Tim the Yowie Man: Hanging Rocks

"In this modern era of complex hi-tech gizmos it's good to know there are still simple ways to record the weather," says Moore, who wonders "if there are there other 'weather rocks' in Australia?"

While I can confirm there are a number of other weather rocks of similar meteorological sophistication in far flung parts of rural Australia, including Tenterfield in northern NSW, Moore's question prompted your akubra-clad columnist to embark on a quest in search of 'hanging rocks', either by name or by nature, located closer to Canberra. Here's my Top 4. Have I missed any?

Tidbinbilla's Hanging Rock is a site of significance for Aboriginal people who refer to this gigantic rock overhang as 'yeppungbilly'.

Prior to European settlement of our region, family groups and male hunters camped beneath it. Today, an easy 500 metre (return) walk from the Tidbinbilla Ring Road leads you to the impressive natural shelter.

If you go: Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is located just to Canberra's south-west via Paddys River Rd. Entry fees apply. Ph: 6205 1233 or Web: tidbinbilla.act.gov.au

Tip: The walk is very popular with school-groups, so if you want to enjoy some quiet contemplation at the site, visit early or late in the day.

"I carefully walked along the cliff line, which drops 40 metres to the sea below and hide any number of cracks, crevices and wind-carved hollows," recalls Jekabsons, adding, "it's also a great spot to watch migrating whales."

If you go: The Beecroft Peninsula is located near Currarong, a 3.5 hour drive from Canberra.

Warning: Take care of the steep drop-offs. Definitely not suitable if you suffer from vertigo.

For thousands of years a bus-sized ironstone pillar stood proudly at Catalina, on the outskirts of present day Batemans Bay.

The giant rock, a known focal point for the Walbunja people, was surrounded by she-oaks, one of which grew out around the rock, making it appear to 'hang' out of the tree.

The landmark was also popular amongst more contemporary visitors to the coastal town, especially in the 1970 and '80s, when adventurous children staying with their parents at the adjoining "Hanging Rock Family Motel' would often climb up the rock to impress their siblings.

"Let's just say it was a lot harder for them to get back down, than to go up," recalls Tommy Brooks, who has run the motel since 1973, "and had a hell of a job" to help many red-faced kids "back down the side of the rock".

However, sadly for both the local community and visitors, the rock was controversially demolished by the local council in the mid-1990s.

"The council said they needed to get rid of it in order to construct a roundabout," laments Brooks, adding "but it was all for nothing as they didn't end up proceeding with the road works after all."

Today, all that remains of the significant site are boulder-sized chunks of the original rock which Brooks managed to salvage, and which are now scattered on the nature strip and out the front of the motel.

"Most guests arrive, unaware that one of the south coast's most significant landmarks once stood here," reports Brooks. "Some even ask why the motel is named after Hanging Rock in Victoria!" Of course, that "Hanging Rock" catapulted to notoriety following the release of Peter Weir's 1975 mystery drama, Picnic at Hanging Rock, which was adapted from the 1967 novel of the same name by Joan Lindsay.

If you go: Historic photos of the rock adorn the walls of the Reception at The Hanging Rock Family Motel which is at Beach Road, Batemans Bay, opposite the Catalina Golf Club.

Fortuitously, earlier this week, my luck finally changed and I was finally able to photograph the rock in all its glory.

If you go: For safety reasons, stopping in your car right at the sign is not recommended. Instead, if you want to photograph the rock (or replace it with a bigger one….), turn down Hanging Rock Road, park and then walk back along the nature strip to the sign.

This column's recent significant feat in featuring no less than 24 attractions on the drive between Canberra and the snow left some readers disappointed that even more points of interest weren't highlighted.

One of the more obscure complaints was filed by John Cairns who bemoans that "coverage of the Monaro Highway around Billilingra did not mention the ostrich(s)!"

According to Cairns, who "from time to time drives a courier van to Cooma and back", the eagle-eyed motorist can often spot an ostrich or two "in the paddock on the property on your right, heading south after you cross the creek."

Perhaps I should take heed of advice from Michael McFadden of Ngunnawal who believes this column has "opened a Pandora's box by publishing info on the road", and that I ought to write a sequel to his mother's now out of print guidebook on the much travelled highway (The Road South, Ruth McFadden, RNK Publications, 2005).

I hereby pledge that if I ever do take up McFadden's suggestion, in order to appease Cairns I will ensure that his beloved feathered friends have their very own chapter.

While recently hiking near Mt Tantangara in the Snowy Mountains, a number of ACT National Parks Association bushwalkers, including Ed Highley, stumbled upon this "fleeing dinosaur"

"It was clearly as startled as we were," reports Highley, referring to its some-what alarmed appearance.

I'm no palaeontologist, however my dinosaur-mad daughters reckon the fleeing creature "looks just like the Procompsognathus", a dinosaur that lived approximately 210 million years ago. Apparently the diminutive dino measured in at about 1.2 metres long, sported long hind legs, stiff tail and large clawed hands.

Clue: Out-of- the-way gallery.

Degree of difficulty: Very hard.

The successful Summerell beat a flood (no pun intended!) of other readers to the coveted prize including Anita DeLorenzo, of Kingston, David Kyburz, of Kambah, and Peter Kercher, of Holt, who recalls "swimming in the lake with family and friends" when he "was about nine years old." I trust it was in summer. Brrr.

How to enter: Email your guess along with your name and address to timtheyowieman@bigpond.com. The first email sent after 10am, Saturday August 13, 2016 with the correct answer wins a double pass to Dendy cinemas.

CONTACT TIM: Email: timtheyowieman@bigpond.com or Twitter: @TimYowie or write c/- The Canberra Times, 9 Pirie St, Fyshwick. You can see a selection of past columns here.