Merry Beach Summer Camp

46 campers arrived at Merry Beach for the 2009 BBBW Summer Camp led by Robert and Jan. After we had all settled in to our various accommodation we met for happy hour and were greeted by a whale (or two) quite close to the shore. We really needed a loud hailer to get the information to all 46 of us, but we managed to relay information about the walks being offered for the next day and it was all soon organised.

TUESDAY offered 3 walks which all led to Bawley Point. Hugh led the longer walk. Joe reports that starting at 9.30 this was a lovely coastal walk of some 8km along the beaches and interspersing headlands. The first headland on the north side of Merry Beach included a fair stretch of rock hopping, but from there it was quite a straight forward walk through the beaches up to Bawley Point for a late lunch.

The mid length walk was led by Robert M and John C reports that before our group of 10 BBB walkers had left Merry Beach camp, Jan had asked us to be very careful of the colony of hooded plovers nesting in the protected area of Kioloa Beach. Sure enough we soon came to the area after crossing O’Hara headland and Butlers Point. The hooded plovers are an endangered species and at this time of the year we could just see 3 little chicks in the distance running around near their nests. It was essential that we did not disturb these lovely young chicks. When frightened they could easily run away from the protection of their nests and parents, which would leave them at the mercy of their natural predators. So we observed with great interest, did NOT disturb them, and moved on to Shelly Beach.

Crossing Shelly Point, we walked along Racecourse Beach, through the Murramarang Aboriginal Area, then to Murramarang Beach, Garnet Beach and Cormorant Beach to meet with the other two BBBW groups for lunch at Bawley Beach. After lunch we all appreciated a lift back to camp in the cars so efficiently organised by Bob K.

The easy walk was led by Ron and this group drove the number of cars to Bawley Point that would be required to give all walkers transport back to camp. Jan reports that we walked along Bawley Beach to Nuggan Head where we had morning tea and enjoyed the views of Pigeon House as well as the entertainment provided by a group of surfboard riders. From here we walked through the spotted gum forest to Willinga Lake. Here we noticed how the forest changes to old growth Banksia with some rainforest species (eg Lillypilly). As we walked around the lake’s edge we came upon a very large goanna and noticed the many fish jumping in the lake. We then walked back Bawley Point for lunch.

The afternoon was spent relaxing by the pool, with a good book or just meandering by the sea. Val joined us for happy hour and explained in detail the walks she and Bob T planned to lead for Wednesday. Jock also explained what his walk would entail and it was then over to Bob K to organise the cars. Ron L did us proud with a campfire and many of us brought our BBQ and enjoyed a social meal by the fire. Mike produced song sheets and a large group of singers enjoyed a good old singsong around the campfire.

Walkers head for the coast Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Hooded Plover chick warning Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Walkers on headland Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Val explains next days walk to the kangaroos Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

WEDNESDAY saw us leaving a little earlier and Kay reports that 8 walkers joined Bob T who had travelled from Moruya to take us exploring. After a short uphill road walk, we descended through the Bangalow Palms to a creek bed. We followed a ridgeline along a tributary where we marvelled at the sight of two towering spotted gums before continuing down and along to a rock wall. Circumnavigating this, we reached Bob’s secret surprise where we had morning tea being serenaded by the calls of a lyrebird. In the heat of the day we struggled up the grass patched mountainside to reach the Mt Durras National Park track and our route back to the cars.

Val made a special trip to lead her group on a walk that offered some unusual and wonderful scenery. The walk began with a steep bush bash to the creek through a nursery of Bangalow Palms. The group then followed Union Camp Creek and up a tributary where they could admire two enormous spotted gums. Lots of bush bashing through some truly spectacular scenery eventually saw the group return safely to the cars.

The easy walkers were led by Jock and Barbara reports that 16 happy walkers set out for a walk on Durras Mountain. A gentle uphill ramble brought us to a lovely view of Grasshopper Island through the trees. A pair of sea eagles circled overhead as we attempted to identify the many spring flowering shrubs near a glade full of native violets. Two large grey kangaroos bounded away as we neared our lunch spot in the shade of the trees and a young brown snake made sure it got out of our way. The delightful walk back to the cars was through cabbage tree palms, tree ferns and pencil cedars. The birds sang, the sun shone – what more could anyone want?

Sarah had organised the camp dinner at the Barnacles Restaurant adjacent to the camp. We all enjoyed a sumptuous meal and we were entertained by the ‘Desirables’ - an act, which is quite beyond description and had us rolling in the aisles! Many thanks to the talented group of Sarah, Helen, Jill and Jean with MC John attempting to keep them in order.

Towering spotted gums Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Bushbashing on Durras Mtn Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Durras Mountain temperate rainforest Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	The Desirables strut their stuff Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

THURSDAY For the last day of walks Val again made a special trip to lead the hard group. Joe reports that 9 walkers headed south from Merry Beach under sunny skies at 9am. We crossed the headland to Pretty Beach, followed the coast for a kilometre then turned west up a spur of Mt Durras. The going was fairly easy with about a 15-degree slope up through the Burrawang and Spotted Gum forest. We stopped for a break on the ridge, found a disused graded track and followed it up past a long forgotten dam in the bush onto the main ridge leading to Mt Durras. After a jaunt of a kilometre along this ridge we arrived at the trig point, enjoyed a brief stop, then started back down the mountain with a lunch break on our way. We arrived back at camp about 2.30 after a good physical work-out.

Ainslie led the medium group and Robert M reports that they walked from the camp at Merry Beach around Snapper Point to Pretty Beach. They walked along the coast around the rocks on a number of headlands to Clear Point where they had lunch before returning. Although the tide caused no difficulties, some of the walkers did find the rocks at Snake Bay a little challenging.

The easy group was led by Jan and Margaret reports that for their last walk of the Summer Camp, 23 decided on an easy short walk from Merry Beach to Pretty Beach via Snapper Point and a little beyond. This was walk rich in variety, colour and spectacular views. Native flowers were still providing pockets of crimson, yellow and pink but most appealing was the ground hugging creamy hakea, sitting amongst the heath on Snapper Point. Sea eagles cruised overhead. From the lookout on we were treated to wonderful cliff-top views of Pretty Beach and points further south. Then as we pottered along the waterline it seemed even more like a perfect summer’s walk on an idyllic summer’s day.

That evening we had ordered pizzas from the local café. Happy hour attracted the thunderstorm, as the thunder rolled and the heavens opened, our leaders did their best to deliver the pizzas to the group of rather soggy campers. The storm was short lived and many of us returned to enjoy the remainder of the evening around the campfire.

Vals hard walkers pre-mountain Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Vals hard walkers post-mountain Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Lesley Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Happy Hour Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

Walkers' reports compiled by Jan  

back to Top