Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
After another very comfortable night in our campervan at Pambula Beach Caravan Park, we headed off to explore the area to our south. After a short drive along the Princes Highway just past Pambula Lake we turned off onto Haycock Road into Beowa National Park. Beowa National Park has recently been renamed and the new name means Orca in the local Thaua language. Here we had eyed off some very short walks that would require a short drive between each.
Wednesday 23/11/2022 Pambula Beach Caravan Park – Merimbula Beach – “Merimbula Beach” Trail – Boggy Creek – Merimbula
Beowa National Park, NSW
Yuin Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Getting older and trying to keep getting out amongst nature, hiking the trails, exploring the scenery and appreciating the wildlife encounters. We are slowing down but don’t admit it to ourselves very often. We still get in 20km days in the mountains but are leaning more toward day walks based on our new campervan. After a day of walking it has been magical to return to the van and enjoy a cold drink or normal food and cooking, a great night’s sleep on a “real” bed secure in any weather. It has been making it easy to explore the types of places we love.
Saturday 26/11/2022 Market Street – Merimbula Boardwalk and Walking Track – Boggy Creek – Merimbula Lake
Merimbula, NSW
Yuin Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
This is a scenic 5km return walk along Merimbula Boardwalk. It starts from a small carpark at the north-western corner of the Market Street Bridge which crosses Boggy Creek on the southern edge of Merimbula. The western end terminates at a small wharf that incorporates a cafe. Scattered along the boardwalk are interpretive signs outlining information about the local ecology, usage and history of the lake. It makes for a pleasant short stroll.
Friday 25/11/2022 North Head Track – Lennards Island Track – Lennards Island
Beowa National Park, NSW
Yuin Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
Driving south from Haycock Point we drove to the Eden tip which was where our next walk started. Close to the road and very close to the tip, it was not really the ideal spot to have lunch or to start a walk. A high clearance four-wheel drive would negate the need to even walk this track but we decided not to risk it with our long-wheel base van. A mountain bike would be another good option.
Tuesday 22/11/2022Pambula Beach Caravan Park – Merimbula Beach – Jiguma Nature Area –Pambula River – “Kanangra Track” – Shark Hole
Beowa National Park, NSW
Yuin Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Pambula Beach Caravan Park – Merimbula Beach – Jiguma Nature Area –Pambula River
This was the first of a series of short walks from our camper van based at Pambula Beach Caravan Park. Our beachfront site had us on to Merimbula Beach for a short walk to its southern end where there is a public carpark if you are staying elsewhere. At the end of the beach, there is a short flight of stairs that take you up onto the headland and into Jiguma Nature Area. The views north along Merimbula Beach up to Merimbula itself are great. Jiguma Nature Area offers well-shaded walking through remnant coastal forest and a number of lookouts over the rocky foreshore below. Continue reading →
Friday 16/12/2022 Jervis Bay Road – Munyunga Waraga Dugan Walking Trail– Murrays Beach –(Murrays Trail) – (Old Murrays Track) – (Helipad Track) – Murrays Hill – Snapper Point – Devils Elbow – Governor Head – (Governor Head Track)
Booderee National Park, NSW
Yuin Country
Participants: Beth Davies, Lauren Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Sam Solt, Pablo Ureña Vega
This is an awesome short walk that has a striking amount of variety in its 6km. The almost tropical-looking Murrays Beach was our first stop. Here the usually turquoise water laps up onto the light-toned, fine-grained sandy beach which is fringed by lush green trees after three La Nina years. A narrow arc of sand on the shores of Jervis Bay where you can often see dolphins, whales or stingrays swimming nearby. We can thank Lauren and Sam for revisiting the area, as they hail from Scotland, are currently working in New Zealand, were in Australia for Pablo and Beth’s wedding and really wanted to spend some time in the area as Lauren had great memories of visits in years past.
Saturday 17/03/2022 St Georges Head – Steamers Track (Booderee Circuit Access Trail) – Steamers Beach Lookout – Brooks Track – Brooks Lookout – St Georges Head Track – Corangamite Track – St Georges Head – Kitty’s Beach – Blacks Harbour Foot Track – Blacks Harbour – Blacks Waterhole – Blacks Waterhole Track
Booderee National Park, NSW
Yuin Country
Participants: Beth Davies, Lauren Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Pablo Ureña Vega, Sam Solt, Bec
After five of us had completed our 8:00am Huskisson parkrun in 25 minutes or better we returned to our AirBNB for breakfast. From there we headed out to Steamers Beach carpark in Booderee National Park where we waited just 5 minutes for Bec to join us from Canberra. Although Steamers Beach itself was closed due to the building of a new staircase down to the beach, we headed along the track to Steamers Beach Lookout to catch some views of it from above.
