Sunday 11 August 2019
Photos by Karen & Rodney
The tracks in and around the South Durras area and through Murramarang National Park have been “regulars” on the Club’s walk calendar for many years, and the recent 15 km walk demonstrated once again what this area has to offer.
Starting at the ocean boat ramp the 12 walkers headed north to Murramarang Beach, then west through open forest to the shore of the lake at Punt Arm. This arm of the lake has an important link to the timber industry of the late 1800s, as it was here that large logs cut from the surrounding forest, were loaded onto steam driven punts to be transported around to the boat ramp near the mouth of the lake.
From here we headed south, then east onto part of the old Benandarah Road arriving at the back door of Durras. Within a few minutes we were back walking through the spotted gum forest heading to Dark Beach where, on the rocky outcrop you can see direct evidence of volcanic action. The sand on Dark Beach is dark because many volcanic minerals and rocks are dark coloured. It is interesting to note that the next beach has white sand. Any one interested in geology will find that the Murramarang area has much to offer.
After lunch we headed to Emily Miller Beach, named after a ship wrecked nearby in 1879, and then to the start of the Wasp Head track, where we quickly exited down onto the rock platform. However it wasn’t long before the high seas saw our leader searching for Plan B! So, with feet on one wall of rock and bottom and hands on the other, we shimmied our way up to higher ground. Then it was just a matter of continuing around the Wasp Head rock platform, another interesting geologic area, to Mill Point where an old rusty boiler reminds us of the Timber Mill that once stood here. The final short stretch of beach walking returned us to our cars.
Mary