OLD RAILWAY DAMS HIKE, WAMBERAL BEACH SURF - 13 NOVEMBER 2017

12 November 2017

Jacinta and I drove to Reeves Street in Narara for the start of a hike to the old railway dams.



The start of the hike was a bit tricky. It is next to a power pole but one need to climb up the small embankment to see the track itself.

The track was a bit difficult to follow as it sometimes became obscured with fallen leaves and branches.

After a short distance, there were two steep downhill climbs. One goes under a large overhanging sandstone boulder.

Once at the base, the hike is easy but thick with vegetation. There was definitely a snaky feel to the area. Jacinta saw a red bellied black snake slither away from her as she was walking down the track.

Not long after that, we came to the first dam. We walked across the dam along the top of the narrow wall - water one side a big drop on the other. I climbed down one edge of the wall and waqlked around its base.

We continued along the track and met a few young guys who had camped overnight under a large stone overhang. One of them told me that the track on the other side of the creek lead to a much larger dam and that there was a track from Lower Reeves Street to upper Reeves Street - two diversions next time I do this hike.

We reached the second dam which had a large wall, then there as a further drop off after that. The area at the base looked very dangerous and fatal if you fell.

We backed tracked and then drove to Terrigal Haven where I had a short ocean swim.

13 November 2017

I surf check this morning at North Avoca beach then to a surf check at Wamberal Beach. Bingo. It looked okay so I paddled out and had heaps of fun right waves with mainly one other guy. It lasted about an hour before the tide started to kill it.

SOMERSBY - OLD RAILWAY DAMS HIKE - 2 JULY 2016

I came here a short while ago but couldn't find the start of the track. I looked up an old map and compared to google maps. I found it and it was obscure.

First off, what a great hike!


It started with heaps of wildflowers and the sunrise peeking through the trees. The track was easy to follow but soon became difficult. Luckily, someone had left ribbons tied to trees to show the best way.

The track zigzagged down a cliff face which had a number of overhanging type caves.

At the base of the cliff, the soil was moist and ferns dominated amongst the trees.

Further on, the soil became saturated and the vegetation became thick, dense and lush and the ground was definitely a leech paradise. I found one later.

The first dam came suddenly into sight and a walk further along lead to the first dam wall. It was wide enough to walk across part of the way with care. It was a such a pretty place. I wandered around the dam wall and climbed down to its base.

I continued along the track and came to a pretty flat rock in the sun where the creek flowed across shallowly. I returned to this spot later for a rest and snack.

Further along the track, I came to the second dam wall. It was too steep and slippery to climb down and not far from the base was a drop off where I couldn't see the bottom. I wandered around but couldn't find a safe way down.

I climbed upwards to some nice rock overhangs and a huge flat rock area. From here, there were a number of other tracks which lead to dead ends.

The second dam itself was very pretty and tranquil.

I backtracked to leave.

A very adventurous 1.31km hike.

CENTRAL COAST - STRICKLAND STATE FOREST - HIKE - 25 november 2013

Early surf... rest on the beach with coffee... off for a hike.

Jacinta and I drove to Strickland State Forest in Narara. We parked at the bottom car park.

The hike was great through rainforest, narrow dirt track strewn with leaves, suspension bridge, fallen tree bridge, creek, thunder, lightning, rain, leeches then lunch.

A great hike!

distance - 1.49km
time - 23 minutes
av speed - 4 km/h
max speed - 5.4 km/h