Category Archives: Country

Merimbula Beach – Jiguma Nature Area – Pambula River – Shark Hole

Tuesday 22/11/2022  Pambula 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.
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Jervis Bay Road – Munyunga Waraga Dugan Walking Trail  – Murrays Beach – Murrays Hill – Snapper Point – Devils Elbow – Governor Head

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.

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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 

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. 

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Haycock Point Walking Track – Haycock Point – Haystack Rock – Haycock Beach

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. 

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Panboola Waterbird Sanctuary

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.

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50th Anniversary – 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

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.

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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

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]

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Charlotte Pass – Summit Walk – Snowy River – Club Lake Creek – Club Lake – Mount Clarke – Clarke East Ridge

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.

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Charlotte Pass – Wrights Creek – Trapyard Creek – Johnnies Plain

Thursday 22/09/2022   Charlotte Pass – Wrights Creek – Trapyard Creek – Johnnies Plain

                                           Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

                                           Ngarigo Country

Participants: Jean Cane, Stephen Davies (Leader, Report, Photos), Sue Davies, Bob Shaw

With some light showers and clouds in the day’s forecast, I offered a trip to Porcupine Rocks near Perisher Valley with the aim of looking for the nicest snow gums along the way, as wet snow gums have their colours beautifully accentuated. The number of New South Wales Nordic Ski Club participants on this short trip was to quickly change.

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Charlotte Pass – Summit Walk – Snowy River – Muellers Pass – Mount Townsend – Muellers Peak

Tuesday 20/09/2022   Charlotte Pass – Summit Walk – Snowy River – Muellers Pass – Mount Townsend – Muellers Peak

                                         Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

                                         Ngarigo Country

                                     

Participants: Margaret Baz, Jean Cane, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, John Oakley

Today was our big chance to complete a longer trip further away from Charlotte Pass Village as the weather was looking perfect, with a clear blue sky and zero to a very light breeze. Our small party of New South Wales Nordic Ski Club members departed the lodge shortly after 9:00am and started making our way up and across the downhill slopes towards Charlotte Pass. After an overnight freeze, this is always amongst the more difficult parts of any trip from the village. The churned-up, frozen snow off-piste sections between groomed runs can be particularly challenging. Most of us found ourselves slipping backwards at times as our patterned bases failed to take purchase, occasionally resulting in a fall for some.

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Charlotte Pass – Mount Guthrie – Guthrie Ridge – Sam 0321 – Spencers Creek

Monday 19/09/2022   Charlotte Pass – Mount Guthrie – Guthrie Ridge – Sam 0321 – Spencers Creek

                                        Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

                                        Ngarigo Country

                                     

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

After our successful morning outing, Sue reported feeling much better than she had expected. She decided that she might just be up to trying another short, afternoon trip somewhere close by. As we hadn’t been up Mount Guthrie for many years, off we went.

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Charlotte Pass – Wrights Creek – Rams Head Range

Monday 19/09/2022   Charlotte Pass – Wrights Creek – Rams Head Range

                                        Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

                                        Ngarigo Country                      

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

As Sue had been feeling unwell the last couple of days we had planned to head out together to see how she went. Having found herself puffing to climb the single flight of stairs at the Skitube in Perisher yesterday we weren’t all that hopeful. (She had returned a negative RAT test just before we left home, so it likely wasn’t CoVid).

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