Silvestris Flora Reserve VKFF-3095

After stopping overnight at Narooma headed for a nearby WWFF park, Silvestris Flora Reserve, VKFF-3095.

Just North of Narooma turned left off the Princes Hwy onto unsealed Kiangra Rd. This later changes to Box Cutting Rd. At the end of the road turned left onto Wogonga Scenic Drive. Followed this for a while, then after crossing Billa Bilba Creek bridge took F-Ridge Rd on the right. This road was quite narrow, overgrown in places with tufts of grass in the middle of the track. Not really 4WD but some clearance needed. Followed this along a ridge until reaching a sign for Wattle Grove Rd on the right.

Wattle Drove Rd is on one edge of the park. I had a look down Wattle Grove Rd, it looked even worse than F-Ridge Rd! Did not drive down it.

There was really only one open area to operate in the park, just behind the sign. The only other activator of this park, Gerard VK2IO had set up here too. Used a sapling tree for squid pole support.

Location of this operating spot. Map from NSW Topographic maps. I used Gaia GPS website.

Shack on the table. Ran the FT-857D at 40w.

Located on a high hill in the forest, able to spot myself easily. Got on 7.144. Worked

VK3PF, VK2IO, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2CDB, VK2EXA on date rollover.

VK2EXA again in the new day. VK3VIN, VK3PF, VK2JDL, VK5NHG, VK7ZA, VK5PAS, VK2LAX.

I saw spots for VK2BYF Bob and VK2VAR Colin activating a beach for BOTA, Beaches on the Air on 7.150. Worked them both with strong signals.

For interest tried going to 30m. I found that I can use this band by unlinking just one side of the 20m/40m dipole. Worked

VK3PF, VK7WN, VK3ZLP, VK2IO, VK1AO/VK2MET.

Packed up and headed home to Canberra.

Bermagui Flora Reserve VKFF-3043

After having lunch at Bermagui drove off to activate another WWFF park nearby, Bermagui Flora Reserve VKFF-3043. Followed Murrah St onto Nutleys Creek Road to the South. Just after leaving the town a sign for the park. Note the NSW parks service labels Bermagui Flora Reserve and 3 other parks nearby as Murrah Flora Reserves.

Drove along Nutleys Creek Rd, until reaching a sign for Bermaguee Nature Reserve, had left the park. Turned around and looked for a suitable spot to operate. Pulled off the road into what looked like a mountain bike track. Set up on the side of the track, using the table for squid pole support.

Operating spot. Map from Mapbox, which is based on OpenStreetMap. Note the area is labeled by the old reserve name Bermagui State Forest.

Shack on the table. Ran the FT857D at 40w.

Got on 40m. Lots of strong stations calling, band conditions good.

VK2IO, VK3SQ, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2EXA, VK3DWL, VK2HL, VK5TN, VK3JFD, VK3ZLP, VK2JDS, VK7AN.

Went to 20m. Worked

KG5CIK, Steve a regular hunter

DL2ND, Uwe another regular.

ZL3MR, VK1RF/4

Getting late in the day and still had a drive back to Narooma before sunset. Packed up and headed back to Narooma for the evening.

Bermaguee Nature Reserve VKFF-2525

After activating Biamanga National Park at Baragoot Beach packed up and drove back to the Tathra-Bermagui Rd. Drove back towards Bermagui, then turned off onto Head of Cuttagee Rd. Sign for Bermaguee Nature Reserve VKFF-2525 on the right.

As far as I know there are no camps or rest areas in this reserve, so just looked out for a suitable operating spot in the scrub off the road. Spotted a tree stump in the bush suitable for squid pole support, set up. Fairly open forest so not hard to get the dipole legs out.

Operating spot, from Google Maps

Shack on the table

Got on 40m. Found another park station on 7.144, worked him, VK5BRU Michael in VKFF-1056 Marino Conservation Park

Able to spot myself easily on 7.165. Worked VK3PF, VK2GSV, VK2IO, VK2EXA, VK2MOE.

A SOTA and park contact with VK2HRX COmpton on VK2/CT-032 Mount Banks, also in Blue Mountains National Park VKFF-0041

VK3CEO, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2PKT, VK3UCD, VK1AD, VK3UAO.

Tried 20m, a contact with VK3BCD/4.

Packed up and headed back to Bermagui for lunch.

Biamanga National Park VKFF-0031

After stopping overnight at Narooma drove down to Bermagui to activate some WWFF parks South of the town. The first one I activated was Biamanga National Park VKFF-0031. Noticed a section of the park around Baragoot Beach, thought it would be nice to operate from. Drove South of Bermagui on the Tathra-Bermagui Rd, turning off onto Baragoot Beach access track. A short track that led to the car park for the beach. Sign for the beach. Reference to Biamanga National Park on the sign.

Looking North on the beach

Looking South on the beach.

Returned to the car park. As a weekday and winter sure there would not be other visitors, so set up in the car park, using a bollard for squid pole support. Just enough room to raise the squid pole through a gap in the trees and lay the dipole legs out.

Operating spot. Map from Google Maps

Radio on the table. A little windy today but was sheltered here.

Got on 40m. Fairly quiet morning, callers spaced out. Worked

VK5BJE, VK3PF, VK2IO, VK3CWF, VK3VIN, VK5PAS, VK7ZA, VK2LAX, VK2LDW, VK3SQ.

Tried 20m when 40m went quiet. Worked

VK1RF/4, VK4FO

Still a few more parks to do, packed up and headed for nearby Bermaguee Nature Reserve.

 

Eurobodalla National Park VKFF-0164

With some cold weather predicted in Canberra over the next few days, decided to take a break from the cold and head down to Narooma on the NSW South Coast, activating some of the WWFF parks nearby.

The first park to activate was Eurobodalla National Park VKFF-0164. The park is in several areas on the South Coast, stretching from Moruya Heads in the North to Mystery Bay in the South. I decided to access the park to the North of Potato Point, a short drive East of Bodalla. Drove along Blackfellows Point Rd. After crossing Potato Creek a sign for the park on the left.

Drove North looking for a nice open area for activating from. On the point to the North of Piccaninny Beach found a dirt track lookout with a nice grassy open area. Set up here. Squid pole supported by my table.

Operating spot. Map from Google Maps

One of the local kangaroos keeping the grass short.

Shack on the table. Quite pleasant with no wind today, a lot warmer than Canberra around 16c or so.

Got on 40m, FT857D set to 40w. Band quite good, plenty of callers.

VK3PF, VK2VH/VK4AAC, VK3SQ, VK2EXA, VK3VIN, VK5AYL, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2HHA, VK2BKO, VK3SG, VK3SMW, VK3UAO, VK2IO, VK2XIC, VK2ALU, VK5PAS

A park to park with VK2OKR Richard in VKFF-1778 Blue Gum Hills Regional Park

VK2AUS, VK3CWF, VK3UH, VK3MCK, VK4KTW, VK2XGB.

After 40m callers stopped switched the linked dipole to 20m. Worked

VK5NHG, VK3APJ, IK1GPG.

I have worked IK1GPG Massimo before, a regular caller from Europe.

As still a bit of a drive to Narooma packed up. Had activated this park before and made up over 44 total contacts for a WWFF point.