, Ringlands Bay and Ringlands Point; a glimpse into how things where done in the 1880’s to the regattas and the Sunday school picnics  in the 1930’s what a day out that would have been.

After working up a healthy appetite lunch was at Picnic Point a lovely open clearing. Time to don the wet weather gear as the rain began to fall for the last part of our walk.

We saved the best till last with a lovely wander through the rain forest with the huge birds nest ferns in the trees and the amazing strangler figs and the giant stinger trees and back up the track to our cars. Just in time to beat the rain.

To our other 11 walkers thank you for making our day so memorable and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Ros and Liz

Sunday 7 October 2018

Bridget, Donna and leader Betty.

A rare flat track on this walk.

Donna, Tom, James, Bridget, Gay and leader Betty morning tea.

Rob, Barbara and Sharon relax at morning tea.

The sign says it all.

One of many hills ahead.

What went down had to go up!

Betty and Tom on the climb up.

A drink and a pause after yet another hill.

The hill Betty did not have us climb!

Photos by Helen and Mary

They say ‘Forewarned is Forearmed’ and so 11 hikers set off on a Betty 11km hike that promised “walking around some fairly steep hills south of Batemans Bay”. True to her word this was a tough hike on some long steep hills but the views from the top were spectacular. We all agreed that few of us had seen the township from these vantage points which made the slog all the more rewarding. Betty said she added a 2km section to the hike to avoid one extremely steep hill climb which she showed us from the top looking down. The photos will hopefully do justice to the climb we didn’t have to do. The hike ended close to the Batemans Bay Cemetery which drew obvious black humour comments from a group of very tired walkers.  We all agreed this was a good workout and worth the effort. Well done to Betty for such an interesting, yet tough walk.

Rob

Thursday 4 October 2018

Cancelled due to weather.