Lake Tyers State Park is just a few kilometres from Lakes Entrance and after a visit with our son and his family to Lake Tyers Beach, a walk and lunch at the Take Tyers Beach Tavern, we thought we should visit for radio and bird-watching purposes. ‘Lake Tyers State Park extends from Lake Tyers Beach to Mount Nowa Nowa.  Tall eucalypt forests surround the northern shores of Lake Tyers, and a thin sand spit divides the lake from the ocean’ State Government Parks Brochure.

Now I can relax!

We actually spent time at the park on two subsequent days: 23rd and 24th April. On the 23rd April we drove to Lake Tyers House Road and followed the road towards the sea. The map shows four roads/tracks into the Park. We drove down a track closer to the Highway (the Parks Guide called it Devils Hole Track) and not quite as far in as Happy Valley Track. The four wheel-drive track was quite sandy and care is needed as it was soft. We came to a clearing and I set up there. The bush was magnificent although not like the rain forests of the mountain parks. This track does not provide access to the water.

Before arriving at the Park with our family we visited the Stony Creek Trestle Bridge on the now closed Orbost line. The bridge is 276 metres long and 19 metres high and was built early in the 20th century. It is only about four kilometres from the highway at Nowa Nowa and is well worth a visit.

While there the Veterans’ Motor Cycle Club arrived to visit the bridge. These folk all had Indian motor-cycles, both new and vintage. It was a most impressive display of these wonderful machines. I was given a most informative tour of the motor-bikes and they invited me to take some photos.

Day One Contacts

04:58 VK5FMAZ/P Marija at Cooltong Conservation Park, VKFF-0823

VK5PAS/P also Cooltong Conservation Park

VK2KYO

VK3VLA

VK7DW

VK1AT/3

VK3FPSR

VK7JON

VK2NP

VK5KLV

VK3SQ

VK4FW/P Nour Nour National Park VKFF-0701

VK2LX

VK4GSF

VK3VIN

VK3TKK

VK5WG

VK4RF

VK4HA

VK4AB

VK7FOLK

VK5HYZ/P Scott Creek Conservation Park VKFF-0788

VK2EXA

VK3HSB

VK3YSP

VK3FOWL

VK2UCT

VK3PF/4 D’Augilar National Park VKFF-0129 & VK4/SE-043

VK3MNZ

VK3FSPG

VK3MPR

VK3ANL/P QRP VK3/VU-002

VK3CWF

05:48 VK4VXX

All contacts were on 40 metres, 15 Watts from Yaesu 857D and linked dipole. I tried 20 metres without success.

Day two contacts 

On day two, 24th April, we drove to the Westerly boundary of the park (visible from the highway) and at the first access point to the park after leaving Lakes Entrance. We drove down the road towards the sea and took Petersons Road to Toorloo Arm. Petersons Road is clearly marked on the Visitors’ Guide but not named in the map shown above. We could see private property from where I set up near the southern boundary of the Park. The Visitors’ Guide map is much better than the map I have reproduced. I did not have a copy of that map on the days we visited.

All contacts were on 40 metres and I was on the air  at 03:25.

VK2LAX/P Rod in VKFF-0417

VK2IO/P VKFF-0522

VK2VKB

VK5FANA

VK4TJ

VK4FW

VK2NP

VK2MZ

VK3TKK/P Port Campbell National Park VKFF-0420

VK3SFG

VK3GGG

VK3PMG

VK5FD/P

VK5ZAI

VK4VXX/2 Mutawintji National Park VKFF-0374

VK5ZK

VK5PAS/M

VK5FMAZ/M

VK2XAB/M

VK3MRE

VK3TKK/P Twelve Apostles Marine National Park VKFF-0420

VK3FNCE

VK4ARW

VK3ARH

VK2EME

VK5FMAZ/P Morgan Conservation Park VKFF-0911

04:49 VK5PAS/P Morgan Conservation Park VKFF-0911

I then moved to 21.076 to try JT65A. I was hoping to work some Asian DX. As I was setting up and using my 40 metre antenna, I heard loud signals but by the time I was ready to operate the band had gone dead.

Lakes Entrance

Lakes Entrance is a great spot for a holiday. We certainly enjoyed our stay and for the week we were there the weather was splendid.

While at Lakes Entrance we did some walking along the lakeside, on 90 Mile Beach, took a cruise on the Lakes and saw lots of wild-life including seals.

The entrance to the Gippsland Lakes. Permanent dredging is required to keep the entrance open.

We took a three hour cruise on this very comfortable ship. The cruise was excellent.

Great Egret

Gaff rigged ‘Couta’ yatch: one of many racing on the Lakes.

White faced Heron

Juvenile Tern

The cruise was excellent for anyone interested in wild life and photography. These are just a few of the photographs I took.

Summary

I was able to activate five Parks (three more towards the Keith Roget Memorial National Park Award) and two SOTA summits conjointly on this holiday trip. The visit to Kara Kara National Park was my second activation.

1. Kara Kara National Park and West of England Fire Tower 45 qsos
2. Kinglake National Park 32 qsos
3. Yarra Ranges National Park and Mount Donna Buang 59 qsos
4. Snowy River National Park 61 qsos
5. Lake Tyers State Park 61 qsos making a total of 258 qsos

Once again thanks to all who gave me a call and a special thanks to those who spotted me in the various locations.

Jenny identified sixty species of birds (‘qsos’?) on the trip and her trusty Morcombe Field Guide is nearly falling apart!