Oxley Wild Rivers National Park VKFF-0406

After activating New England National park drove back along the Waterfall Way towards Armidale, turning off to the Wollomombi Falls Rd, and then into Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.

Took the road to Edgars Lookout

View from the lookout over Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. Looks rugged...

Just to the right of the lookout a picnic table. Set up there

Shack on the table. Weather a bit better than my last park, around 11 c. Did get a passing shower, but did not last long.

Got on 40 m. Started with a Park to Park with VK5PET/p Peter in VKFF-1752 Tolderol Game Reserve

Worked VK2KYO then VK6MB/3 Mike in VKFF-2236 Wychitella Natural Features Reserve

VK2NP then VK2IO/5 Gerard in VKFF-1114 Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park

VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT

VK3PI/p Mark in VKFF-0624 Heathcote-Graytown National Park
VK3PF/p Peter in VKFF-2465 Traralgon South Flora Reserve

VK4RF VK4HA
VK4NH VK4DXA ZL4TY/VK4
VK2KNV/m

VK5FANA/p Adrian in VKFF-1755 Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park

Tried 20 m, only one contact

VK6MB/3 Mike in VKFF-2236 Wychitella Natural Features Reserve

As some distance still to drive packed up and drove back to Armidale, then on to Tamworth for the night.

New England National Park VKFF-0385

After stopping the night at Armidale drove East along the WaterFall Way Hwy East for 80 Km, turning off onto Point Lookout Rd. This took me to my first park of the day, New England National Park, VKFF-0385. This is eligible for the Gondwana Parks Award.

The weather had changed from cloudy in Armidale to light rain, and cold, the temperature had dropped down to 5 c... Decided to operate in the car. Drove to a car park near the Point Lookout picnic area and set up the squid pole and antenna on the table just outside the car, with the coax going in through the passenger window.

Looking the other way

Radio on the passengers seat in the car.

Got on 40 m. As World Rangers Day a lot of parks also on air.

VK3PF/p Peter in VKFF-0480 Tarra-Bulga National Park
VK6MB/3 Mike in VKFF-2032 Wychitella Conservation Reserve

VK2FAVL
VK4RF VK4HA

Went to 20 m

VK6MB/3 Mike in VKFF-2032 Wychitella Conservation Reserve again, on 20 m
VK2IO/5 Gerard in VKFF-1114 Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park
VK3MCK
VK3SQ
ZL1TM
VK3PF/p Peter in VKFF-0480 Tarra-Bulga National Park again on 20 m

Went back to 40 m for a few more contacts

VK2NP
VK2KNV
VK4JAZ/p Grant in VKFF-2878 Pooh Corner Nature Refuge
VK2HRX
VK2VW
VK2VVD

Packed up and headed to Point Lookout. Did a short walk out to the lookout, despite the rain, as still nice to see the rain forest. Looks good in the mist. Mossy path. Lots of trees covered in moss.

The Point lookout hut at the start of the walk

Inside a couple of Park Rangers having lunch around a fire

Had a chat to the park rangers, I had briefly chatted to them from the car park while activating as they wondered what I was up to. We had a bit of a chat about using radio and the different bands. They find their UHF radios don't work too well in some parts of the park, even with repeaters. Interested in my range of contacts on HF. As World Rangers Day was nice to chat to a couple of Park Rangers.

After lunch packed up and headed for my next park, Oxley Wild Rivers National Park

Gibraltar Range National Park VKFF-0197

After activating Washpool National Park returned to the Gwydir Hwy and drove West to a nearby picnic area just off the Highway in Gibraltar Range National Park

Dandahra Picnic Area. Went to the covered picnic table below to get out of the rain and have lunch.

After lunch set up on the picnic table out of the rain. Used my own table for squid pole support. The rain did eventually stop and even got a bit of sunshine.

Looking the other way

Start of a walk near the picnic area

Shack on the table

Got on 40 m. Started with a park to park with VK5PAS/p Paul in VKFF-1737 O'Halloran Hill Recreation Park

I had no mobile coverage at all here. Announced I was moving to 7.139 Mhz on Pauls frequency and let the park hunters follow me down.

