Our 2024 Program

Sun 11 Feb – Walk – North Head – Bob S

Thu 29 Feb to Tue 5 Mar – Kahane Walking Weekend – Bob S

Fri 1 Mar – XC & BW Meeting – At Kahane 5pm Fri – Bob S

Sun 5 May – Walk – *** Cancelled due to wet weather *** Neutral Bay/Cremorne Point/Mosman Bay – Colin & Fiona B

Sat 1 Jun – Walk – Barren Grounds – Geoff V & Louise

Tue 4 Jun – Mid-Year Lunch – Drummoyne Sailing Club – Sally S

Sun 14 Jul *** Note revised date *** – Walk – Kamay NP – Russell B

Fri 26 Jul to Mon 29 Jul – XC Summit Tour – Bob S

Sat 3 Aug *** Note revised date *** – Walk – Sydney Harbour: Circular Quay to Wollstonecraft – Sharon/Chris/Harm

Sun 1 Sep to 8 Sep – Nordic Week 1 (Sun to Sun) – Bob S

Sun 8 Sep to 15 Sep – Nordic Week 2 (Sun to Sun) – Bob S

Sun 22 Sep – Walk – City Ramble – Annabelle T

Sun 13 Oct – XC & BW Meeting – Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, details to follow – Bob S

Sat 19 Oct – Walk – Blue Mtns – Andy & Marion C

Fri 8 Nov to Tue 12 Nov – 4WD Camping W/end – Abercrombie NP – Bob S

Sun 24 Nov XC/BW – Xmas Picnic/walk – Lane Cove NP – Bob S

Note that all SASC club members are welcome to join us on any of our XC events or bushwalks. If you are interested please contact Sally or Bob S or use the enquiry form at the right (web version) or below (mobile version).

Friday to Tuesday - 08 Nov to 12 Nov 2024. Abercrombie 4WD Camping Weekend.

We had a very pleasant few days at Jacquie's property in the Abercrombie NP. The weather was kind, the road in was in excellent condition and the river crossing was easy.

We had one walk along the Retreat River to the Sink Campground and another following the Licking Hole Creek.

We managed to do some useful work around the property while still finding time for a few camp oven dinners.

Many thanks to Jacquie for your hospitality

Saturday 19 Oct 2024. Blue Mountains. Overcliff-Undercliff track at Wentworth Falls.

Fifteen members met at the Conservation Hut Café, Wentworth Falls for an early coffee with a million-dollar view into the Jamison Valley.

We then descended from the café and followed the ‘Overcliff’ track stopping at several lookouts (incl Princes and Fletchers) to admire the views into the valley.

We stopped for lunch at Rocket Point Lookout with a magnificent view of Wentworth Falls.

After lunch we headed up to Wentworth Falls picnic area before completing our 8 km circuit back at the café, where we stopped for a well-earned afternoon coffee.

Many thanks to Andy and Marion for planning and leading our walk.

Sunday 22 Sep 24. Maroubra Beach, Malabar Headland and Little Bay.

We had a group of eighteen walkers on a perfect Spring Equinox day.

Starting point was the Pavilion Cafe at Maroubra Beach, and from there we took the popular 'Boora Point Walking Track' around to Malabar Beach.

After lunch, some walked further to Little Beach and a few others headed back to Maroubra Beach. Those who took the return option had to retrace their steps around the cliffs, as the planned route over the headland was closed by NPWS owing to fire control activity.

The walk to Malabar is on a well formed track while the second leg is a bit more challenging needing to negotiate two golf courses. We spotted a number of whales and had a relaxing lunch by the beach at Malabar.

Distance covered today was about 9 km.

Many thanks to Annabelle for arranging today’s outing.

Sep 2024. Nordic Weeks.

Nordic Week was a lot of fun with trips in all directions from Charlotte Pass.

Groups travelled to Mount Kosciuszko, Main Range, Betts Creek, Mount Carruthers, Mount Guthrie, the suspension bridge over Spencers Creek, and the Old Restaurant/Wright’s Creek.

The week featured mostly sunny days with lots of wind.

A snowfall on Monday provided some ‘freshies’ to play in.

Our accommodation at Southern Alps lodge was excellent especially the delicious meals provided by our wonderful Managers, Sam and Carl and their Team.

Saturday 3 Aug 24. Sydney Harbour foreshore - Circular Quay to Wollstonecraft.

