Author Archives: stephengdavies908-wa

Darby Beach – Wilsons Promontory National Park

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Wednesday 8/03/2023   Darby Beach

                                            Wilsons Promontory National Park, VICTORIA

                                            GunaiKurnai and Boonwurrung Country

                                    

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies

Darby Beach was meant to be our launch point to link several nearby walks to fill in our afternoon. However, as our arrival at the carpark was met with strong, blustery winds mixed with heavy rain squalls, we decided to sit tight until the squalls passed. An hour or so later we found ourselves unmoved and dosing off during a couple of short sunny interludes. With no changes in sight, we decided just to walk down to Darby Beach for a look.

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Darby Beach Carpark – Tongue Point Track – Fairy Cove – Lookout Rocks – Tongue Point

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Friday 10/03/2023   Darby Beach Carpark – Tongue Point Track – Fairy Cove – Lookout Rocks – Tongue Point

                                     Wilsons Promontory National Park, VICTORIA

                                     GunaiKurnai and Boonwurrung Country

                                    

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies

We departed Darby Beach Carpark at 9:40am, appreciative of it being heavily overcast but for the first time in many days not windy or raining. We had been to Darby Beach on the Wednesday but the weather to too unpleasant for us to be tempted to start out. 

The Tongue Point Track gradually climbs from the carpark to provide a good view of the meanders of “Darby” Creek to the east as it passes through thick heath. After climbing about 90m you pass through a saddle to catch your first glimpse of Tongue Point, immediately you realise this is going to be a very scenic walk.

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North Gardens Campground – Walhalla – Australian Alps Walking Track – Mormon Town Track – Britannia Spur Track – Main Road

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Thursday 2/03/2023   North Gardens Campground – Walhalla – Australian Alps Walking Track – Mormon Town Track – Britannia Spur Track – Main Road 

                                        Walhalla Historic Area, VICTORIA

                                        Gunaikurnai Country

                                    

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies

Wahalla is the starting point for the 680km Australian Alps Walking track which finishes at Tharwa, just outside of Canberra. Maybe we will do it one day but on this trip, we are just sampling eastern Victoria. Walhalla became a boom town in after the discovery of gold in 1862 and today has retained its heritage exceptionally well. Almost all the buildings are historical and there is a great opportunity to gain an understanding of Victoria’s most productive gold mining towns of the time by walking around town and reading the many Parks Victoria historical signs. 

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Charlotte Pass – Snowy River – Carruthers Creek – Mount Sentinel – “The Sentinel” – Strzelecki Creek

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Sunday 19/02/2023   Charlotte Pass – Snowy River – Carruthers Creek – Mount Sentinel – “The Sentinel” – Strzelecki Creek

                                        Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

                                        Ngarigo Country

                                    

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Pablo Ureña Vega

With heatwave conditions currently across Australia, we were pleased to note the local forecast for today was for a 24-degree maximum. Just in case, we got away from Jindabyne early enough to arrive at Charlotte Pass and be underway by 8:50am. There, we were greeted by clear blue skies, 12 degrees with a light breeze making for perfect walking conditions.

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The Monolith – Echo Point – The Gorge – Lake Catani Walking Track

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Wednesday 6/04/2022   Park Office Carpark – Monolith Walk – The Monolith – Echo Point – The Gorge – Lake Catani Walking Track – Lake Catani Campground

                                             Mount Buffalo National Park, VICTORIA

                                             Taungurung Country

                                     

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies

Starting opposite the National Parks Office near Lake Catani, this walk takes you up through the forest towards a huge granite boulder known as The Monolith. Although there is no access to the summit, there is a  great view back towards Lake Catani from its base.

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Mount Buffalo Road (at 700m) – The Big Walk – Mackeys Lookout – Marriott’s Lookout – Reeds Lookout – Wilkinsons Lookout – Pulpit Rock Lookout

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Tuesday 5/04/2022   Mount Buffalo Road (at 700m) – The Big Walk – Mackeys Lookout  – Marriott’s Lookout – Reeds Lookout – Wilkinsons Lookout – Pulpit Rock Lookout – Falls Lookout – Bents Lookout – The Gorge Carpark

                                       Mount Buffalo National Park, VICTORIA

                                       Taungurung Country

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies

With our travelling companions Beth and Pablo needing to head home after lunch, Sue and I grabbed the opportunity to walk The Big Track one way. Pablo having raced over it’s full length on Sunday, suggested we skip the less interesting lower section which we did.

