Participants: Caroline Davies, Paul Davies, Peter Davies, Sophie Davies, Stephen Davies (Report, Photos), Sue Davies
From our base at Portree, we drove north along the east coast of Skye to Lock Leather. The road is single-lane bitumen with frequent short wider areas for passing. Being mid-Sunday morning there was a lot of traffic around, much of it aiming for the carpark at the start of Old Man of Storr walk. This a paid carpark (5 pounds with a 6-hour limit) and the largest carpark north of Portree.
Thursday 16/03/2023 Echo Bend Campsite – Echo Bend Campsite Walking Track – Bluff Lookout – Deadcock Den – Mitchell River Walking Track – Amphitheatre – Billy Goat Bend Lookout – Billy Goat Bend Road – Park Road – Woolshed Creek – Wallers Road
Mitchell River National Park, VICTORIA
Brayakoolong Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
With a local forecast for 30-degrees today we aimed for an early start, our intention being to walk far enough along the Mitchell River to get a good feel for it and its surroundings. We were underway at 7:05am, not long after the first flicker of daylight. The air was still cool and we had walked the first part of this walk yesterday we made good progress. After a brief stop at Bluff Lookout we proceeded down through Deadcock Den and on the Mitchell River Walking Track. The Mitchell River is the last remaining wild river in Victoria.
Wednesday 15/03/2023 Echo Bend Campsite – Echo Bend Campsite Walking Track – Nargun Carpark – Woolshed Creek – Den of Nargun – Deadcock Den – Mitchell River – Bluff Lookout
Mitchell River National Park, VICTORIA
Brayakoolong Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Having taken our time on the drive in we didn’t head out on this walk until about 3:00pm?? So it was a hot, sunny afternoon as walked out of Echo Bend Campsite along theEcho Bend Campsite Walking Track. This track connects the privately owned campsite to the National Parks tracks. The track itself being lined with melaleuca we saw a goanna and rabbit on the way through and had a kookaburra laughing at us for being so silly to be out walking in the hot afternoon sun.
Friday 10/03/2023 Darby Beach Carpark – Tongue Point Track – Fairy Cove – Lookout Rocks – Tongue Point
Wilsons Promontory National Park, VICTORIA
GunaiKurnai and Boonwurrung Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
We departed Darby Beach Carpark at 9:40am, appreciative of it being heavily overcast but for the first time in many days not windy or raining. We had been to Darby Beach on the Wednesday but the weather to too unpleasant for us to be tempted to start out.
The Tongue Point Track gradually climbs from the carpark to provide a good view of the meanders of “Darby” Creek to the east as it passes through thick heath. After climbing about 90m you pass through a saddle to catch your first glimpse of Tongue Point, immediately you realise this is going to be a very scenic walk.
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.
Thursday 22/04/2021 Scenic World – Furber Steps – Railway Station – Federal Pass track – Dardenelles Pass Track – Giant Stairway – Echo Point
Blue Mountains National Park, NSW
Dharug Country
Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Pablo Ureña Vega
All four of us may have jumped out of the car together at the Scenic World Carpark but that was a far as I was going with them! They were very keen on a trial run over the 11km Ultra-Trail Australia trail running racecourse. Scheduled for May 13 the 11km event follows Narrow Neck Plateau Trail before descending the Golden Stairs and returning along Federal Pass Walking Track and up Furber Steps. Still in recovery mode from an Achilles injury, I was off for a walk by myself, with plans to see them along the way.
30/07/2022 – 2/08/2022 Guthega Power Station – Guthega Power Station – Munyang River – Disappointment Spur – Disappointment Spur Hut – Schlink Pass Road – Dicky Cooper Creek – Schlink Hut – Duck Creek – Valentine Hut – Valentine Creek – Mawsons Hut – Tin Hut – Dead Horse Creek Saddle – Gungartan Pass – Schlink Pass Road – Munyang River – Guthega Power Station
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo Country
Distance: 63km Total Ascent: 3,000m Total Descent: 3,000m Time: 22 hours
Participants: Damien Aggio, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Tim Hager, Paul Jennings (Leader)
I was keen to join in on Paul’s posted five-day New South Wales Nordic Ski Club trip. He had advertised a very interesting trip entering via Scammels Lookout Road, with a plan to visit Pretty Plain Hut, Grey Mare Hut, O’Keekes Hut and Jagungal. Approaching the start date it became obvious there would be a distinct lack of snow along the proposed route, so he came up with an alternate plan. We all spent Friday night at Paul’s newly purchased property outside of Berridale so we could make an early start on the planned long day skiing from Guthega Power Station to Mawsons Hut.
9/06/2022 – 18/06/2022 Kiandra – Pollocks Creek – Selwyn – Tabletop Mountain – Tabletop Mountain Trail South – Arsenic Ridge – Arsenic Creek – Happy Jacks Road – Tibeaudo Creek – Boobee Hut – Diggers Creek (Northern Tributary) – Doubtful Gap – Doubtful Gap Trail – Doubtful Creek – Cesjacks Hut – Doubtful Creek – Macalister Saddle – Toolong Range – Geehi River – Tarn Bluff – Mailbox Hill – Cup and Saucer – Brassy Mountains – Valentine Creek – Tin Hut – Valentine Creek – Gungartan Pass – Dicky Cooper Creek – Schlink Pass Road – Schlink Pass – The Rolling Ground – Whites River Hut – Munyang River – The Rolling Ground – The Granite Peaks – Guthega Trig Spur – Guthega Dam – Farm Creek – Illawong Walk – Snowy River – Spencers Creek Suspension Bridge – Mount Guthrie – Snowy River – Charlotte Pass – Summit Walk – Snowy River Pole-line – Kosciuszko Walk – Kosciuszko Express – Thredbo
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo Country
Distance: 120km Total Ascent: 4500m Total Descent: 4000m Time: 51 hours
Participants: Damien Aggio, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report)
Following excellent snowfalls in early June, Damien saw an opportunity present itself for an extended backcountry ski trip. The classic K to K (Kiandra to Mount Kosciuszko) over 11 days, including car shuffle, was proposed. He promptly made a few phone calls and posted his trip on the New South Wales Nordic Ski Club website to gauge interest.
After two very CoVid 19 disrupted previous seasons I jumped at the opportunity to join in after last attempting this trip, solo, in 1986 when I was forced to finish early via Guthega Power Station due to cold, windy, whiteout conditions.
Monday 2/08/2021 Maloneys Bay – Bushrangers Bay– Beaky Cove
Bass Point Reserve,
Shellharbour LGA, NSW
Tharawal Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Being in CoVid lockdown we were restricted to exercising within our LGA. Bass Point Nature Reserve fitted the bill, so off we went for a short walk that we have completed many times before.
Sunday 28/02/2021 Boyds Tower – Red Point – Leather Jacket Bay – Mowarry Point
Light to Light Walk
Beowa National Park ( Ben Boyd National Park, until September 2022), NSW
Yuin Country
Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Pablo Ureña Vega
We were on a short break to Merimbula so decided to sample a section of the Light to Light Walk as a day trip.
We started with a short detour to the historic Boyd’s Tower located on Red Point. It was built by Benjamin Boyd but was never commissioned as a lighthouse. The lookout was closed and appeared to be fire damaged. From Red Point there were great views of the Pacific Ocean, Eden and Twofold Bay.
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.
