After packing up at Peggs Beach (19th November 2022), Marija and I drove the short distance down the road to the Little Peggs Beach State Reserve VKFF-1812.

Above:- Map showing the location of Little Peggs Beach State Reserve. Image c/o Google maps.

The Little Peggs Beach State Reserve is located just a little further to the east from Peggs Beach. It is located on the northern and southern side of the Bass Highway and includes Little Peggs Beach and Brickmakers Beach. The nearby settlement of Cowrie Point was formerly called Brickmakers Bay also.

Above:- An aerial view of the Little Peggs Beach State Reserve. Image c/o google maps.

Little Peggs Beach State Reserve is 140 hectares in size and was gazetted on the 30th day of April 1999.

Marija and I operated from the Brickmakers Beach Rest Area. We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.

Above:- An aerial view of the park showing our operating spot. Image c/o Google Earth.

It was the 10th anniversary of the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program and as a result we managed quite a few Park to Park contacts with the numerous VK park activators who were out and about to celebrate the event.

In about an hour Marija and I logged 74 QSOs including 22 Park to Park contacts.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-

1. VK3TUN/p (Burgess Swamp Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2285)
2. VK2HQ/p ( Parma Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-2698)
3. VK2BYF/p (Parma Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-2698)
4. VK2OKR/p (Hunter Wetlands National Park VKFF-0595)
5. VK3APJ
6. VK5TRM
7. VK3SQ
8. VK2EXA
9. VK2HHA
10. VK3ZPF
11. VK3AMO
12. VK2MET
13. VK1AO
14. VK2HBG/p (Bargo River State Conservation Area VKFF-1272)
15. VK3BEZ/p (Tarra Bulga National Park VKFF-0480)
16. VK3UAO
17. VK2VW
18. VK2HFI

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK2VW
2. VK2HFI
3. VK3BEZ/p (Tarra Bulga National Park VKFF-0480)
4. VK3CLD/p
5. VK1DI/p (The Pinnacle Nature Reserve VKFF-0862)
6. VK2OKR/p (Hunter Wetlands National Park VKFF-0595)

Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK2IO/p (Barrenjoey Head Aquatic Reserve VKFF-3246)
2. VK4MGL/p (Tingalpa Creek Conservation Park VKFF-1660)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB before the UTC rollover:-

1. VK3TUN/p (Burgess Swamp Wildlife Reserve VKFF-2285)
2. VK2HQ/p ( Parma Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-2698)
3. VK2BYF/p (Parma Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-2698)
4. VK2OKR/p (Hunter Wetlands National Park VKFF-0595)
5. VK3APJ
6. VK5TRM
7. VK3SQ
8. VK2EXA
9. VK2HHA
10. VK3ZPF
11. VK3AMO
12. VK2MET
13. VK1AO
14. VK2HBG/p (Bargo River State Conservation Area VKFF-1272)
15. VK3BEZ/p (Tarra Bulga National Park VKFF-0480)
16. VK4NH
17. VK4DXA
18. VK3UAO
19. VK2VW
20. VK2HFI

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB after the UTC rollover:-

1. VK2VW
2. VK2HFI
3. VK3BEZ/p (Tarra Bulga National Park VKFF-0480)
4. VK3CLD/p
5. VK7GH
6. VK2EXA
7. VK3SQ
8. VK1DI/p (The Pinnacle Nature Reserve VKFF-0862)
9. VK3HKV
10. VK5ZSA
11. VK3NDG
12. VK3FACD
13. VK2OKR/p (Hunter Wetlands National Park VKFF-0595)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4NH
2. VK4DXA
3. VK4CZ
4. VK4SMA
5. VK3BBB/5
6. VK2CCP/5
7. VK4TJ
8. VK2VW
9. VK2HFI
10. VK5KLV
11. VK2IO/p (Barrenjoey Head Aquatic Reserve VKFF-3246)
12. VK4MGL/p (Tingalpa Creek Conservation Park VKFF-1660)
13. VK2YK
14. VK5GA
15. VK4EHI

Marija and I packed up and we decided to go for a drive to Dip Falls and the Big Tree. We travelled south along the Mawbanna Road and then on to the Dip Falls Road.

The Dipps Falls are located in the Dip River Forest Reserve. There are two viewing points of the waterfalls. One of those includes a staircase which takes you down to the base of the falls. We did this walk and despite it being a challenge coming back up, it was highly worth it.

The falls themselves are a two tiered waterfall, with the largest drop at the base of the waterfall.

Whilst we were at the falls a group of 4WD buggies arrived. What a great way to travel.

We then drove a short distance to The Big Tree, a 400 year old, 65 metre tall Stringybark tree with a 16 metre circumference.

We then drove back along Mawbanna Road and stopped at Blue Hills Honey where we had a beautiful meal and enjoyed the live music. We also purchased some of their magnificent honey and a few gifts for the grandkids.

We then headed to our final park for the day, the Rocky Cape National Park.

References.

1. Waterfalls of Tasmania, 2023, <https://waterfallsoftasmania.com.au/waterfalls/dip_falls>, viewed 8th January 2023.
2. Where in Tasmania?, Dennison, C.J., July 2003.