Twenty-one walkers arrived at the Big 4 Naracoorte Holiday Park on Tuesday 30/4/24. After settling in, we attended a briefing and an enjoyable BBQ led by our camp coordinator Judy.  

The camp consisted of five walks, with a lay day on Friday, and departure on Tuesday 7/5/24. Evening meetings to discuss walks and car pooling commenced at 4:30 followed by a cheery happy hour from 5:00.

Wednesday: We walked from Naracoorte caves to the town outskirts along the Naracoorte caves trail. Greeted with gentle slopes, pine forests, and lovely bushland areas, with some great red gums on display.

We were in the famous Wrattonbully wine region, with the renowned Terra Rossa soil, which assists greatly with producing many of the finest wines in Australia. The vines looked spectacular, in full autumn colours on display over the gently sloping hills.

There were some mixed farming paddocks along the way, adding to the fine scenery – sheep, cattle, and some crops. A great walk to commence our camp with the weather around 20 degrees, and sunshine all the way.

Thursday: Today’s walk took place at Big Heath Conservation Park in Spence. Driving out past Bool Lagoon (dry at present) and onto some fairly gentle off road tracks. We parked in a clearing, immediately enjoying the beautiful bushland setting, with well established trees (gums mostly), some interesting ferns, and magnificent banksias. Not surprisingly, we were greeted with harmonious bird song, with a feast of food for them in this habitat. The walking was mostly over flat sandy terrain, with great locations for morning tea and lunch breaks. We came across a wombat burrow in the sandy soil complete with perfectly marked paw prints on entry and egress. Delightful!

Lay Day Friday:  Numerous activities were undertaken, once again in the sunshine after a cool morning. In Naracoorte, visits included the Art Gallery, a historical self guided tour, the town walk, the creek walk, the Art trail (several lovely murals), the Sheep museum, and a walk up the hill to visit all the lovely picturesque churches. Great buildings, and wonderful views over the valley and township. The world famous Naracoorte cave system was also enjoyed, essential if you are in the area. Further afield Penola, and Mount Gambier (Umpherston Sinkhole) were visited and explored. Also, the Bool Lagoon, an enormous wetlands system. Unfortunately at this time it was completely dry. A Ranger advised that the best time to visit is late Spring, early Winter. He carried a gun to deal with feral cats in traps. Foxes were seen, kangaroos, and a variety of birds. The star was a goshawk resting on a large dead tree surveying the territory. Also a family of quails was encountered. Wineries which were numerous were also visited with tastings and platters enjoyed.

Saturday:  Fairview Conservation Park. Again a beautiful morning greeted us. Sandy tracks, lovely bushland, with once again delightful banksias on display. Inquisitive kangaroos kept us amused whilst we tackled mostly flat terrain, with the exception of a reasonably challenging hill. Some opted to tackle the climb pre-lunch, others after.

Sunday:  Padthaway Conservation Park. This was the longest walk encountered on this camp, with most participants covering just over 13 kilometers. Similar scenery as other walks, with delightful large gum trees, banksias, and good natural flora. A completely opposite view was encountered whilst walking the undulating tracks, that of a rusted out skeleton of an old utility truck. Left over one assumed from a bygone era from possibly a once worked smallholding. A few more hills were climbed on sandy tracks that gave the respiratory and muscular systems an honest workout. Kangaroos looked on during our efforts.

Monday:  Naracoorte caves car park. The walk of approximately 9 kilometers was a fairly flat out and back walk. We encountered plenty of kangaroos, and signs of wombats. Wrong time of the day for any sightings of wombats, but a favourite area for these creatures with the easy-to-burrow terrain on this linear walk. Most walkers finished in the coffee shop which was within the infrastructure of the caves and museum complex. An early finish ensued with a view to returning to base for some packing on our last evening. Later, we attended the Naracoorte Hotel for some fine dining, and to celebrate the completion of the camp, and as always new friendships formed.  A huge thank you to Judy, the camp coordinator, her administration personnel who dealt with car pooling and finances, and to all the walk leaders. The hard work that makes a camp successful was very much appreciated by all the attendees. Well done!