From our meeting point at The Rocks end of George St, we made our way up various sets of steps to our mighty Sydney Harbour Bridge. Dodging walkers, runners and joggers, we made our way across and then back to ground level at Milsons Point Station.

Once past the yet-to-be-completed North Sydney Pool we took the boardwalk alongside Luna Park. After skirting Lavender Bay there was a morning tea stop at Blues Point. Next was the track along the upper section of Sawmillers Reserve and Berrys Bay, thence to Balls Head Reserve for lunch. Our break attracted some cheeky birds keen to share our food.

Soon after lunch, five walkers peeled off and headed for Waverton Station, while the rest of the group carried on around Oyster Cove then Badangi Reserve finishing at Wollstonecraft Station.

Altogether we had 19 walkers in the group today, including a couple of members who don't join us often. We especially thank Chris who planned and led the walk.

Star of the day was our sparkling Sydney Harbour - a gold medal performance on a magic day!

Friday 26 Jul 2024 to Monday 29 Jul 2024. XC Summit Tour

We had 22 skiers on the 2024 Summit Tour. This year we tried a new format, departing on Friday night and returning on Monday night. This arrangement is a better fit with the lodge bookings, and gives the skiers Saturday night in Thredbo.

There was good skiing on Saturday with a group heading towards Kosci and the Ramsheads.

The weather turned on Sunday and only one group managed to get up the mountain before the chairlift was put on windhold. It was a very testing day for XC skiing.

Monday was much better and provided a good day skiing between the Pass and Perisher.

Our backup accommodation at the KAC lodge was excellent with many thanks to their managers Stephan & Jules.

Sunday 14 Jul 2024. Kamay Botany NP. La Perouse to Cape Banks.

Russell Barnes led our group on a delightful walk around the northern foreshore of Botany Bay. Leaving the popular La Perouse tourist area, our group of fifteen first headed part-way down the Brown’s Rock track to a point where we had views over Botany Bay and the nearby Bare Island. This small islet is the site of a heritage-listed military fort and tunnels and is connected by a footbridge to La Perouse.

Further on, from Henry Head, we watched with interest huge container ships leaving and entering Botany Bay. We also spotted a couple of surfboard riders who had been towed out by jet ski, attempting (unsuccessfully) to catch the large swell.

Our morning tea stop was at the sheltered Cruwee Cove beach.

Skirting the New South Wales Golf Club grounds, we were able to reach Cape Banks proper. From there is was possible to look north along the sandstone coastal cliffs and admire the power of the swell and the pounding waves. Some of us speculated what the sea conditions might have been when Captain Cook came to the bay entrance in April 1770.

About a kilometre north from the Cape, we took an extended lunch break, scanning the ocean for whales. Unfortunately it was not a terribly good day for spouting-spotting, and there was little cause for excitement.

From there it was a return on the same track back to our staring point.

All told, with perfect weather and a perfect location, this was an excellent way to spend Bastille Day 2024.

Many thanks for Russell for organising the walk.

Tuesday 4 Jun 2024. Mid-year lunch at Drummoyne Sailing Club.

On Tuesday 4 Jun, thirty-six members met at the Drummoyne Sailing Club for our annual mid-year lunch. This is a great opportunity to catch up with many of our cross-country and bushwalking members.

The sailing club provides a beautiful outlook over the Parramatta River with plenty of room for our ever-expanding group.

This year we were honoured to help Andy Cairns celebrate his 90th birthday.

Many thanks to all who attended especially those who took time off work to attend.

Saturday 1 Jun 2024. Barren Grounds Nature Reserve.

Nine walkers journeyed to Barren Grounds Nature Reserve, about 20 km west of Kiama, and just off the Jamberoo Mountain Road. The Reserve is renowned for bird-watching and there is an accommodation block there for groups wishing to visit.

In overcast conditions, our leader Geoff took us on a loop walk, the Griffiths Trail.

A short leg off the trail took us to Illawarra Lookout. Directly below were the cabins of the Ben Ricketts Environmental Preserve and in the distance, it was just possible to make out the coastline.

Not wanting to tempt the weather gods unduly, we completed the 8 km walk before having lunch back at the picnic shelter. This proved to be a wise move, as it began to rain heavily soon after.

Despite the cool, overcast conditions, and the constant threat of rain, this was a most enjoyable outing, and we thank Geoff for leading our expedition.