Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
On our way back from our morning walk to Mount Rosea we pulled into Sundial Lookout Carpark, set to complete our day with the 2km walk out to Sundial Lookout (also known as Lakeview Lookout). A glorious blue sky day with an occasional very light breeze saw us leave the carpark around 2:00pm. A hundred metres in, Sue sighted a very dark Singleback lizard basking in the sun trackside. After briefly observing it we moved on. Continue reading →
Tuesday 17/10/2023 Rosea Carpark – Mt Rosea Track – Gate of the East Wind – Mount Rosea (1009m)
Grampians National Park, VICTORIA
Gariwerd Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
We were very pleased this very chilly morning to see nothing but blue sky, after five days of cold, heavily overcast and windy weather this was a pleasant change. Our first target today was Mount Rosea, starting with a twenty-minute drive from Halls Gap. We were at the Roses Carpark and walking by 9:30am with no one else or any other vehicles in sight. The first couple of kilometres of this gravel track is relatively level, wide and easy walking through a forest with a heath understory. It then gradually changes into a rougher track with plenty of rocks and slabs as it begins its climb to the ridge above. It was along this section I spied three small yellow canary worms on the track.
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Starting from Golton Gorge Carpark at 9:10am, it was a short walk along Colton Creek with a gentle climb to the gorge. First through trees before becoming rockier underfoot. As the track reached the creek-side just below Golton Gorge the walk was completely on the bedrock of the creek. Today with very low water flow it was an easy and sure-footed climb up into the gorge. We proceeded as far as the first large waterhole.
Wednesday 11/10/2023 Mount Abrupt Carpark – Mount Abrupt Walking Track – Signal Peak Walking Track – Signal Peak – Mount Abrupt (825m) – Mud-Dadjug Hike-in Campground – C216
Grampians National Park, VICTORIA
Gariwerd Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
We departed the carpark at 9:00am, keen for the earlier start as a day reaching the high twenties was forecast. This walk commences climbing immediately from the trailhead and as we found yesterday, passes through a lot of different ecosystems in one day. These often came and went over short distances but the changes were much more noticeable than in many other places we have hiked. The tracks today were not new as they were for The Piccaninny and Mount Sturgeon sections yesterday but these are still high-quality tracks with many sections of steps formed from large flat boulders which have been positioned to make staircases on steeper sections.
Tuesday 10/10/2023 Bainggug (The Piccaninny) Carpark – The Piccaninny Walk – The Piccaninny (448m) – Mount Sturgeon Track – Wurgarri (Mount Sturgeon) (580m) – Grampians Peaks Trail – Wannon River – Dunkeld
Grampians National Park, VICTORIA
Gariwerd Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Trish Law, Dave Whitelaw
As we drove heading north from Dunkeld there was a shroud of low cloud concealing the summit of Mount Abrupt. After parking at Bainggug (The Piccaninny) Carpark we headed off along The Piccaninny Walk towards The Piccaninny. The morning was cool enough to require a warm layer until near midday. We found all the tracks to be in excellent condition, it is apparent that there had been a lot of recent work done on them. Signage appeared new and there were several numbered emergency poles to let emergency services know exactly where you were. Traversing sections have stone walls on their lower side building them up to the horizontal, most having had sandy gravel added as the walking surface. There are cut sandstone block steps on several steeper sections and steel steps and a bridge to the southern side of Mount Sturgeon, all combining to make it easy underfoot.
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.
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!”
Wednesday 22/03/2023 Old Coast Road – East Yeerung Track – Yeerung River East Branch – Yeerung Gorge
Cape Conran Coastal Park, VICTORIA
Brabuwooloong Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Yeerung Gorge sounded like a good walk to do on the parks information flier so we determined that we would. As there is a lot of storm damage around the area, that eliminated the suggested starting which involved crossing the Yeerung River bridge which is now closed to vehicular use. Instead, we found ourselves driving around via the Old Coast Road and East Yeerung Track to the start, from where it would be a very short walk
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.
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
This morning we drove up to Angusvale Campsite on the Mitchell River. This marks the upstream end of the two-day Mitchell River Walking Track route. Our intention was to check out the campsite and try to get a better look at the river than had been possible during our southern-end walk to Billy Goat Bend yesterday.
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.
Bidawal, Gunaikurnai, Monaro Ngarigo, and Nindi-Ngudjam Ngarigu Monero Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
It is a serious drive down to McKillops Bridge Campground from Little River Falls. Although this gravel road is not particularly steep it is hazardous due to the long unprotected drop-off that runs along its side and the fact it is very narrow. The signage at the top suggests you check for the presence of any other vehicles via UHF radio, which works only if both you and any other vehicle has one. We don’t, so our fingers were crossed as we proceeded along the road. Sue was on high alert for any sign on other vehicles, whilst I kept my eyes on the road ahead.
