MARCH 2017 : BROULEE, NSW : Kayaking through wetlands off George Bass Drive.

 

We have just discovered a small wetland off George Bass Drive near the Moruya airport. A revelation - as there was birdlife we had never seen before.

 

Easy access from George Bass Drive.

 

Quiet and serene paddle, with tea trees on one side and huge gums and Banksias on the other.

 

Tannin- saturated stream with mirror perfect reflections.

 

Fascinating reflections 

 

A brief sighting of a tiny Azure Kingfisher.

 

A close- up of an Azure Kingfisher, courtesy of the internet.

 

We also caught sight of an Eastern Bristle-bird - too elusive for a photo - so another shot, courtesy of the Internet.

 

Reflections in the Tea trees.

 

Towards the western end of the wetlands there were dense bulrushes.

 

Suddenly above us - a White-chested Sea Eagle, being attacked by a pigeon.

 

A White-chested Sea- Eagle.

 

Bulrushes

 

A peaceful paddle on a beautiful Autumn morning.

M

MARCH 2017 : CANBERRA : Mt Orroral - 17 kms - 6 hours

A challenging walk today from the site of the Orroral Tracking Station car park up a climb of 690m up a track to the Lunar Laser building and then off track - bushbashing and rock scrambling - to the summit of Mt Orroral. Perfect weather today - about 23o.

 

We drove for about an hour from Kambah Shopping Centre car park to arrive at our starting point. This walk is park of the Australian Alps Walking Track.

 

The Orroral Valley was selected by the US Space Agency as a perfect site for a tracking station. Built in the 1970s and used until the 1990s. The buildings apart from the Lunar Laser tower have been demolished.

 

We began our walk on the Granite Tors Walking Track. A steep climb on a good track through temperate forest and huge granite boulders - a main feature of the walk today.

Lush forest quite a contrast to the dryness of the valley and exposed sections of the area.

 

An unusual boulder with an Easter Island look.

 

The Lunar Laser

 

An explanation of the US program.

 

Vantage point and rest by the Lunar Laser site.

 

Views down to the ruins of the tracking station along the Orroral Valley.

 

Off track, bush bashing to the summit.

 

Squeezing around boulders.

 

Scrambling up to a large rock platform.

 

The summit. David replaces the geo- cache container, left many years before.

 

Views south.

 

Another view towards the Snowy Mountains.

 

Lovely old gums - some candle bark with bright red trunks.

 

 

Heading out on the track. A strenuous effort but worth it for the views.

M

 

MARCH 2017 : CANBERRA : Mount Taylor : 7 kms - 1 hour 45m

 

 

A walk in the rain.

 

Heading off from Waldock Street, Chifley.

 

Up the stone path.

 

Continuing up the asphalt.

 

Views over Woden Valley.

 

Still climbing in the rain.

 

To the summit with views towards Isaac Ridge.

 

Mt Taylor Trig - 856m.

 

Descending down the southern path, overlooking the Tuggeranong Valley.

 

Kangaroos enjoying the cooler weather

 

Circling around the western side of Mt Taylor skirting Selwood Drive and Tuggeranong Pathway.

 

Heading back to the Chifley entrance.

 

A last glance from one of the local residents.

M

4/3/2017

MARCH 2017 : CANBERRA : Namadji National Park : Rendezvous Creek, Old Hut sites, Cave and Cascades - 19 km - 7 hours (with refreshment stops)

 

Today we began early as a hot day was forecast. We left the Kambah shops carpark, our meeting point, at 7.30 and drove 45 mins to Namadji National Park to the Rendezvous Creek carpark. An interesting walk on paths, through long native grasses, some prickly scrub but mainly in exposed pasture land.

 

The Rendevous Creek carpark, situated at the entrance of the Gudgenby Valley.

 I

Preparing for the walk. Gaters and/ or long pants needed today for parts of the walk. Some walkers found gloves an asset through the sections of bursaria

which was dense and prickly.

 

Dew-filled spiderwebs shone in the early morning light.

 

The remnants of Paddy Moore's wooden cottage. An early settler. We passed several other sites, where families had lived in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. One was the resident rabbit trapper family for the landowners. Their infant daughter's grave was under one of the large gum trees near their hut.

 

Kangaroos everywhere. Rock wallabies on the road into the National Park and large groups in the valley. Disturbingly, we saw some wild dogs rounding up kangaroos trying to hole them up into the side of the mountain.

 

Enjoying the view.

 

Walking up from the old airstrip towards the cave shelter.

 

The dreaded  bursaria.

 

The cave with evidence of some early art and a convenient and cool rest point for morning tea.

 

Long grasses. Some masking water courses and a myriad of rabbit warrens.

 

The view down the Gudgenby Valley.

 

Middle Creek cascades.

 

Perfect place for lunch and cooling tired and hot feet.

 

A resident skink.

 

Candle bark gums with brilliant red trunks.

 

Some interested bystanders as we crossed the valley.

 

Rock shelter.

 

Heading back to the carpark on Boboyan Road.

14 walkers today. A very chatty group with lots of information to share about the history and the wildlife in the area.

M&M