Leaders: John Gregurke, Rob and Glenise Moors. Monday 31 January 2006.

The bus departed base at 8.07am for Dainer’s Gap. Here the Rainbow Lake excursioners were dropped off and the bus continued to Perisher Valley with the Porcupine Creek crew.

To Rainbow Lake. Leading the Rainbow Lake contingent were Rob and Glenise Moors. The walk started at 8.45 under an increasingly overcast sky and pleasant breeze. Rainbow Lake was built to supply water to the Kosciuszko Hotel, which was completed in 1909. The hotel was burnt down in 1951 but the staff quarters were spared destruction and remain as Sponar’s Chalet. Birds, insects and plants abounded, the highlights being as follows:

• Flame Robins including two mature males
• female Sawflies guarding young
• a Harvestman.
• beautiful Brown butterflies Xenica sp
• orange and green Chrysomelid beetles.
• beautiful yellow-flowered water plants Nymphoides crenata.

The general impression of the lake was one of tranquility and many sat and enjoyed the atmosphere. Some younger visitors had a different impression of the lake however, as the young do. There is an old jetty at the end of the lake and there seemed to be some planks and maintenance in short supply. Three of the gigglers took up the challenge of walking out on the jetty and had made the half way point while I was watching. I must confess to having my camera at the ready in “splash” setting. Now why didn’t any of us think of doing that?

Continuing the highlights,

• we disturbed a large brown and red grasshopper Monistria concinna.
• we found Native Flax and Jointed Rush
• Spreading Rope Rush which is in Family Restionaceae, a wholly Australian family.

To Perisher Valley. The other half of our group was ably led by John Gregurke. They were dropped off at Perisher Gap, passed to the west of Mt Wheatley, climbed to Porcupine Rocks for morning tea and descended to Perisher Valley by a different route.

A highlight was the closely jointed granite, which has weathered to pointed tops, leading to the description “Porcupine Rocks”. They also observed fruit fly like insects in Yam Daisiesand Fan Flower patches. There was a good view into Thredbo Valley.

Another noteworthy find was a skink attacking a slightly smaller one of the same species. The outcome appeared to be fatal to the smaller contestant. This is probably a fate shared by many skinks, but not often seen by human observers.

Sawpit Creek. Both groups were picked up by the bus at their respective finishing points and taken down to Sawpit Creek Picnic Area. We had a leisurely lunch and broke into our afternoon groups. One group walked the Sawpit Track and was then bussed to Thredbo River Picnic Area while the other walked from Sawpit to Thredbo River on the Pallaibo Track.

The Sawpit group highlights included Superb Fairywren, Sacred Kingfisher and Eastern Spinebill as well as the Mountain Beard-heath with red berries.

The Pallaibo Track walkers had a generally downhill walk which was just as well because the weather was warming up. As in all other places visited, the hand of man was clearly evident, not only in the infrastructure such as paths and creek crossings but also in the presence of weeds. Scotch Thistle was but one.

Native plants were numerous including delightful Royal Bluebell and numerous Native Raspberries. Several skinks were seen. One was grey, about 30cm long with a white dorsal line. Another was a large Blue Tongue with pronounced pink markings. The oddest of all was very dark with pointed scales over the entire top and sides. A male Mountain Grasshopper was seen. Excellent birding was had, particularly on the higher part of the walk amid the eucalypts through to the Thredbo River Picnic Ground.

Everyone agreed that it had been an excellent day and full credit should go to the leaders: Rob, Glenise and John.

Frank Truscott

1: Black Sallee at Sawpit Creek. 1994.
2: Rainbow Lake. 1994.