Ben Boyd & South East National Park

24th till 29th September 2012

Staying in Merimbula for a few casual days we explored the south end of NSW including Ben Boyd National Park. Nice NP with easy gravel road to very windy Lighthouse. Also checked out the whaling station across the lagoon of Eden. Again seen a red-belly snake and this time even got a picture.

After restocking supplies we planned a few days in South East National Park. Forecast looked good and we had a great walk from Alexanders Hut. Seen some wild wombat and interesting and changing surroundings. The hut has been used until 1980 before it became a shelter for hikers and campers. After a windy night we decided to head down Postman's Track out of the National Park. Unfortunately for us we followed the signed posted in the park which lead us down an old and not used anymore path. The descent became rapidly a heavy 4WD challenge and once commited there is no return. On the bottom of the hill approx. 200m away from farmland there was a huge tree across the track. Shit. As we had phone reception we called the rangers only to be told that the wind did major damage in the park and they have to send out some guys with chainsaws to cut us out. After hours of waiting finally the rangers arrived and we had to do the hole steep climb again. Our Prado made us proud though and unlike the rangers we didn't have to winch up our car!! Glad to get out of the park we stayed overnight in Bombala as we smashed our back window during the rescue exercise. Well bad luck but happy to be out and safe.

We learned from the rangers regardless where we would have been in the park, all tracks were closed and impassable because of fallen tree and branches. So one way we were "lucky" to be stuck somewhere with phone reception.