Friday 25/11/2022 Haycock Point Walking Track – Haycock Point – Haycock Rock – Haycock Beach
Beowa National Park, NSW
Yuin Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
It was a fine sunny morning as we set out on the short loop walk with the aim to have a look around Haycock Point and Haystack Rock. As we were setting out we chatted to a National Parks contractor who was working on weed control. We noticed that he had sprayed himself and as well covered himself with long sleeves, pants and full gaiters. He told us that the ticks were out in force so we took precautions as well.
Sunday 27/11/2022 Bullara Street – Merimbula Road – Panboola Waterbird Sanctuary – Yowaka Street
Pambula, NSW
Yuin Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
Having enjoyed participating in a park run here on Saturday we returned today to have a look at the waterbird sanctuary. This would be best viewed at dusk or dawn but it was still pleasant to have a wander around this wetland conservation area. There are freshwater billabongs, salt marshes and mangroves and saline areas around the former racecourse and walking and cycling tracks.
25/11/1972 – 27/11/1972 Blackheath – Evans Lookout Road – Grand Canyon Track – Horse Track – Rodriguez Pass Track – Govetts Creek – Blue Gum Forest Track – Blue Gum Forest – Perrys Track – Docker Head – Perrys Lookdown – Perrys Lookdown Road – Hat Hill Road – Blackheath
Blue Mountains National Park, NSW
Dharug country
*** Celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of my first bushwalk ***
Fifty years ago as a Form 4 (Year 10) Narwee Boys High School student I set off on my first overnight bushwalk. Our party of four caught an early train from Strathfield to Blackheath from where we completed an eventful three-day round trip via Govetts Creek and Blue Gum Forest.
26/08/2022 – 4/09/2022 Munyang Power Station – Schlink Pass Road – Schlink Pass – Schlink Hut – The Kerries – Mawsons Hut – Valentine River – Geehi River – Strumbo Range – Strumbo Hill – Straight Creek – Grey Mare Trail – Bogong Swamp – Tooma River – Derschkos Hut – Pugilistic Creek – Toolong Range – Hell Hole Creek – Mount Toolong – “West” Bogong Creek – Round Mountain Trail – Tooma River – Tumut River – Australian Alps Walking Track – Meteorological Station – Hut Creek – O’Keefes Hut – Jagungal – Bogong Creek – Jagungal Saddle – Jackys Lookout – Doubtful Creek – McAlister Saddle – Geehi River – Tarn Bluff – Mailbox Hill – Cup and Saucer – Valentine Creek – West of Tin Hut above Valentine Creek – Kerries Ridge – Gungartan Pass – Dicky Cooper Creek – Schlink Pass – Schlink Pass Road – Guthega Power Station
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo Country
Distance: 146km Total Ascent: 5,550m Total Descent: 5,550m Time: 52 hours
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Tim Hager (Leader), Paul Jennings
We arrived at Guthega Power Station to find the small visitor carpark full, so parked on the side of the road a little further back up the road. Here we faced our first dilemma.I had placed all of my last-minute items into a plastic bag in order to transfer them to Tim’s car at Jindabyne. To my dismay, I found my new gas bottle was not in the bag. My planned ten-day trip, without gas, wouldn’t work. [I would leave Tim and Paul’s five-day New South Wales Nordic Ski Club trip early on day four to complete my longer trip alone]
Wednesday 21/09/2022 Charlotte Pass – Summit Walk – Snowy River – Club Lake Creek – Club Lake – Mount Clarke – Clarke East Ridge
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo Country
Participants: Jean Cane, Stephen Davies (Leader, Report, Photos), Sue Davies, Terry Gralton, John Michan, Junko Toro, Susan Watson
Apparently, we had already used up our quota of great weather as today was overcast and windy and the outlook for the rest of the week was wet. Our New South Wales Nordic Ski Club trip target today was Club Lake, via the snow bridge we had crossed yesterday, avoiding any chance of getting wet feet in the Snowy River at Foremans Crossing. From here we planned to follow the Snowy River and then Club Lake Creek until we reached Club Lake.
