Mark VK2DI

The Barracks is quite an amazing series of buildings built, I believe, for the Army Artillery Corp during the 1930s. It’s been unused for years but is now getting a glam up as a venue for pop concerts and other events. Most of the buildings still need a lot of TLC however as do the grounds. Parking is easy - there are a number of spots around the complex. Entry is free as this isn’t even part of SHNP.

Behind the main group of buildings and what I imagine was the main parade ground, there’s another wide expanse of flat grass surrounded by trees and inhabited by a large rabbit population as well as quite a few brush turkeys. This area is very quiet and it’s where I set up my squid pole and G5RV junior. I’ve attached a satellite view map showing where I set up but you could pick any other spot around this big paddock.

Conditions weren’t great, foF2 less than 7MHz and T-index in the 50’s but noise level was very low and I made 21 contacts over about 90 minutes on 3 bands - mainly 40m.

This is a brand new site and, as I walk through it so often, I really wanted to activate it first.

The area around the lighthouse is fairly exposed so keep that in mind if you come here during the summer months.

I set up against the fence surrounding the old keeper’s cottage. There was some shade from a tree in the garden there and it meant I was set back from the main grassy area where people pass to and from the walking track along the cliff edge.

This part of the cliffside park is an off-lead dog area so keep that in mind during busy times. I wasn’t bothered by anyone or any dogs - mostly people just looked bemused although one person asked me what I was “measuring”!

Today I activated using just a 29ft (8.8m) EFW with no transformer into the ATU of the KH1. It seemed to work ok with VSWR less than 2 on the 3 bands I tried. Conditions weren’t great with foF2 of approx 5-6Mhz. All contacts were made on 40m. I tried 30 and 20 but without success.

1st activation of this beach and I probably won’t be in a hurry to come back. It’s “dog friendly” here and although I wasn’t too bothered by nosey dogs - it was a fairly cool and cloudy day - the beach is in a sorry state, littered with all many of flotsam and jetsam at the shoreline.

In any case I set up at the far eastern end of the beach close to where it disappears into private gardens. I used my center loaded vertical and erected it very close to the receding tide. Like Boothby Beach the other day, the noise level here was quite high, about s5, on 40m. I also worked 30 and 20 where it was a couple of s points lower but this is definitely not a low noise location.

Made 23 contacts in less than an hour and was pleased to get that beach done.

This little section of beach is at the adjacent to Lyne Park and the sailing club. You could be forgiven it was just a part of the (larger) Rose Bay Beach to the east but it’s actually a separate POTA entity.

Although it’s not a great swimming spot, it’s popular in the warmer months for small kids playing in the sand together with dinghy sailors nearby, kayakers etc. So, best time for a quiet activation is mid-winter during the week.

Today was perfect and there were only a few people with dogs around, the tide was way out and there was plenty of exposed sand to set up on. I used my KX2 together with a centre loaded vertical. I located myself close to the western end of the beach, adjacent to the sailing club ramp.

There was quite a bit of noise on 40m - I am pretty sure it was RFI rather than solar noise as the other bands were quiet. Despite the noise, I managed 23 contacts in a little less than an hour and was pleased that I’d finally got the first activation done at this location.

This is the southern-most of a line of little beach areas in Watsons Bay. Like Kutti it gets quite popular in the warmer months particularly with families as it’s very quiet and suitable for young kids.

Also like Kutti, there is a nice rock ledge, exposed at low tide, at one end (southern) where you can set up out of the way of beachgoers.

I activated immediately after Kutti which lead to two problems: the tide was starting to turn which meant I didn’t have a lot of time, and, I think many hunters thought I was still at the same park so it was tougher to make the quota.

In any case, I got to 10 and pulled out as the water was starting to wash up around the base of the squid pole.

This is a little beach accessed via a very narrow stairway next to the Vaucluse Sailing Club. If you didn’t know it was there, you’d miss it. The beach is quite popular with locals however, so the best time to try and activate (unless you like spectators) is during the winter. I was there in mid July and there were a couple of other people only - interestingly it was a balmy 19C.

At the far end (toward the west), there’s a nicely exposed rock ledge when the tide is out. I set up there and erected my squid pole in the adjacent sandy area.

Almost all local contacts but managed 22 in the log over the course of an hour.

I’ve been wanting to do this park ever since I got into POTA/WWFF a couple of years ago. Initially I thought I’d have to do it by boat but reading up on the park boundaries I realised that I can easily walk in and activate from below the MHW mark when the tide is out. Collins Beach is particular well suiited to this type of operation because there’s a wide expanse of exposed sand and rock at low tide.

I parked at the bottom of the access road opposite the Police Management Training School. It was a a Monday in mid-winter so no problems parking. That might not be the case in mid-summer or on a weekend. While you’re there North Head is a great area for a walk. Before the activation I did a 6km loop up to Kippax Lookout and back.

I set up on a rock ledge on the southern side of the beach. The only problem was that the sun was quite fierce and, certainly at any other time of the year, would have been a challenge.

