Category Archives: Birds

Pink Lake

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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

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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

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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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Teddington Road – Stuart Mill Road – Centre Road – Fisherman Hut Track – Teddington Road – Teddington Hut – Upper Teddington Reservoir

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Tuesday 30/10/2023   Teddington Reservoir Campground – Upper Teddington Reservoir

                                         Kara Kara National Park, VICTORIA

                                         Dja Aja Wurrung and Barengi Gadjin Country                                  

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

In a nearly deserted Teddington Reservoir Campground we found the local wildlife to be our only company. Flocks of screeching corellas flying overhead or chatting in surrounding treetops left us in no doubt as to who ruled here. There were also plenty of other birds such as rosellas, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and willy wagtails who made visits.

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Mount Zero Picnic Area – Mt Zero Walk – Mount Zero

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Saturday 28/10/2023   Mount Zero Picnic Area – Mt Zero Walk – Mount Zero

                                          Grampians National Park, VICTORIA

                                          Gariwerd Country                                

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

This was our second attempt at this walk, on the 20th we had driven to the start after lunch but decided against it as it was already 32C, calm and cloudless, a little too hot for our liking. At least for this 3:00pm departure, it was only 25C and breezy. 

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Stapylton Campground – Mount Stapylton Loop Walk (Upper) – Grampians Peak Trail – Mount Stapylton – Taipan Wall – Mount Zero Picnic Area – Mount Stapylton Loop Walk

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Sunday 29/10/2023   Stapylton Campground – Mount Stapylton Loop Walk (Upper) – Grampians Peak Trail – Mount Stapylton (Gunigalg) (518m) – Taipan Wall – Mount Zero Picnic Area – Mount Stapylton Loop Walk (Lower)

                                       Grampians National Park, VICTORIA

                                       Gariwerd Country                                       

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

After being disappointed last week on the Hollow Mountain walk when we couldn’t find the cave, as per the photograph captioned “Hollow Mountain” in the Parks Victoria Grampians brochure, we thought we might further explore the area in a determined attempt to find it. Inquiries at a National Parks office during the week didn’t throw any further light on where to look. However, having been atop Hollow Mountain last Friday and observing the cliff of Taipan Wall from above I speculated that the cave in the photo may be somewhere along that wall. So off we went on our quest, departing from Stapylton Campground in the cool morning air at 8:40am.

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Halls Gap Holiday Park – Boronia Trail – Fyans Creek – Mt Ida – Fyans Creek Loop – Brambuk National Parks and Cultural Centre – Fyans Creek Loop – Tandara Road – Grampians Road

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Sunday 15/10/2023   Halls Gap Holiday Park – Boronia Trail – Fyans Creek – Mt Ida – Fyans Creek Loop – Brambuk National Parks and Cultural Centre – Fyans Creek Loop – Tandara Road – Grampians Road

                                        Grampians National Park, VICTORIA

                                        Gariwerd Country                                  

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

Greeted by a fairly cold, breezy, heavily overcast morning with passing showers we didn’t get out until 11:20am (except for Sue who snuck in an early morning run). With the low cloud cover blanketing the tops of all the surrounding hilltops we opted to stay low and take a minimum of gear. Heading out from the NRMA campground, Halls Gap Holiday Park, we turned left just before the Fyans Creek Bridge onto Boronia Trail which follows Fyans Creek to the south along its eastern bank. At first, the trail had wet overhanging ferns across the trail but beyond a couple of hundred metres the track was clear. At least the depth of the colours of everything was enhanced by all the moisture on them.

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Halls Gap Sports Reserve – Chautauqua Peak Walk – Clematis Falls – Chautauqua Peak – Barneys Creek – Bullace’s Glen Walk – Stony Creek

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Saturday 14/10/2023   Halls Gap Sports Reserve – Chautauqua Peak Walk – Clematis Falls – Chautauqua Peak – Barneys Creek – Bullace’s Glen Walk – Stony Creek

                                          Grampians National Park, VICTORIA

                                          Gariwerd Country                                    

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

We departed after lunch for this short walk, having stayed in Ararat overnight in order to take part in their parkrun at 8:00am this morning. With clouds still hanging around the higher peaks and the occasional shower passing through we decided on this walk straight out of Halls Gap. Being breezy and only just above 10C was to make for pleasant walking conditions. Initially, we followed the road to Halls Gap Sports Reserve where the trail begins. Our first destination was Clematis Falls which is a short detour off the Chautauqua Peak Walk track.

