Wollongong Botanic Garden ‐ Lunchtime Walk

Thursday 5th December 12.30pm

Walk leader: Martin Potter - 0437 683 677 - please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: A gentle stroll through the Garden, via the Duck Pond, rainforest and other habitats.
Parking: Meet at the Discovery Centre. Parking is available in the nearby car park on Madoline Street. However this can fill up quickly at lunchtime; if this car park is full then there may be more parking in the Murphys Street car park or the surrounding streets.
Toilets/Water: Yes
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: An easy 1.7 km walk on paved or mulched paths. A circuit is walked lasting 1-1.5 hours. Some seats.
Bring: Carry ‐ water, hat & sunscreen. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: This is an especially good walk for new and inexperienced birders, and also for photographers.

Mangerton Park - Mangerton

Wednesday 11th December 8:00am

Walk leader: Marie Mitchell-Stanley - 0400 451 382 - please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: Strolling through the rainforest and sitting and letting the birds come to you.
Parking: Park near 75 Heaslip St Mangerton.
Toilets/Water: No
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Dirt track. 1 km return. Approx 3 hours in the rainforest.
Bring: Carry water, hat, morning tea. Wear sturdy shoes, stool.
Notes: Bush birds. Bring stool as we will be sitting quietly in the bush and letting the birds come to us.

Tallawarra Wetlands - Yallah

Friday 13th December 8:00am

Walk leader: Michelle and Dave Rower - 0421 335 037 - please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: Walking around the Tallawarra Ponds - looking for shorebirds and waterbirds, some woodland birds.
Parking: Drive into Yallah Bay Rd which leads to the Energy Australia Tallawarra Power Station. Yallah Bay Rd is only accessible from the Princes Highway southbound from Dapto. Meet at the carpark opposite the security gates just before the bridge.
Toilets/Water: No (toilet is available at the Security check in).
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: 4km round trip, easy walk on wide trails. Minimum shade.
Bring: Water, hat, sturdy shoes, morning tea (carry).
Notes: Path may be muddy after rain. Bring a scope if you have one.

Mt Kembla Ring Track - Mt Kembla

Wednesday 18th December 8:00am

Walk leader: Martin Cocker - 0418 429 132 - please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: A short stroll through woodland and rainforest.
Parking: Cordeaux Road turn left immediately before junction with Harry Graham Drive parking on right hand side opposite start of track and cottage on the right.
Toilets/Water: No.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Easy walking along vehicular bush tracks. 2-3kms. Approx 3 hours.
Bring: Water, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, morning tea (carry).
Notes: A good walk for beginners and for photography.

Wollongong Botanic Garden ‐ Lunchtime Walk

Thursday 2nd January 12.30pm

Walk leader: Martin Potter - 0437 683 677 - please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: A gentle stroll through the Garden, via the Duck Pond, rainforest and other habitats.
Parking: Meet at the Discovery Centre. Parking is available in the nearby car park on Madoline Street. However this can fill up quickly at lunchtime; if this car park is full then there may be more parking in the Murphys Street car park or the surrounding streets.
Toilets/Water: Yes
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: An easy 1.7 km walk on paved or mulched paths. A circuit is walked lasting 1-1.5 hours. Some seats.
Bring: Carry ‐ water, hat & sunscreen. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: This is an especially good walk for new and inexperienced birders, and also for photographers.

Tallawarra Wetlands - Yallah

Saturday 11th January 8:00am

Walk leader: Michelle and Dave Rower - 0421 335 037 - please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: Walking around the Tallawarra Ponds - looking for shorebirds and waterbirds, some woodland birds.
Parking: Drive into Yallah Bay Rd which leads to the Energy Australia Tallawarra Power Station. Yallah Bay Rd is only accessible from the Princes Highway southbound from Dapto. Meet at the carpark opposite the security gates just before the bridge.
Toilets/Water: No (toilet is available at the Security check in).
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: 4km round trip, easy walk on wide trails. Minimum shade.
Bring: Water, hat, sturdy shoes, morning tea (carry).
Notes: Path may be muddy after rain. Bring a scope if you have one.

