Mark VK2DI

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.

Only 2nd time activating here. I walk through this park a lot and although it’s always busy, there are many quiet spots on the fringes that you could choose to operate from. Today I chose the large grassy area next to Musgrave Pond. I only had an hour and only just managed to get 10 contacts. I used my HF-009 vertical on a tripod. It blew over several times due to wind gusts!

I’ve been to this park a couple of times and never had a huge amount of success. Today was no different!

16 contacts over 90 minutes or so. This time I chose an operating position overlooking the big oval just under a tree which, I calculated, was just within the borders of the park. Shade was good and the surrounding ground was nice and soft for the squid pole ground spike. Operated with the KX2 + 12.5m EFW

Great little spot located on the Hermitage Foreshore Track on Sydney Harbour. Best when the tide is running out to get the most operating time without worrying about getting stuff wet. It’s not a large beach so pick a quieter period ie. mid-week, winter, when you have it to yourself. Using KH-1 and 12.5m EFW today.

This is an easy and pleasant spot to operate from. Parking can be a challenge in Watsons Bay so bear that in mind. Best place to work from is just behind the NP cottage - there’s a little beaten path on the right hand side. This site is also in Sydney Harbour NP AU1716 - a 2fer! Used the KX-2 with 12.5m EFW.

Activated this one again over the weekend. The headland path is closed on weekends due to rifle range shooting so I headed to the western part of the park overlooking the range and found a great rock ledge with some shade. Used the 12.5m EFW with a squid pole.

I entered from Pioneer Park where there is plenty of parking. It’s a walk of about 500m or so to the rock ledge which is just off the main track as you start to go down the other side of the hill.