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Spring Creek Sawmill Campground – Lightning Track – Mount Samaria Track – Mount Samaria

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Saturday 28/05/2022   Spring Creek Sawmill Campground – Lightning Track – Mount Samaria Track – Mount Samaria – Mount Samaria Road

                                           Mount Samaria State Park, VICTORIA

                                           Taungurung  Country

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

After completing our Saturday morning parkrun in Euroa, we cleaned up, had breakfast and entrusted Siri to get us to Mount Samaria State Park. We came in from the northern end and found the gravel road to be of good quality, except for a couple of potholes sections which were marked. The road is narrow in sections and could make passing another car rather interesting in a few places.

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Wild Dog Creek Campsite – Wild Dog Creek Falls

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Sunday 29/05/2022   Mount Samaria Road – Summit Link Track – Wild Dog Creek Campsite – Wild Dog Creek Falls

                                        Mount Samaria State Park, VICTORIA

                                        Taungurung Country

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies

The track to Wild Dog Falls starts from a small Carpark on Mount Samaria Road at the bottom of the Mount Samaria Summit Link Track. The forest here is varied and the track is easy to follow. It is only about 800m until you walk into Wild Dog Creek Campsite. This is an excellent campsite with a long drop toilet, two picnic tables and a stone-lined fire pit. A fantastic spot to take anyone to for a very peaceful camp with plenty of shade for warmer weather, however, we didn’t see where you might collect water.

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Cathedral Hump Track Carpark – The Hump – The Leviathon – Torpedo Rock

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Tuesday 5/04/2022   Cathedral Hump Track Carpark – The Hump (1680m) – The Leviathon – Torpedo Rock

                                       Mount Buffalo National Park, VICTORIA

                                       Taungurung Country

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies

After summiting The Horn we walked the track to the summit of The Hump. The Rocky climb to the top ends with a series of massive granite tors with ladders to the summit. Again fantastic views from the top, especially to the neighbouring Cathedral and more distantly The Horn.

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The Horn

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Tuesday 5/04/2022   Mount Buffalo Carpark – The Horn Track – The Horn (1723m)

                                       Mount Buffalo National Park, VICTORIA

                                       Taungurung Country

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies

A very short but steep walk to the highest point in Buffalo National Park. Pablo, having finished Sunday’s 42km Buffalo Stampede in 4 hours 48 minutes was in great discomfort with every step. He was forced to kind of hobble his way along.

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Bahía Hermosa – Playa Hermosa

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 Friday 21/10/2022   Bahía Hermosa – Playa Hermosa                              

                                      Guanacaste Province

                                      COSTA RICA

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Cal Stewart, Kerrie Stewart

The day before our daughter’s wedding we decided to take a drive to the Pacific coast as this was our only opportunity to see this side of the country. It was about an hour’s drive west of Canas where we were staying at Hacienda La Pacifica so it was an easy day trip. 

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Monteverde Cloud Forest – Biological Preserve

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Monday 17/10/2022   Sendero Cuecha – Quebrada Cuecha – Monteverde Cloud Forest, Biological Preserve

                                        Tronadora, Monteverde

                                        Alajuela Province

                                        COSTA RICA

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Beth Davies, Kerrie Stewart, Cal Stewart, Felipe Ureña-Araya, Pablo Ureña Vega

We all headed off to explore the world-renowned cloud forest in Monteverde.  Cloud forests are unique ecosystems as they represent less than 1% of the remaining forests on earth. Costa Rica boasts 5% of the world’s biodiversity so for a small country it puts Australia to shame. The conditions were noticeably cooler than in lower altitude areas in Costa Rica, which made a pleasant change from the tropical heat. 

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