Category Archives: Birds

Mount Amos Summit Carpark – Wineglass Bay Lookout Track – Wineglass Bay Lookout – Wineglass Bay Beach – Wineglass Bay Overnight Walker Campsite – Isthmus Track – Hazards Beach – Hazards Beach Track

Wednesday 14/02/2024   Mount Amos Summit Carpark – Wineglass Bay Lookout Track – Wineglass Bay Lookout – Wineglass Bay Beach – Wineglass Bay Overnight Walker Campsite – Isthmus Track – Hazards Beach – Hazards Beach Track 

                                               Freycinet National Park, lutruwita / TASMANIA 

                                               Paredarerme country                               

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

It was a cooler morning after yesterday’s heat and as a storm had rolled through it had cleared the air. So in pleasant conditions, we returned to Freycinet National Park for the classic Wineglass Bay circuit. Soon after we left the car we heard a voice “Hi Steve and Sue, what walk are you doing today?”  It was the lovely young woman we had met yesterday on our way down from Mount Amos who wasn’t able to make it to the top. It was a pleasant surprise to see her again.

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Hartz Peak Track Carpark – Hartz Peak Track – Lake Esperance – Ladies Tarn – Hartz Peak

Saturday 24/02/2024   Hartz Peak Track Carpark – Hartz Peak Track – Lake Esperance – Ladies Tarn – Hartz Peak

                                           Hartz Mountains National Park,  lutruwita / TASMANIA 

                                           Palawa Country   

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

We started our day at a campsite in Huonville before we drove about 20 minutes to Geeveston to run the most southerly parkrun in Australia. A volunteer there told us she also worked at the tourist information office and advised us not to walk the Hartz Peak today as it would be too busy. Continue reading

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Maria Island Ferry Terminal – Frenchs Farm Coastal Route – Rutherford Beach – Painted Cliffs – Hopground Beach – Darlington – Reservoir Circuit – Fossil Cliffs Circuit – Fossil Cliffs – Maria Island Cemetery – Darlington

Friday 16/02/2024   Maria Island Ferry Terminal – Frenchs Farm Coastal Route – Rutherford Beach – Painted Cliffs – Hopground Beach –  Darlington – Reservoir Circuit – Fossil Cliffs Circuit – Fossil Cliffs – Maria Island Cemetery – Darlington

                                     Maria Island, lutruwita / TASMANIA 

                                     Puthikwilayti Country                                  

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

We enjoyed a day trip to Maria Island, leaving on the first boat in the morning (8:30am) and returning on the last ferry of the day (4:15pm). We had stayed here six years ago for a few days but we were keen to see the island and its wildlife again.

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Bakers Beach – Archers Knob – Springlawn Lagoon – Springlawn Bird Hide Lookout

Saturday 3/02/2024   Bakers Beach – Archers Knob – Springlawn Lagoon – Springlawn Bird Hide Lookout

                                        Narawntapu National Park, lutruwita / TASMANIA

                                         Larapuna Country                                  

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Geri Louis, John Louis

Departing from Narawntapu National Park Visitor Centre Parking at 1:10pm we first headed along the road towards Bakers Beach. Being just past low tide on a clear, calm day we had very easy walking on firm sand. Here, there were lots of seashells along the high water mark, interspersed with cuttlefish remains and fragments of seaweed. There were also interesting wind ripples in the dry sand creating artistic patterns where the highest wave of the morning tide had partially wet the sand. John and Sue powered ahead as Geri and I lingered, looking for the most interesting, intricate ephemeral details.

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Tasmanian Arboretum – Eugenana State Reserve

Friday 2/02/2024   Tasmanian Arboretum

                                   Eugenana State Reserve, lutruwita / TASMANIA

                                   Palawa Country                                  

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Geri Louis, John Louis 

We had headed here largely based on reports it was an excellent place to see a platypus or two. The grounds are well maintained with a lot of open, mown lawn separating treed areas. Numerous tracks lead you through areas themed by continent, based on the species planted there. 

