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Category: South Coast

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Durras Lake Discovery Trail

Spotted gum forest on the Duras Lake Discovery Trail

Durras Lake Discovery Trail

Although the Durras Lake Discovery trail is only 1.5 km long, it’s a fun walk, taking around 45 minutes, depending on your pace. Located in the Murramarang National Park it’s only a 30 minute drive from Batemans Bay. It is a good idea to check the weather before going, as the road can become very boggy in wet weather.

The Walk

Although graded at level 3 by NSW National Parks and Wildlife, it is steep in places and rough in others. We hiked here after a storm. A large gum tree had fallen over the track and shattered, completely burying the trail. This added some fun to the walk as we picked our way over the smashed timber. Another tree that must have fallen years ago also crosses the trail, but has a gap under it, or a path around.

The vegetation was very dense because rainfall had been heavy in the previous months. Everything was nice and green.

Not long after starting the walk, there is a bridge over a creek, followed by a sign post. This is the point you would take to the Durras Lake Walking Track (8km and 2-4 hours) or stay on the loop track. You will also found a rough wooden gate near the start of the track and another near the end.

Information boards are placed along the trail, describing the plant and animal life.

At the high point of the climb is a bench seat where we stopped and had a snack before descending from there down into the valley and back to the carpark.

This was a great walk and one of our favorites in the Murramarang National Park. Remember that there are park entry fees (we bought the year long pass which works out cheaper if you visit a lot of parks). As it’s a national park, dogs are not allowed.

Ferns and palms Duras Lake Discovery Trail
Lush ferns and palms on the trail
Large tree fallen over the track Duras Lake Discovery Trail
Large tree fallen over the track
Information board
Information board
Bridge over a creek
Bridge over a creek
Bench seat Duras Lake Discovery Trail
Bench seat
Fallen and broken tree Duras Lake Discovery Trail
Fallen and broken tree blocking the trail
Rough wooden gate
Rough wooden gate
Spotted gum forest on the Duras Lake Discovery Trail
Spotted gum forest on the Duras Lake Discovery Trail

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To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Depot Beach Rainforest Walk

Littorial rainforest

Depot Beach Rainforest Walk

The Depot Beach Rainforest Walk is a short easy track that runs through littoral rainforest and down to a beautiful sandy beach. As part of Murramarang National Park, it is maintained by NSW National Parks and Wildlife and was in excellent condition during our visit. Almost the entire track has boardwalk, or is paved, so it very easy to walk. The recommended time is 15 to 45 minutes, and we easily made the lower and of the range. Remember, because this is a national park, no dogs are allowed.

Getting There

Car parking is available at a dedicated spot about 250m from Depot Beach and also has a toilet and information board. Alternately, parking at the beach allows you to start and finish there and not need to move your car if you intend to spend time on the sand. Whichever you choose, the track is a loop, so you will end up back where you started.

The Track

The 400m track runs through spotted gum rainforest with a lush undergrowth consisting of cabbage tree palms, cycads and bracken. Information boards along the track describe the different vegetation and animal life.

When we reached the beach, there were kangaroos sleeping in the shade near the carpark. We had lunch at the beach, we had almost to ourselves, with only two other people there.

A fun easy walk, with a great beach to enjoy as well. From here we went to the Burrawang Walking Track which was only a 2-minute drive away.

boardwalk and wooden pailings
Start of the walk at the carpark
Information Board Depot Beach Rainforest Walk
Information Board
Littoral rainforest
Littoral rainforest
Spotted gums Depot Beach Rainforest Walk
Spotted gums
Boardwalk on the track
Boardwalk on the track
Small creek crossing and palms
Small creek crossing and palms
Start of the track at Depot Beach
Start of the track at Depot Beach
Littorial rainforest
Littorial rainforest growing right up to Depot Beach
Depot Beach
Depot Beach
Kangaroos near Depot Beach
Kangaroos near Depot Beach

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Constable Miles O`Grady Obelisk

Constable Miles O`Grady Obelisk

Constable Miles O`Grady Obelisk

Located on the main street of Nerrigundah, the Constable Miles O`Grady Obelisk is a reminder of Australia’s gold mining and bush ranger past.

Nerrigundah, Gold Mining and Bush Rangers

Although the local population is now only 40, at its height in the 1860s it boasted a population of 11,000. By 1866 this had fallen to 200-300 with around 2,000 in the surrounding areas. Bush rangers were also drawn to the area because of the quantity of gold being mined.

On the 9th of April 1866, Thomas Clarke and his gang of bush rangers held up a number of passers-by outside the town at Deep Creek and then attacked the store and hotel. At Nerrigundah, Constable Patrick Smythe was on duty alone as one sergeant was absent, and Constable Miles O’Grady was seriously ill with “colonial fever” (probably cholera).

O’Grady dragged himself from his sick bed to help with the crisis. William Fletcher, a new recruit to the gang was shot dead by O’Grady. In the ensuing gunbattle, O’Grady received a gunshot wound in the side and died three hours later.

The Clarke gang then rode out of town pursued by a posse of twelve men. An ambush at the Eucumbene River but the only victim was a pack horse. Eventually arrested near their favorite hideout, the Jingera Ranges faced trial and were sentenced to death. Although they did not face trial for the murder of O’Grady, his death along with at least seven others was attributed to them by the judge.

The Monument

To honour his bravery and dedication to duty, the monument was erected around 1867.

During the 2019–2020 Australian summer Nerrigundah was severely affected by bushfires. On 31 December 2019, fire destroyed the village’s hall, 20 of its 25 homes and one of its residents died. Although the monument was not severely damaged, the information plaque was destroyed. This has now been replaced.

A 20-minute drive from Bodalla, the Constable Miles O`Grady Obelisk is a reminder of the risks the police have faced from the early days in Australia. Worth visiting if you are in the area, if only to pay your respects.

Information Board
Information Board
Constable Miles O`Grady Obelisk
Constable Miles O`Grady Obelisk
Constable Miles O`Grady Obelisk

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To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.