4th November. Varirata.

I'm led to believe that the next fantastic POM bushwalk will be at Varirata National Park, see your Lonely Planet for location details. We will still meet at the normal time and at the normal place, and as always with security in place, we will make our way to the start of the walk in convoy. Unfortunately, I will be away and will miss this walk.

Varirata is a fantastic place for a walk and if it is as wet as last time, then you'll be in for a giggle also, especially if poor shod walkers are witnessed going back down the hill faster than they are getting up! Keep and eye and ear out for the local guides as you may see Pigs, Deers or Wallabies amongst the growth, although the group needs to tread quietly for wildlife to be seen.

Heard is another thing as you will hear Birds of Paradise amongst the tree top canopy.

Remember to wear suitable footwear, when the track is wet, it is treacherous, but when dry, its a whole load of fun. The views from the lookouts are awesome and some of the best you'll see of Moresby and surrounds. Also remember to try to keep the group together, this walk is prone to stretching out the wheat from the chaff and it is difficult in parts. The security that travel with us are there for our safety so keep that in mind. Also please check out the Smart Traveller site for updates on Security issues in PNG. Go here: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ for further details.

And because this walk in mainly undercover doesn't mean you might not get sunburnt, and remember your insect repellant... Talk to your fellow walkers, because there are BBQs on site for the after walk lunch, and there is an awesome waterhole to swim at on your way out of the park. And it cost K5 per person for entry into the park, and go check out the Koiari Tree House, its a renovators delight nowadays!!!

Bisianumu Falls. a Review...

Last Sunday was a great walk. What started out as a leisurely stroll to the glory of Bisianumu Falls ended up being a fair walk. The second leg of the journey considerably longer than the first third.

16 intrepid walkers showed up at the morning meeting place, and we then travelled up to the Sogeri Plateau. The track out past the Sogeri Memorial towards McDonald's and Ower's corners was dry for the first part. We then entered the old Rubber Plantation and found our way to our safe car park.

Upon alighting from our vehicles I soon discovered that my local friend had left the day before to go hunting for Pigs and Wallabies, but young Inky was on hand to help act as our guide for the day. He remembered the POM bushwalkers from previous walks, and he knew where we wanted to go. So with guides alongside, we made our way to Bisianumu Falls.

It is a pleasant walk and not too taxing, but after just over an hour we made it to the Falls. We rested for a while and remained longer to appreciate the spectacular views on offer as one looks North over the Goldie River and beyond Imita Ridge to spy Kokoda Gap in the distance. The Owen Stanleys look fantastic from this point of view.

After a brief swim for some, we then decided to take the longer route home, and it was quite warm as we wandered up a spur to join a short ridge line, accompanied by the sweet sounds of the local birdlife. On top of the ridge, we turned left and made our way to the swamp where Inky told me that some time ago, a white man released his pet Crocodile into the swamp and it can still be seen amongst the reeds and palms on the far side.

A short time later, we were back into the Rubber Plantation and amongst the cool shade again. We were welcomed back warmly by the local community who were keen to share in our tales of the walk. And with their beaming smiles, we left to head back to POM but with the promise that we would be back again soon.

Mt Diamond Walk. (a review by another regular walker)

It was an overcast morning as we headed out to Mt Diamond school along the Magi Highway. After turning off at the (Name?) roundabout there was an easy drive along a short stretch of dirt road to the school grounds, an assortment of buildings among massive shade trees and manicured lawns. Five lads from the school armed themselves with grass machetes and acted as our guides leading the fourteen of us off on a track that snaked through head high, sharp edged guinea grass. This soon opened out into a bush road along a lush green valley of short grass dotted with gum trees and palms. After a while we started winding up through small hills of gums and grass trees. It was still overcast but had become hot and steamy so we took frequent breaks and admired the scenery. On one of the hillsides we came across a small arched entrance which was an old copper mine. Peering inside we could see a well defined shaft heading deep back into the hill. Apparently during the 1930’s they used to mine copper from this area, using donkeys to pull loaded carts down the hills and to a wharf at Bootless Bay. Part of our track lay along one of these old copper haulage roads.

We dropped down to a patch of forest and came across a lovely cool, fast flowing river and nearly all went through the rigmarole of taking off shoes and socks and wading through it, only to come to another river crossing ten minutes down the path. This time many of us were not so fussy and quickly ventured across. By now we were walking through fairly thick rainforest with the canopy overhead, the river flowing close to the path and occasionally crossing it and although hot and a tad slippery, it was great to be in the forest. Two hours after setting off we reached a gorgeous waterfall and all took a good half hour break. Rested we set out and went back along the same route and this time most of us strode straight through the stream and river crossings squelching our way back to the school. It was a really enjoyable walk, hot and steamy but not too hard and definitely worth it for the beautiful scenery of grasslands, rainforest and the waterfall.


ed note: I've lost the images that went with this walk. If anyone has a good snapshot of the Mt Diamond walk, could they forward it to me please?

I'm not lost...

Hi everybody. Sorry the blog has not been updated for some time, as I have been absent from NCD. But the walking has continued and there is talk that one of the new walkers has some wantoks out 9-mile way and that they may arrange a walk there next.

Keep you posted :)