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Mersey Bluff – Back Beach – Devonport Cycle and Walking Track – Don Reserve – Don River Loop Track – Coastal Pathway – Coles Beach

Thursday 1/2/2024   Mersey Bluff – Back Beach – Devonport Cycle and Walking Track – Don Reserve – Don River Loop Track – Coastal Pathway – Coles Beach

                                        Mersey Bluff State Reserve, lutruwita / TASMANIA

                                        Punnilerpanner Country                                  

Participants:  Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Geri Louis, John Louis 

We initially headed off for what I thought was a walk around Mersey Bluff but it soon turned into something longer. The walk around the Bluff was pleasant with some great views. The lighthouse was quite picturesque against the blue skies so we decided to venture further.

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Dunkeld Arboretum

Tuesday 31/10/2023   Dunkeld Arboretum

                                         Dunkeld, VICTORIA

                                         Gariwerd Country

Participant: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report)

This is a great short walk from Dunkeld Caravan Park. It follows the tree-lined creek from the caravan park into the Arboretum at the weir. From the Arboretum there are good views of Mount Sturgeon and Mount Abrupt.

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Horseshoe Bend Campground – Wimmera River – Desert Discovery Walk

Thursday 26/10/2023   Horseshoe Bend Campground – Wimmera River – Desert Discovery Walk

                                           Little Desert National Park, VICTORIA

                                           Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Country                                  

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

Nestled amongst the River Red Gums at Horseshoe Bend Campground we had been joined last night and this morning by masses of bird life. A pair of Kookaburras called in for a visit many times, along with sightings of black cockatoos, mallards, parrots, blue wrens and numerous species of other small, heath-loving birds.

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Kiata Campground – Campground Track – Salt Lake Track – Desert Discovery Track – Albrechts’ Mill & Water Bore

Friday 27/10/2023   Kiata Campground – Campground Track – Salt Lake Track – Desert Discovery Track – Albrechts’ Mill & Water Bore

                                     Little Desert National Park, VICTORIA

                                     Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Country                                 

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

Keen to walk in a different section of Little Desert National Park we drove further west to Kiata Campground, having spent the early hours of the day looking for wildlife around Horse Shoe Bend Campground. Yesterday’s cold change and 1C overnight minimum temperature were replaced by calm, blue sky conditions with the temperature already reaching the mid-twenties by our 11:00am start.

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Pink Lake

Wednesday 25/10/2023   Pink Lake

                                               Dimboola Area, VICTORIA

                                               Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Country                                  

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

A short drive west of Dimboola you can find Pink Lake. Although not a walk it proved to be a remarkably interesting stop. Today it was cold and very windy. There were plenty of small waves that had formed on the lake as a result, all heading straight towards us. With a crusty white shoreline of crystalline salt, rows of waves almost parallel to the horizon and clouds with lots of character against a deep blue sky with dramatic clouds, this was a very special treat.

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Mount Arapiles – Tooan State Park

Tuesday 22/10/2023   Three Short Walks

                                         Mount Arapiles – Tooan State Park, VICTORIA

                                         Wotjobaluk Country                                   

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report)

Tuesday 22/10/2023   Nature Walk off Mount Arapiles Summit Road

We completed this short nature walk and were left unimpressed. Although it is a  very easy walk and there were plenty of spring wildflowers the track itself has fallen into a state of disrepair. In sections, you can’t see where it is supposed to go and the numbered signposts have no explanatory information available to go with them, as the entry box at the entrance was empty. I also think a lot of the things the signs were meant to be placed near have probably long gone from the landscape as it is today.

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Mitre Rock

Tuesday 24/10/2023   Mitre Rock 

                                         Mount Arapiles – Tooan State Park, VICTORIA

                                         Wotjobaluk Country                                  

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report)

Our last, very short hike in Mount Arapiles – Tooan State Park was to Mitre Rock. We had earlier seen Mitre Rock from a couple of different viewpoints and were inquisitive as to how the views back to Mount Arapiles might appear from this perspective.

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