Hunters were generous and I made 23 contacts in 70 minutes with the KH-1 and 12.5m EFW.

My previous activation involved a fair bit of physical effort rushing back to the car before some rain so I hoped this one could be done from the vehicle and that proved to be the case.

Maroota Ridge CA consists of several parcels of land, the largest two bisected by Pacific Park Rd. I drove down that road hoping to find a clearing to one side where I could set up just within the bounds of the park. I found a good spot almost all the way to Pacific Park which is apparently a motorcycle and ski park. That became more obvious due to the constant sound of trail bikes during the course of the afternoon.

I used the wheel stand for the squid pole and oriented the G5RV east/west and ended up with 41 contacts in the log - my best activation yet. Most of them were locals but I also got Jess W6LEN in the log, a couple of Js and an Italian. It was nice to be able to sit in the comfort of the car rather than on a rock somewhere.

There are lots of places you could set up to do an activation but I wanted to do it from Warrah Lookout which overlooks the entrance to Cowan Creek and has views right out to Broken Bay and Palm Beach.

There’s a fire trail road to the trig station but it’s usually gated off which means a walk of about 1.7Km. You can park just off Patonga Rd at the entrance to the trail. The walk is not particularly scenic - just a gravel road, but the view and the lookout is worth it. When you get to the trig, the lookout is about 500m further on down a well maintained path that involves quite a lot of stairs. The lookout is fenced so that made for a convenient support from my squid pole.

There were periodic showers today so I only had about 45 mins or so of airtime before spying another dark grey grey cloud bank approaching. Fortunately I had 19 in the log by then.

This reserve adjoins Bents Basin so, in most cases, you can do both on the one day. However, when I came to Bents Basin a few months ago I didn’t have enough time. So, I was pleased to have a chance to come back and get this one done.

The Nature reserve used be part of Bents Basin but they split it off because of concerns that the recreational uses of BB were compromising the conservancy status of the ridge above it. You now enter the reserve from a gate adjacent to the Durawi Carpark.

From there it’s a very steep climb up a rock-strewn fire trail to the top of the ridge. I walked about 1.3Km until I came to the turn-off which takes you down to the lookout over the nearby gorge. I setup the squid pole on a metal signpost and used my G5RV jr antenna with the KX2. Twenty seven contacts over about 90 mins before pulling up sticks and wandering down the hill again.

It was a lovely afternoon and I was completely alone, only meeting a few walkers coming up the other way as I returned.

New park for me and it’s been a while since I’ve been here. I walked up to the river and then around the Brickpit loop which is quite spectacular and recommended.

There are plenty of quiet places to set up a POTA station but I chose just off Bicentennial drive opposite the Village Green playground and overlooking a fairly big lawn area which gave the EFW a good look at the sky. Used the KX-2 and made 16 contacts in a little over an hour. The bands were in good shape but not too many people about, it seems.

The advantage of this location is that it’s quite close to amenities and the cafe where you can buy coffee and somethig to eat.

First activation for this newly added location today. It’s a huge site that you can drive in and around. You do need to keep the speed down as there are many pedestrians wandering around, as well as dogs. Much of the space is an “off leash” dog area.

There are plenty of places you can set up operation. I chose a spot with a bench seat and some shade along Military Road, which is just up from the oval adjoining Iron Cove. I used the KX2 with my 6m lightweight squid pole supporting the 15m doublet. It was a bit close to a tree and I think this affected the tuning but I managed to get a decent match and the reports were ok.

There are amenities onsite (I found some next to the oval) as well as water. This is also an easy POTA site to activate if you want to operate from your vehicle.

Another new park activated today. Berry Island is not an island any more but it was when Australia was first colonised and it has great significance to First Nations peoples.

The tide was out so I walked down to the rocky shelf on the eastern side and set up my doublet. Using the KX2 I made 19 contacts in exactly an hour.

It’s a really nice spot quite close to the city and there are local amenities and easy street parking. Wollstonecraft station is only a short walk away if coming by public transport.

Another brand new site that I activated today. I only had a little time so just got to the 10 contacts and then left. The boundaries of this mid-city Sydney (https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/env/pages/a591988f-c06f-4436-a2f4-81ce82cd4179/files/governors-domain-civic-precinct-location-boundary-map.pdf) site are quite large but there are only really a few locations you can set up without getting in the way of the general public. The red shaded areas on the map are where I consider the best spots are. Only downside of this location is occasional EMI from the Naval ships close by.

This is a brand new site that I activated for the first time today although I’ve visited this place many times before. You can google the history behind the site but suffice to say the grounds are expansive with several quiet corners where you can erect a modest antenna arrangement and operate. There is also a free carpark and toilets onsite. I set up toward the back of the estate where it is encircled by Olola Avenue and overlooking a paddocky area. There were two nice bench seats there. Initially I used an EFW but condx weren’t good so I put up the doublet and that helped.