Thursday 31 January 2019
Photos by Erika and Mary
Monday 14 January 2019
Photos by Erika and Mary
Sunday 2 December 2018
Photos by Carol and Helen
The Christmas luncheon to celebrate the end of another great walking year was held at the The Gardens Cafe in the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens. It was lovely to see so many of our members and especially older walkers keen to catch up with friends and review the year’s walking and camping activities.
Thursday 29 November 2018
Photos by Ainslie, Donna, Joan and Mary
What a surprise it was for me to see far more flowers now in summer than we have seen in spring. We only saw a few Xmas Bells which demanded attention with their bright red and yellow colours. There were masses of Teatree with large pink flowers, and along the tracksides clusters of Slender Yellow-Eye. It was one of three species not in our record of plants collected on Little Forest Plateau for the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens. The other two were Callicoma serratifolia or Black Wattler, tucked down in a gully among the rocks where we had our lunch while gazing out at the marvellous view of the Budawangs. Pigeonhouse and The Castle dominated the skyline.
The third previously uncollected species here was the Grasstree, which had tiny white flowers all up their tall spikes. After all the rain the previous day, we had to walk around numerous puddles on the sandy track, with one offering a clear view of frogs mating.
We had a sunny afternoon with wonderful views, and enjoyed that of the whole coast from Pointer Gap Lookout.
Ainslie
Tuesday 27 November 2018
Photos by Ian
Sunday 18 – Saturday 24 November 2018
The second club camp for the Spring quarter was held at Smiggin Hole, Koszciusko National Park in the beautifully situated and equipped Gunuma Lodge. Our host for the week Wal, made us welcome and assisted with local knowledge and the smooth running of the lodge, making our stay one to remember with great pleasure.
Dead Horse Gap and Valley walk.
Stilwell Walk
Porcupine Rocks.
Rainbow Lake
Island Bend
Illawong
Gunuma and around.
Photos by Ainslie, Amanda, Brian, Donna and Mary
Wednesday 21 November 2018
Photos by Helen
Seven walkers met at Barlings Beach where Mark led us on a 9.5 km walk through old Banksia groves, along beautiful clifftop paths and beaches to Guerilla Bay and back.
Long Nose Point and Burrewarra Point provided excellent views of the rocky coastline and bays and despite the cloudy day the spring flowers made a good show including Blueberry Ash, daisies and fan flowers. Plenty of birdlife and an Echidna enjoyed the sanctuary of the wildlife refuge on private land.
Our only complaint was the humidity prior to the cool change making the hills appear higher and longer!
Helen
Sunday 18 November 2018
Photos by Carol
There were 17 of Batemans Bay Bushwalkers finest (age range 51 to 85) ably led by Jill to explore the very well established Eurobodalla Botanic Gardens.
Seven kilometres of tracks showed off the interesting pathways lined with clear, clean notices advising the type of plants and areas of the Gardens. The variety of local bush and tree varieties gives a clear picture of the type of forest finery to be found in the seaward side of the ranges and includes such sections as a unique type of forest known as Riparian to be found only by creeks ; flowers such as the green bush orchid (currently in flower) on a low old tree stump; wattles and water plants plus the variety of eucalyptus trees in the Arboretum where in 1993 a Eucalyptus was planted and proudly grows donated by the Batemans Bay Bushwalkers in that year. The meandering paths produced a delightful shady walk on a day of weather to be enjoyed.
Many spots are to be found for morning tea and lunch and members retired to the well catered cafe for coffee etc. and looked at the Gardens exhibition centre and plant nursery. There is also a very well set up children’s playground with attractive barbecue facilities. A day to be enjoyed at any time by anybody.
Bob
Thursday 15 November 2018
Photos by Helen and Philip
From the start point, and with the imminent possibility of rain, our group of nine walked a short distance along Mt Agony Road before turning off and passing through “The Secret Door” (the beginning of an unused and very overgrown CPT road). After passing through the initial overgrown section we emerged onto a more defined track, which lead us to the aptly named Spotted Gum Road.
The rain that threatened at the beginning of the walk was now forgotten as we followed Spotted Gum Road for some distance and then turned onto an intersecting fire trail. The leaf littered trail meandered through the tall spotted gum forest for several kilometres, affording us beautiful views of green gullies with their large variety of understorey vegetation. We could hear the call of lyrebirds and some were lucky enough to glimpse one now and then.
At the end of the fire trail we came again to Mt Agony Road, which we crossed and continued on to another fairly short CPT road. This road ended at a clearing where we commenced a more challenging, untracked section that lead us down to an area of rocky outcrops adorned with moss and orchids. Unfortunately the rock orchids were not flowering, however a few orchids on old stumps and overhanging branches were in flower. We stopped at this lovely, tranquil location for lunch.
After lunch we carried on down the slope into a densely vegetated gully, crossed the dry creek bed and climbed up the other side to intersect with the Discovery Walking Trail. We followed part of the Discovery Trail to its junction with the Durras Lake Walking Trail. Turning on to Durras Lake Trail we followed it along the lake shore, stopping at one point to admire a pair of Glossy Black-Cockatoos, and finally emerging at the start point of the walk.
Everyone in the group agreed that this 16 km ‘loop’ walk in the Murramarang National Park was an enjoyable and diverse walking experience.
Philip
Saturday 10 November 2018
Photos by Denise and Donna
It was a balmy Spring morning as 13 Batemans Bay bushwalkers set out on a 6.5 kilometre walk from Candlagan Creek. Those sentiments were obviously shared by Broulee residents and holiday makers as many children ran and splashed at the waters edge, others dug energetically in the sand and their parents took time to rest watchfully. Further out about 20 surfers waited patiently, legs dangling either side of their boards, becalmed on the serene ocean.
Bev, the walk leader took the group of hikers along coastal tracks, through Casuarina forests and along the southern banks of the Tomaga River. Many birds were vocal and a pair of striated pardalote were spotted by one keen eyed walker. These birds are normally found high in tree tops but, had ventured down to feed in lower branches. Spring flowers were in abundance both in local gardens and the adjacent bushlands, dianella, cymbidium suave and the ingenious trigger plant were some of the species identified.
There is an interesting video clip from the Melbourne Botanical Gardens that can be found by Googling trigger plant, the presentation explains the reason for the plant’s common name. It makes you wonder how plants come up with such unique and strategic solutions to pollination when supposedly they can’t think.
The crystal clear water had walkers trying to spy marine life on the bottom of the river and creek, it also enticing kayakers out in numbers.
It was such a “good to be alive experience” that after the walk, many of the group decided to stay for lunch.
Denise