Goorooyaroo Nature Reserve VKFF-0841

After checking the last activation dates of VK1 parks, found 7 that had not been activated in 2026. Headed for one of these, Goorooyaroo Nature Reserve VKFF-0841. Last activated in 2025, by me in 2019 so due for another visit.

The park is large with some access points off Horse Park Dr. I used Wilay Gate. The sign refers to the annual Kangaroo cull in the ACT, you are okay to access the park between 6am and 6pm.

After passing the gate, there is another gate and fence close by. Headed for the log I used last activation in 2019. Set up the radio on the log., squid pole on a nearby tree.

Operating spot, from Google maps satellite view.

Shack on the log. I am using my base radio IC7300 now if the walk is not too far. A lot more comfortable to operate compared to the FT857D.

Got on 40m, worked a P2P with VK2BYF and VK2HBG in nearby VKFF-2016 Wanna Wanna Nature Reserve.

I was about to spot on 7.155, asking if in use was answered by VK2YL Norma in VKFF-0307 Marramarra National Park. She had just finished here after getting over 44 contacts. I spotted and called here.

Worked several VK2 VK3 VK4 and VK5 stations. Another P2P with VK3IDK Jamie in VKFF-4720 Cairnlea Estate Nature Conservation Reserve

After calls stopped on 40m went to 30m, 10.125 Mhz.. A bit quieter, with QSOs with VK4EW, VK4WTN, VK3AMO and VK4FW.

Went to 20m 14.310 Mhz. Worked VK4EW, VK4FW, KG5CIK. Bill VK4FW advised me of a POTA park activator on 14.305, W6IWN Bobby. Tuned down here and heard him weak but readable. I called him several times for a P2P but got walked on by the strong stations calling at his end. Bill VK4FW gave me a hand and asked him to beam my way, he heard me weakly at 52 so a P2P with the USA, in US-4469 Tahoe National Forest. He had a portable beam!

Returned to 40m for a P2P with VK3TUN David in VKFF-5189 Kaladbro H20 Bushland Reserve.

Packed up and headed home for afternoon tea.

 

WWFF 1844 Hunter Award

Award for working 1844 different WWFF references. This is a WWFF award so includes overseas parks. Thanks, award manager CT7AOV  

WWFF Parks Hunted per year

Looking in Log4OM Awards noticed you can apply a date filter to an award, so for the WWFF award I applied filters for each year from 2012 to the present, and entered the total number of parks worked each year into a spreadsheet.

There were not many WWFF park activations until 2015, when a lot of parks got added, including the ACT Canberra Nature Parks.

The slump in 2020 was due to Covid 19, put a stop to activating parks...

I retired in 2021, giving me the chance to hunt parks on the weekdays. Peak seemed to be around 2023. The solar cycle tends to affect park activations worked too. Having peaked in 2025 would expect this year to be down, although there are more park activators now which might help bring this up. 

WWFF 110 Activator Award

Following my WWFF park activations on the South Coast, reached 110 parks activated with at least 44 contacts in each park. The Award.

WWFF 2025 Marathon Awards

The Awards for the WWFF 2025 Marathon were made available to download. I picked up several, a trip up to Queensland activating several parks on the way probably helped lol. 

 

Eagles Claw Nature Reserve VKFF-2593

Staying at Merimbula for a few days, decided to activate a few WWFF parks around Eden. One of these was Eagles Claw Nature Reserve, VKFF-2593. This is a small park just to the South of the town of Eden, not far from the Eden port. Followed Bramble St to the East, turned off onto an unnamed road and parked. After a short walk reached a Rotary lookout in the park.

Not far from here a sign on the fence, Eagles Claw Nature Reserve set up to protect Little Penguins nesting here.

Good views from the lookout.

Set up the squid pole on the railing of the lookout.

Strung out the dipole legs just below the lookout.

A handy seat at the lookout for the radio and myself.

Location. Map from Openstreetmaps

Got on 40m. Worked

VK2VAR/VK2GOM, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK2EXA, VK3SQ/VK2BD/VK3JT, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3BEL/VK3BEB, VK3CEO, VK3HAK, VK3ZSC, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK2HEY/VK2YOU/VK2FANG, VK5IS, VK2VIC/VK1VIC/VK2GOY.

VK2XWB in VKFF-0048 Kamay Botany Bay National Park

VK2BQO, VK3AKD, VK3AXH

Went to 30m. Worked

VK2IO/VK2GEZ, 

VK2XWB in VKFF-0048 Kamay Botany Bay National Park

VK5CZ, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK4EMP/VK4TI/VK4GKO

Went to 20m. Worked

VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG

With 47 in the log had qualified the park.

WWFF 1744 Hunter Award

Award for working 1744 different WWFF areas. This includes several overseas parks as well as VKFF parks. Thanks, award manager Hugo CT7AOV

WWFF August Activity Month 2025

From the WWFF team some awards for activating and hunting parks in August 2025. For Activating parks over 220 QSOs basic award. 

The next level of the Activator award was for 1000 QSOs in August, I only made 495 so not even halfway there.

For hunting parks in August, for 22 parks the basic award

For hunting 44 parks a 1-star award

For the 2-star award needed 88 parks. I got to 63 parks in August so some way to go for the next level.

WWFF Activator 99 Award

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

 

Wongarbon Nature Reserve VKFF-2025

After activating Beni Nature Reseve near Dubbo it was only a short drive to my next park, Wongarbon Nature Reserve VKFF-2025. Sign for the park.

There was a locked gate on the nearby road into the reserve, however a gap for walkers was there. Carried my gear in and set up using the sign for squid pole support

Radio on the table. The rain I had at the last park had stopped for the moment.

Got on 40m. Able to spot easily. Worked

VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK3WSG, VK3SMW, VK3CEO, VK3SG, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK5IS, VK2ETI/VK2AIT/VK2AIQ, VK3BEL/VK3BEB, VK3CA, VK2AGU, VK5WU, VK2AHP, VK2BYO, VK2KEV

Went to 30m. Started with a P2P with

VK5DG in VKFF-1128 Yulte Conservation Park

VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK5WU, VK5IS.

It had started raining again so quickly packed up, headed to Wellington for lunch, then drove home to Canberra. Rained on and off for the rest of the day.

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.