Thursday 22 June 2017

Peering into mine shaft

Fungus gardens

Overgrown track

Crossing the creek

Lawlers Creek

Photos by Karen M

We have two bushwalking clubs in the Eurobodalla Shire – Batemans Bay Bushwalkers to the north and Dalmeny Narooma Bushwalkers to the south.  This week both groups combined to do a joint 10 km walk in the Bodalla State Forest west of Dalmeny.  The walk was originally explored by the Dalmeny Narooma Club and they did a great job putting together a circuit through some pretty wild country.

We followed old and overgrown trails through lush vegetation to some abandoned mine sites, now well hidden among the tangles of fallen trees and water vine.  Along the way we climbed to the top of a ridge and enjoyed morning tea amongst tumbles of rocky outcrops.  We managed to stay dry on the two creek crossings and ended up following a rapidly disappearing trail beside a creek, enjoying the towering river peppermints and swamp mahoganys with an understorey of tree ferns and ground ferns.  In the dappled winter sunlight it was a perfect finish to a varied walk with great company.

Thanks to Rob for liaising with the Narooma group and leading us on this very interesting journey.

Karen M