VK3PF
VK5BJE
VK3SQ
VK3AHR
VK2IO/5
VK5CZ

Another park to park with VK6MB/3 Mike in VKFF-2367 Leaghur Wildlife Reserve

VK5IS
VK3MCK
ZL1TM

Still some distance to drive so packed up and continued my drive. Stopped briefly at Rasberry Lookout

View from the lookout over Gibraltar Range National Park

Another view

Continued driving on the Gwydir Hwy to Glen Innes, then on to Armidale for the night.

Washpool National Park VKFF-0521

After stopping overnight in Yamba it was time to leave the coast and head inland to activate a few more Gondwana Rainforest parks. Drove to Grafton where I stopped for morning tea. Then took the Gwydir Hwy to Glen Innes. The Gwydir Hwy passes between 2 parks, Washpool and Gibraltar Range National Parks.

I was slow going on the Gwyder Hwy with lots of stops for roadworks, it took most of the morning to get to my first park, Washpool National Park VKFF-0521.

Took Coachwood Drive into the park, just behind the sign. Another sign, took the turnoff on the left  to Granite Picnic Area.

Drove to the picnic area. Sign for the area with walks nearby.

Set up on a picnic table. Enough room for an 80 m dipole.

Looking the other way

Shack on the table

The weather, which had been cloudy and warm at Grafton, around 23 c, was only around 13 c here at elevation so rugged up. Also got a few spots of rain at first but not too bad. Got on 40 m. Found VK5PAS/p Paul on 7.144 in VKFF-1744 Shepherds Hill Recreation Park so worked him first for a park to park.

Managed to spot myself, found phone coverage poor though and needed to move the phone around. Worked the following on 7.150

VK3XXY
VK3SQ
VK2NP
VK4NH VK4DXA ZL4TY/VK4
VK4VXX/m VK4/AG7WB
VK5BJE
VK3MCK

Another park to park with VK6MB/3 Mike in VKFF-2052 Boort Nature Conservation Reserve

At this stage the light rain had become heavier, so quickly packed up and headed for my next park, Gibraltar Range National Park.

Broadwater National Park VKFF-0058

After lunch at Ballina continued South, slow going on the Pacific Hwy with lots of road works. At Broadwater turned off onto the Broadwater-Evans Head Rd, then onto the Broadwater Beach Rd into Broadwater National Park

Went to the Broadwater Beach picnic area to activate the park. I had activated here before, returning to try and get a few more contacts towards 44 for WWFF.

Set up on a picnic table

Looking the other way

Got on 40 m. Worked the following

VK3PF
VK2NP
VK4VXX/m VK4/AC7WB

A park to park with VK6MB/3 Mike in VKFF-2475 Wangie Wildlife Reserve

VK2VW
VK2HRX
VK3SQ
VK3TJC

Tried 20 m

VK2IO/5
VK5PAS

another contact with VK6MB/3 in Wangie Wildlife Reserve

Tried 80 m

VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT
VK4HAT VK4FFAB VK4/BG7AVE

Packed up and headed to Yamba for the evening.

Ballina Nature Reserve VKFF-1883

After stopping a couple of nights in Byron Bay, time to head back South. Just South of Byron Bay is Ballina Nature Reserve, VKFF-1883, never activated, so decided to try. Looking on a map there didn't seem to be any roads into the park, however spotted a possible access point at the Northern end of the park off Ross Ln, so headed there.

After crossing a canal bridge found a small gap in the railing that I could drive through. This led me down an embankment and found the way blocked by a locked gate. There was a sign for Ballina Nature Reserve so this was a way in.

From the look of the sign and the overgrown track I'd say this road had not been used for a while, there was also a "Service Trail Walkers Only" sign that has seen better days 😊

Carted the gear over the gate and set up on the road. The grass was really thick, probably no threat from traffic here...

Looking the other way back to the gate. I actually used grass to support the dipole legs as no trees convenient.

Location in the park. Map from Protected Planet

Shack on the table. Nice in the sun, almost too warm as the temperature was in the low 20s

Got on 40 m. Worked

VK3PF
VK2UXO
VK5PAS/mobile Paul right in the Adelaide CBD

A park to park with VK2IO/8 Gerard in VKFF-1238 Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve

VK5BJE
VK2NP

Tried 80 m for the close by hunters. Got

VK4TJ VK4/AC8WN VK4/VE6XT
VK4HAT

Tried 20 m, only 1 contact VK3SQ

Had 11 contacts and still some way to drive, packed up and headed South to Ballina for lunch.

