Other Activities in Croajingolong National Park

Quick Links: Photography -Recreational Fishing -Shipwrecks - Washed Up Items - Exploring the Lakes - Birdwatching - Plant Identification

Introduction to Other Activities in Croajingolong National Park

For the overnight bushwalker there are many interesting activities to do whilst in the national park areas besides just walking. Photography, recreational fishing, exploring shipwrecks. bird watching, identifying interesting plants and discovering the many items which get washed up on the beaches make for interesting subjects.

Photography

Nature photography is excellent with vibrant colours in the flora, fauna and landscape. 'Subjects' abound in the area - some of the themes you may wish to follow are: plants, animals, birds, patterns, textures, colours, and shadows. For budding photographers, early morning and late afternoon often provides the best lighting conditions. Midday light is extremely harsh because of the added reflections from the sand and sea.

As the wind constantly blows in this area, early morning conditions are somewhat better before winds strengthen mid-morning. As sand is a continual hazard ensure your camera equipment has suitable protection. Depending on your personal preference for lenses, I would recommend the following: 28-80, 100-300 and a macro which enables close-ups of insects and flowers. Always take more film than less. If using a digital camera make sure you have spare batteries and extra memory cards. It's a long way to the shop!

Some of the more interesting areas to photograph include:

• Fauna - Lake Barracoota for sea-eagles taken from the top of the sand dunes, Lake Wau Wauka for wading birds and the occasional snake, Bunyip Hole for birds of prey and frogs, the reef at Iron Prince for seabirds, Wingan Inlet for whelks and reptiles, Sandpatch Wilderness for many species of birds

• Flora - interesting flora abounds everywhere, but particularly on the interface between dunes and heath, and behind cliff lines.

• Crustaceans, rocks, sand seaweeds - the reef at Iron Prince and to the immediate north of Cape Howe provide many interesting subjects.

• Sand dunes - to the immediate east of Lake Wau Wauka, and for the largest dunes behind Cape Howe; the dunes surrounding Thurra River and Pt Hicks

Other themes which could be followed are colours, patterns and lakes and waterholes. Let your imagination fly!

The patterns and colours of rocks are one of the photographic themes you could try.

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Recreational Fishing

Recreational fishing is permitted in the national park, but you will need to obtain a Recreational Fishing Licence. There are some restrictions in taking marine animals from the Cape Howe Marine National Park. For more details contact Parks Victoria.

Shipwrecks

There are 2 small shipwrecks able to be seen between Mallacoota and Cape Howe. One, near Tullaberga Island, west of Gabo Island, close to the beach and quite visible at low tide is the remains of the Riverina. A steel steamship of 4758 tons, she did a trading run between Sydney and Hobart until she ran ashore in a squall in 1927. However during World War 2, she was used for bombing practice by the RAAF, so only the bow and stern posts are visible at low tide.

The other shipwreck remains are immediately below the marker which delineates Cape Howe proper, known as Conference Point. After finding the marker, you will find the remains about 20 m below, where the rockline begins. It has been washed up a long way from the water's edge since the original grounding occurred in 1923. These remains are from the S.S. Iron Prince after which the nearby reef is named.

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Washed-up Items

Treasure hunting along the beaches can reveal many items that have been washed up onto the beaches. Dead birds and fish, shells and man-made objects all provide fascinating viewing. Some of these items have been put to good use at the campsites in the way of seating, tables and decorations. Have a look at some of these more interesting items.

Exploring the Lakes and Rivers

Whilst exploring the lakes is rewarding around the edges, taking a li-lo with you enables you to explore some of the lake and river systems from a water viewpoint. It also provides a comfortable bed at night.

Lakes and estuaries worth exploring include:

East and north east of Mallacoota: Lake Barracoota, Lake Wau Wauka, the Bunyip Hole and Nadgee Lake.

West and south-west of Mallacoota: Benedore River, Red River, Wingan Inlet, Mueller River and the Thurra River.

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Birdwatching

If you are a keen birdwatcher, Croajingolong is a watcher's paradise. You will get forest and heath birds, birds of prey, water birds includng ducks and birds that hang out on reefs. Make sure you take a pair of binoculars and a field guide to birds if you need it.

There are many seabirds including cormorants, plovers, oyster catchers,
mutton birds and Little Penguins - a birdwatcher's paradise!

Plant Identification

If you are interested in plants, this is the place to go. Because there are so many different plant communities, you get such a variety from dune grasses, to wetland sedges and reeds, to heath plants and eucalpyt forests. If you are interested in native bush foods there are many that you can try. I find it's best to photograph a plant, note its environment and the identify from books that you may have at home.

Some of the plants found in the heathland communities include, Old Man banksia, sundew, clematis, native heath, melaleuca armillaris, flax lily and the fruits of the coast beard heath

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