Wednesday 7/10/2020 Minnamurra River – Minnamurra Falls
Budderoo National Park, NSW
Tharawal country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
With an expiring NSW National Parks Pass and planned walking trip into Kosciuszko National Park in there near future we decided on revisiting Minnamurra Falls. One of the few places you could buy a year pass and, whilst there, take in a rainforest walk. Check for opening hours.
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Friday 23/10/2020 Munghorn Gap – Castle Rocks
Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, NSW
Kamilaroi country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
We had not heard much about this walk but were intrigued to discover what might warrant being called Cattle Rocks. From the Castle Rocks Car Park, just past Munghorn Gap, the trail follows a smooth, wide, almost flat fire trail which weaves very gently through a mix of eucalypt forest and native pine bushland. Along the way, there is a lot of “Tree Art” to admire, in the form of impressive tree barks on a range of different species interspersed with a few grass trees.
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Friday 11/12/2020 Guthega Power Station – Munyang Geehi Road (Schlink Pass Road) – Horse Camp Hut
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Our last walk in Kosciuszko National Park for this trip needed to be fairly short in order to catch up with some High School friends in Canberra later today. Having camped at Island Bend meant a walk up Schlink Pass Road from Guthega Power Station, which we have frequently travelled in winter, might be a nice option to see without snow cover. It would also provide an opportunity to investigate alternative routes.
Wednesday 9/12/2020 Charlotte Pass – Foremans Crossing – Carruthers Peak – Mount Lee – Northcote Pass – Muellers Pass – Mount Kosciuszko – Rawson Pass – Seamans Hut
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
A short walking trip away from home before the summer school holidays commence, tied in with a more luxurious retreat for our 33rd wedding anniversary saw us heading off to Kosciuszko National Park again. We had delayed our departure to arrive after a cold wintery change charged through the region with subzero temperatures and snowfalls. Snow was clearly visible across the peaks from before Jindabyne. Certainly not unheard of but unusual for December.
Sunday 13/12/2020 Broulee Island Nature Reserve
Broulee, NSW
Yuin country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
After an enjoyable overnight farmstay on the edge of Moruya we spent some time driving around the beautiful nearby coast looking for some walking opportunities. Initially rather tentatively, as there was some light drizzle about.
Still, by 10am we settled on a very short, mostly beach and rock platform walk around Broulee Island. The Island itself appears to be untracked and is densely vegetated with littoral rainforest.
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Monday 14/12/2020 Pigeon House Road – Pigeon House Mountain – Didthul
Morton National Park, NSW
Yuin country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Having just completed four walks in Kosciuszko National Park, catching up with some High School friends and enjoying a parkrun in Canberra we proceeded to Bannisters Mollymook to celebrate our 33rd wedding anniversary in luxury. It seems that may not really be our style as on our free day we both quickly agreed to forgo the palatial setting and head out on another walk. Pigeon House Mountain had only recently reopened after last summer’s Currawan bushfire closure, so we settled on checking it out yet again.
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Saturday 17/10/2020 Belougery Split Rock
Warrumbungle National Park, NSW
Kamilaroi country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Trish Law, Dave Whitelaw
We set off at 8:00am on what was predicted to be a 30 degree day. The park signage at Split Rock Car Park recommends walking the circuit in an anti-clockwise direction, so that’s what we did. The trail headed south along the forested fire trail which gradually gained height and occasionally provided openings with great vistas of the bare, exposed rock faces of Belougery Split Rock and the adjacent Blackmans Mountain.
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Tuesday 29/09/2020 Wattamolla – The Coast Track – Little Marley Beach – Marley Beach – Marley Head – Wedding Cake Rock – The Waterrun – Bundeena – Jibbon Hill – Marley Head Trail
Royal National Park, NSW
Tharawal country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
After reports from friends of waratahs in flower on Curra Moors Track we decided to revisit the area for the day. Our plan was to complete a return loop from Wattamolla, off Sir Bertram Stevens Drive, to Bundeena starting along The Coast Track. Just like yesterday, our walking started after problems getting to our starting point. Heading north into Sutherland a traffic sign indicated Sir Bertram Stevens Drive was closed and detours were in place, no indication of where the road was closed or if it was closed for its entire length. From our reading of the sign we needed to head in via Audley. After driving to the Parks northern entrance station we found we were mistaken, the road being closed at Audley where they were replacing the bridge across the Hacking River.
Tuesday 20/10/2020 Burbie Canyon – Burbie Fire Trail – Danu Gap – Mount Exmouth – Cathedral – Arch
Warrumbungle National Park, NSW
Kamilaroi country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
For today’s adventure we decided to scale the highest peak in Warrumbungle National Park, Mount Exmouth. This begins with a pleasant 1km stroll through Burbie Canyon, which at this time of the year is carpeted with wildflowers.
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Monday 19/10/2020 Grand High Tops Track – Febar Tor – Macha Tor – Hurleys Camp – The Breadknife – Bluff Mountain – West Spirey Creek Track
Warrumbungle National Park, NSW
Kamilaroi country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Trish Law, Dave Whitelaw
We headed out on the trail early as we had aspirations for a long day walk. It didn’t take long to appreciate that this was a popular, heavily used track with National Parks having paved long sections and added the occasional retaining wall and stairs, seemingly all the way to The Breadknife. This has become a very popular trail and for good reason.
Thursday 15/10/2020 Gemini Loop Road – Snow Gums Walking Track – Cattle Creek Hut – Breeza Lookout – Jemmys Creek Fire Trail – Shepherds Peak
Coolah Tops National Park, NSW
Kamilaroi country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Trish Law, Dave Whitelaw
From our camp at Bracken’s Hut we drove east along Forest Road. NSW National Parks recommend the use of four wheel drives and advise against driving it in wet conditions as it is a rutted gravel road. It was slow progress in our Forester. Whilst out this eastern side of the park we completed two different walks, the first a circuit to the world’s biggest known snow gum and Cattle Creek Hut. The second along Jemmys Creek Fire Trail to Shepherds Peak Lookout and return.
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Thursday 17/09/2020 Red Track – Bretons Creek – The Slot Canyon – Bungonia Gorge
Bungonia National Park, NSW
Gundungurra country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
With rain forecast for later in the day we were packed up and walking around 8:00am. Starting from the picnic area near Troy Walls Lookout we headed west for several hundred metres before turning north as the track heads sharply downhill towards Bungonia Gorge following Bretons Creek. This is a very scenic descent at this time of the year with plenty of flowering plants in full bloom. A very impressive stand of grass trees is found about half way down creating an impressive foreground for the view to the west of the cliffs towards Adams Lookout.
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