Wednesday 18 March, 2026
Photos courtesy of Rob and Amanda. Walk report by Walk Leader Ian.
The Monga State Conservation Area of 1,009 hectares lies to the north of the Kings Highway. South Coasters can see it to the right as you approach Braidwood past the Northangera intersection to Mongarlowe. It is an isolated part of the Monga National Park system.
On a cloudy mild day, eight BBBW walkers explored the open tablelands forest dominating this area. The front gate where the main fire trail enters the land welcomed us with a friendly sign “Don’t pat the wombats”.
We walked 13 km, mostly along fire trails to avoid the fire regrowth in the east. Along the way there was strong evidence of a recent wildfire obviously attended at the time by fire fighter crews and a bulldozer to contain the blaze.
The 5 km across country in the western half was most enjoyable with almost no understorey, some grassy sections, and all under a shady forest. It was very pleasant walking.
We climbed to Narranghi Trig (841m asl) but the view west toward Braidwood was obscured by trees. From its descent northward we encountered the remains of old car dumping, one wreck a belt driven Kawasaki “chopper” motorcycle which must have been a lot of fun for the rider among the fire trails in the area.
Although there is little of spectacular note in the area, we recorded eight eucalypt species – E sieberi, E radiata, E dives, E cypellocarpa, E fastigata, E pauciflora, E viminalis and E obliqua.
We visited an old “homestead” site by a sizeable pond of water, long abandoned by the original lessee. We lunched on the grass among remnant fruit trees and giant old Pinus radiata. Afterward, a leech picking frenzy initiated a fast return to the ridges. But Rob takes the top prize for dropping three big, fat ones on our return to Korner Park.
It was a pleasant change to walk across undulating country through open unburnt forest!