WWFF Activator 99 Award

WWFF Award for activating 99 different parks. For each park need at least 44 contacts to qualify.

 

1675 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Award for working 1,675 different VKFF areas. Thanks, activators, for contacts.

WWFF P2P 844 Award

Latest award for making 844 P2P (Park to Park) contacts. Thanks other park activators for the contacts, and thanks ON5SWA award manager.

 

Beni State Conservation Area VKFF-1277

After staying overnight at Dubbo headed for a nearby park, Beni State Conservation Area VKFF-1277. Followed Beni Forest Road, turning off into the park. Sign

Along the track to the left of the sign, Pimilco Firetrail, could see some water crossings, with a couple of large 4WDs slowly crossing them. It didn't look good... Instead, I took the track on the right, Bullen Bullen Firetrail, turning off onto a track on the left, Quary Trail. Parked off this and set up in the scrub. No photos, here is a map of my operating spot from Openstreetmaps

Got on 40m. Worked

VK3GSV, VK3VIN, VK3SO/VK3SFG, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK3CEO, VK3SQ/VK3JT/VK2BD, VK2MOE/VK1MO

Park to park with VK3TDK in VKFF-2431 Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve

VK3CLD/VK5QA/VK2DBF, VK3SG/ VK3WSG, VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK3TBS

A new UTC day, worked

 VK4HNS, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK3APJ, VK1CHW, VK3ZSC, VK3SG, VK3CEO, VK7DD, VK2ETI/VK2AIT/VK2AIQ, VK4LKA, VK4WC, VK2LEE, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK2VAR/VK2GOM

VK3TDK after rollover still in VKFF-2431 Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve

VK3MGM. 

I had rain start up mid-way through the activation, only a few spots at first but got heavier, so quickly packed up. Anyway 48 contacts so qualified the park for WWFF. Headed for another park nearby, Wongarbon Nature Reserve VKFF-2025. 

 

Currys Gap State Conservation Area VKFF-1312

Arrived in Tenterfield, and as had still had some time before sunset, decided to activate Currys Gap State Conservation Area. Only a few munutes drive out of town, parked at a gate off Mount McKenzie Road.

Quickly set up the station, using a fence to the left of the sign. Sorry no photos as was in a hurry to get on air before dark. Location in park, map from Openstreetmaps

Got on 40m. As close to sunset the band was wide open, generated a huge pileup...

VK4EMP/VK4TI/VK4GKO, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK5WU, VK4BWL, VK4FSC, VK1AO/VK2MET

A park to park with VK5DG/VK3TUN in VKFF-0873 Bullock Hill Conservation Park

VK5ANB, VK3BEL/VK3BEB, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK3SG, VK5DW, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK2ZRD, VK5YX, VK2HEY, VK7DD, VK3TDK, VK4QRZ, VK3TDX, VK3DEM, VK4FODM, VK3ACZ, VK5AYL, VK4HOX, VK2JRO, VK5FANA

Packed up as getting cold and dark, didn't worry about the other bands. With my last activation made 50 QSOs in this park, so qualified.

Girraween National Park VKFF-0198

After lunch in Stanthorpe drove South to Giraween National Park VKFF-0198. Had activated this park before but been defeated by poor conditions, and a lack of mobile coverage. Headed into the picnic area, views of some of the peaks in the park visible.

Set up the squid pole near one of the picnic table shelters. I used a water tap for support.

Shack on the picnic table

Location, map from Openstreetmaps

I first thought I would have no mobile coverage again, however walking around the picnic ground was able to get ParksnPeaks to load, and spotted.

On 40m worked

VK2GCR/VK4HFR, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK2ETI/VK2AIT/VK2AIQ, VK2HRX, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK3DAE/VK3LAL, VK2XWB

Tried 30m. Worked

VK3ACZ, VK5BJE, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK1AD/VK1NAM

Tried 20m. Worked

VK3PF/VK3KAI, F5PYI, VK3DCQ, VK3CEO, VK3MGM, VK3ZSC, KG5CIK, VK5BJE, VK6HDY

Total QSOs including other visits was 47, packed up and headed South to Tenterfield for the evening.

Morgan Park Conservation Park VKFF-1597

After stopping overnight at Toowoomba drove South to Warwick to activate Morgan Park Conservation Park VKFF-1597. The park is located just South of Warwick, near the Morgan Park raceway. After driving along Old Stanthorpe Road eventually spotted an access point, a sign for the park behind a gate.

Note the gate was locked, however there was a gap between the gates, was able to squeeze through this and passed through the gear. Set up the squid pole on the park sign inside.

Shack on the table near the sign

Location, map from Openstreetmaps

Got on 40m. Worked

VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3BEL/VK3BEB, VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK5WU, VK4EMP/VK4TI/VK4GKO, VK2EXA, VK3SG, VK4PWP, VK2GSV, VK4HNS, VK4PX, VK4WC, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK4BRW, VK4LUC, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK4ABF, VK4AAT, VK2KEV, VK2EST

Tried 30m. Worked

VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK3UP, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK5BJE

Went to 20m, first a SOTA contact with VK5CZ on VK5/NE-098 Peaked Hill

VK5BJE, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3EV

Had 47 contacts so packed up and headed to Stanthorpe for lunch.