Stafford's Farm Track - Mt Kembla

Friday 17th January 8:00am

Walk leader: Catherine Kirby and Fiona Leo - 0405 214 480 - please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: A wide dirt track through beautiful eucalypt forest and rainforest sections with small running streams. Fabulous views of Mt Kemble and Lake Illawarra. A chance to see some of the rarer birds like Logrunners, Noisy Pitta and Crested Shrike-tit.
Parking: Start of the walk is off Harry Graham Drive between O’Briens Management Trail and Wollongong Motorcycle Club. Parking is a bit restricted. 4-5 spots opposite the start of the walk. Otherwise park along Harry Graham Drive.
Toilets/Water: Bush toilet. Carry water.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: A 3km mainly shaded return trip. Slight incline on the way up. High point has a grassy area with trees. Approximately 3 hours.
Bring: Carry - water, hat, morning tea. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: Suggest leech protection if wet. Occasional mountain bikes use this path.

Dharawal National park - 10 Trail Walk

Wednesday 22nd January 8:00am

Walk leader: Belinda Baccarini - please email illawarrabirdersinc@gmail.com if you plan to attend.
Walk description: A stroll along a fire trail in the heathland and low woodland at Madden’s Plains. An especially good event for new and inexperienced birders.
Parking: Park opposite Glenberrie Darkes Cider Orchard ‐ 259 Darkes Forest Rd, Darkes Forest. There are parking bays also at the Dharawal National Park information board.
Toilets/Water: Bush toilet. No water.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Easy flat walking, crossing a creek that may be full, bring a pole for the crossing. Approx 4kms return. About 3-4hours. Little shade, no seats.
Bring: Carry water, hat, morning tea. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: Possible byo lunch or buy lunch at Darkes Cider Orchard if open.

Jerrara Dam and Spring Creek - near Kiama

Wednesday 29th January 8:00am

Walk leader: Martin Cocker - 0418 429 132 - please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: A slow walk to the dam at Jerrara ‐ carry morning tea. Followed by a short drive and then level easy walk at Spring Creek to visit bird hide and regenerated bush.
Parking: Mount Brandon Rd Jerrara. Then near 20 Glenbrook Drive Kiama.
Toilets/Water: Drop toilet at Jerrara but nothing at Spring Creek. NO water at either location.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Good wide path, some short steep gravel and then grass on slope at Jerrara, 2.3km and 90 min return. Spring Creek is level with walking tracks, 1km and 60mins return. Plenty of shade, limited seating at both.
Bring: Water, hat, carry morning tea.
Notes: Both are good spots for photography.

Wattle Forest picnic area - Audley

Tuesday 25th February – 8.00am

Walk leader: Sharon Redman - 0413 492 646. Please text Sharon if you plan to attend
Walk description: We will be walking along a short track along the riverside. We hope to see a Superb Lyrebird, Green Catbird, some Bassian Thrush and Azure Kingfishers
Parking/Meeting Place: Meet at 8am at the Wattle Forest picnic area.
Directions: Coming from the north - turn left off the Princes highway at Farnell avenue and proceed down to Audley. Drive across Audley Weir and take a right turn after Weir Café. Dirve left over Varneys bridge and follow the road veering to the left. It follows the Hacking river for about 750 metres. Park at the end of the car park where the picnic shed and toilets are located.
NB: Parking fees to enter the Royal National Park are $12 per day.
https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/picnic-areas/wattle-forest-picnic-area
Toilets/Water: Flushing toilets available. Bring own water.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Easy level walking of about 3kms and 3 hours. Large undercover picnic area with picnic tables.
Bring: Carry water, hat. Wear sturdy shoes. Carry morning tea.
Notes: A good walk for beginners and photographers.