Minnamurra Falls
24 February 2025 / Story: Bob Downing, Rose Smith; Photos:Anda Clayton' Rose Smith, Linda Downing, Karen Olde, Lesley Warner
Minnamurra Falls Run
18th February 2025
Rose had promised us something different for this run and this was achieved. With a starting time of 9:30am everyone was assembled at Hungry Jacks by 9:15am giving plenty of time to purchase coffees. Instead of the usual rainbow assortment of MX5 colours white again prevailed, 4 in fact, accompanied by a lone blue and lone red, later to be joined by another white and a silver car, plus a lone Nissan Patrol which hid itself away from the crowd. Definitely a first, for 5 white cars on a South Coast run.
After leaving Hungry Jack's Geoff led us on a sometimes-spirited drive along the freeway to the Kiama turnoff to Jamberoo where we took the roads less travelled across and around Saddleback Mountain to Jamberoo. As many of us hadn't travelled that way before, we saw sights which were spectacular at times, with views up and down the valleys and out to the Ocean (and the occasional countryside odours)
On arrival at the national park, we headed to the furthest parking area and then traversed down the hill via many stairs to the Information Centre where we had morning tea before the most hardy of us took the walk up to the falls. A few of us less mobile individuals stayed back to mind the lunches and spent an enjoyable hour so chatting about many things, mainly non mx5 related.
The easy walking track was only partially opened, so we all decided to take the longer track up to see the falls. Perhaps Rose should have carried the AED as this walk was all uphill and quite steep in many places. Some found the walk fairly easy, but most of the group were doing some serious huffing and puffing as we trekked up the boardwalk. However, we all agreed it was worth the effort. The track to the falls was magnificent, we were surrounded by large ferns, staghorns, trees and vines and could hear rushing water under us for almost the entire track. Luckily, we also got to see three lyrebirds scratching around in the undergrowth. At the top of the walk, we spent quite a bit of time admiring the falls, which also gave us time to recover for the return walk.
After an enjoyable picnic, and with everyone rested and refreshed it was soon time to say our farewells until the next time that we meet.