Mount Coolum National Park VKFF-0344

After poor band conditions on Mount Coolum summit, with QRM, decided to return to another part of Mount Coolum National Park and finish off 44 contacts.

There was a section of the park, Marcoola section just South of the town of Mount Coolum, accessed off David Low Way. Parked and walked into the park. Sign for the park.

Location in the park. Map from Openstreetmaps

Attached the squid pole to a small tree and set up the shack on the table nearby.

Went to 20m first, for a P2P with VK2USH in VKFF-0407 Palmerston Rocks National Park.

Spotted on 20. Worked

VK2IO/VK2GEZ

VK3PF/VK3KAI in VKFF-5080 Grantville Bushland Reserve

VK2MG, VK3SQ/VK3JT/VK2BD, VK3TDK, VK3CEO, VK3KLI

Went to 30m. Worked

VK4DRK, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK4EW, VK4WTN, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK1AO/VK2MET

Went to 40m. Worked

VK4SMA

VK4GJW in VKFF-1529 Denmark Hill Conservation Park

VK4MGL, VK4MRH, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK7ZM, VK2ETI/VK2AIT

Had qualified the park. Packed up and had lunch at nearby Mount Coolum shops.

 

Tewantin National Park VKFF-1218

Stopping for a few days at Noosaville, activated a local park, Tewantin National Park VKFF-1218. Wooroi Day Use Area near Tewantin.

This had a large picnic area with several tables. Unfortunately, as a weekend was busy with mountain bike groups. I picked a table away from most of them, still had a few young riders come over to see what I was up to.

Location in the park, from Openstreetmaps

Shack on the table

On 40m worked VK4MRH, VK4SRC, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK4NH/VK4DXA, VK4EW, VK4MWL, VK4ELJ, VK4PHD, VK3BEL/VK3BEB, VK2DHN, VK4BWL, VK4JN, VK5PAS, VK4CEG/P, VK4HNS, F5PYI

On 20m worked VK3SO/VK3SPG. I had forgotten to spot here, so not many calls lol.

On 30m worked VK3ACZ, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK4WTN, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK5HS, VK2EXA

On 20m spotted and worked

VK3KLI, VK5HS, VK2USH, VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK3ARM, VK1MA, KG5CIK, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3SG, ZL1TM, VK5PAS

With 50 contacts in the log packed up and headed back to Noosaville for the evening.

Maroochy River Conservation Park VKFF-1588

 After activating Mount Coolum headed South to activate Maroochy River Conservation Park VKFF-1588. The park is near Twin Waters. It took me a while to find a suitable access point, the park is thick scrub and finally found a walking track into it off Ocean Drive. The sign is easy to drive past.

A short distance behind the sign another sign for the track, the Xanthorrhoea track.

Location on Openstreetmaps. The track is opposite a resort/convention centre.

I didn't take photos but operated just to the right of the track sign in the scrub. There were mosquitoes :(

Able to spot okay. On 40m worked

VK1AO/VK2MET, VK4HNS, VK2VW/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK4NH/VK4DXA, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3SQ/VK3JT/VK2BD, VK2MFW

On 30m worked

VK1AO/VK2MET, VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK5WU

On 20m worked

VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK3SQ/VK3JT/VK2BD, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK1AD/VK1NAM, ZL1TM, VK3SQ/VK3JT/VK2BD, IK8KCI, VK3TDK, VK3GJG, F1BLL, VK3WSG, VK3CEO, VK3ZSC

VK5DG in VKFF-0888 Hacks Lagoon Conservation Park

F5PYI, UT5PI

With 46 in the log packed up and headed back to Noosaville for the evening.

SOTA Mount Coolum VK4/SE-114

While stopping at Noosa Heads popped down to climb Mount Coolum, VK4/SE-114. Like last time the car park at the start of the walk was full, parked in a nearby street. Sign for the Park at the start of the walk. Mount Coolum Park is VKFF-0344

Sign says 1.6 Km return, 2 hours. You can climb it in about half an hour

Starts off easy, gets steep with lots of rocky steps

Views get good once you finish the steep climb

Went to the Southern end of the peak and got into the bush, away from the crowds. Used a small tree to support the squid pole

Shack on the tarp

Got on 40m. Disappointingly there was about an S8 of noise from the services on the summit. Struggling to pick out calls, worked

VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK1OZ, 

Tried 30m, not much better for noise. Worked

VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK5WU

Tried 20m. It was at least a bit quieter. Worked

ZL1BYZ, VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK3ZPF/VK3JW/VK3PJF.

I had had enough of the QRM. Packed up and headed down to have lunch at the Mount Coolum shops.