Cape Byron State Conservation Area VKFF-1295

After activation Broken Head Nature Reserve headed for my next park, Cape Byron State Conservation Area VKFF-1295. This park is around the Cape Byron lighthouse at Cape Byron, the most Easterly point on mainland Australia. The easiest access point was Tallow Beach Rd out to the Tallow Beach car park. Sign for the park

When I got to the park found you need to pay for parking... Most of Byron Bay has pay parking as it gets swamped by tourists and would be nowhere to park if not controlled. I had enough coins for 1 hour, $4 parking so my activation time was limited.

Headed up an access trail to the North of the car park, found a Telstra post for squid pole support. Looking South

Looking North. Just near here a hang gliding launch site, had hang gliders flying over me here.

Shack on the tarp.

Got on 40 m. Worked

VK3PF
VK5IS
VK5LA
VK2NP
VK2PKT

A park to park with VK6MB/3 in VKFF-2364 Lake Timboram Flora & Fauna Reserve

VK2YK
ZL1TM
VK2KNV/m
VL2LEE
VK5CZ/m

Another park to park with VK5PAS/p Paul in VKFF-0881 Ferries McDonald Conservation Park

VK3ANL
VK1CT'

Worked a ZL SOTA station, ZL2AJ Warren on ZL1/WK-098 Takaurunga

As my 1 hour pay parking spot was almost expired packed up and headed back to the car park.

A look at the beach towards Cape Byron. Lighthouse not quite visible.

Broken Head Nature Reserve VKFF-1898

After staying overnight in Byron Bay set off to activate nearby Broken Head Nature Reserve, VKFF-1898. Followed Broken Head Reserve Rd into the park. Sign for the park

The Broken Head beach area was just packed with cars, swimmers and surfers, nowhere to park, and paid parking as well... gave up and headed up Seven Mile Beach Rd. This was narrow and with no stopping signs along the length of it. Passed a few more car parks, all full. This was a really popular park...Finally managed to get the last parking spot as a beach turn off. Headed off into the scrub

Dense rainforest with no breaks in the canopy for a squid pole. Finally settled on a spot where I could raise the 7 m squid pole to about 6 m and string out the dipole legs in between the vegetation.

Looking the other way

Shack on the tarp

Got on 40 m. To my surprise got calls from park hunters, so getting out through the foliage somehow.

VK2NP
VK5BJE
VK3PF

A park to park with VK2IO/8 Gerard in VKFF-0532 Tjoritja/West Macdonnell National Park

VK2YK
VK3ARH VK3HRA

VK6MB/3 Mike in VKFF-2469 Waitchie Flora & Fauna Reserve

Tried 20 m, again worked VK2IO/8 Gerard in VKFF-0532 Tjoritja/West Macdonnell National Park

Back to 40 m to work

VK5FLEA

Park to park with VK5CZ/p Ian in VKFF-0893 Hopkins Creek Conservation Park

VL5LA
VK2UXO
VK2JON

Another park to park with VK5PAS/p in VKFF-0881 Ferries McDonald Conservation Park

As around lunch time and 15 contacts gave it away and headed back to Byron Bay for lunch.

Whian Whian State Conservation Area VKFF-1394

After activating Nightcap National Park continued on to Whian Whian State Conservation Area. This was only a short distance to drive, continued on the Minion Falls Rd for a few Km, then turning off to the Rummery Park campground. Sign for the park.

Reached the campground. Sign for various walks in the park. Most quite long.

A tree with a massive collection of birds nest ferns

Set up in the camping area using my own table for squid pole support. Some impressive rainforest in the background.

Shack on the table

Went to spot myself on ParksnPeaks, and found I had no internet coverage here... So back to the old method of calling until someone heard me. 7.144 was being used for activating by VK4SOE/p so unable to use this, dropped down to 7.138.

Got VK3FADV, who couldn't spot me, but then got VK5PAS/p Paul who could, Also a park to park as Paul was in VKFF-0781 Kenneth Stirling Conservation Park

Got a few more calls once spotted.

VK3PF
VK4ALR
VK2NP
VK5FANA
VK5CZ
VK2XSE/m
VK5DW
VK2FPAR
ZL1TM

As not able to spot didn't try other bands. Packed up and headed to Byron Bay, where I was spending a couple of nights.