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Teddington – Bushy Park

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Thursday 11/05/2023   Teddington – Bushy Park

                                           London, ENGLAND

                                    

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

It was our first day in London after arriving on a long-haul flight from Sydney the previous night. We were keen to get out for some fresh air and a bit of sunlight to assist with readjusting our body clocks. 

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Mallacoota Coastal Walk – Betka Road – Quarry Beach – Geology Point – Fishermans Track – Betka River – Betka River Estuary – Betka Surf Beach – Betka South Beach – Beach 8

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Thursday 23/03/2023   Mallacoota Coastal Walk – Betka Road – Quarry Beach – Geology Point – Fishermans Track – Betka River – Betka River Estuary – Betka Surf Beach – Betka South Beach – Beach 8

                                           Betka River Tourist Reserve & Mallacoota Coastal Reserve

                                          VICTORIA

                                          Bidawal Country

                                    

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

After a 6km morning run from our Bemm River campsite, we had our minds set on a relaxing day as we started to make our way home. As we drove towards our destination of Mallacoota, we were pleased to see the forests that were burned so badly during the 2019/20 bushfires showing plenty of new growth. During lunch, overlooking Bottom Lake, we reflected on our 2013 Nadgee-Howe Wilderness Walk and observed the small ferry that had taken us across Bottom Lake to Lake View Jetty for our start.

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Pearl Point Track – Pearl Point – Binn Beach

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Wednesday 22/03/2023   Pearl Point Track – Pearl Point – Binn Beach

                                               Cape Conran Coastal Park, VICTORIA

                                               Brabuwooloong Country                                    

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

Undeterred by our morning walk to Yerung “Gorge” we decided to check out the “spectacular sedimentary formations” at Pearl Point. This had been listed as a 25km return hike from East Cape and one we had seriously considered doing until Sue checked out the “All Trails” site for reviews. She could only find two, the main comment being “I hate sand!”

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Marlo Western Boundary Track – Marlo Wetland Track – Marlo Centre Track – Marlo South Boundary Track  – Marlo-Conran Road – French’s Narrows Carpark – French’s Narrows – West Cape Road – Salmon Rocks Boat Ramp – Salmon Rocks Track – Salmon Rocks – Cape Conran Road – Sailors Grave – Cape Conran Nature Trail – Cowrie Bay – Yeerung River Road – Yeerung River Walking Track – Estuary View Trail – Pearl Point Track

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Tuesday 21/03/2023   Marlo Western Boundary Track – Marlo Wetland Track – Marlo Centre Track – Marlo South Boundary Track  – Marlo-Conran Road – French’s Narrows Carpark – French’s Narrows – West Cape Road – Salmon Rocks Boat Ramp – Salmon Rocks Track – Salmon Rocks – Cape Conran Road – Sailors Grave – Cape Conran Nature Trail – Cowrie Bay – Yeerung River Road – Yeerung River Walking Track – Estuary View Trail – Pearl Point Track

                                        Marlo Coastal Reserve & Cape Conran Coastal Park, VICTORIA

                                        Brabuwooloong Country

                                    

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

Today we completed five short walks between Marlo and Conran Coastal Park. Early in the day, we checked out a small section of Marlo State Forest next to our campsite. Then after a very short drive, we walked across French’s Narrows at the mouth of the Snowy River. Soon after another short drive to West Cape in Cape Conran Coastal Park, we walked across the Cape to Salmon Rocks with great views along the coast and half a dozen surfers enjoying some waves. 

After lunch and another short drive, we walked through burnt-out country along the Cape Conran Nature Trail and finally after yet another short drive we circumnavigated the Yeerung River estuary through healthy, unburnt bushland.

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