Although there are a number of accessible hot springs in New South Wales (while on a recent trip to northern NSW, I was surprised to see a young man cooking a barbecue lunch while lazing in the 'Pilliga Pool' whose 'healing waters' are fed from a nearby artesian bore), the only 'hot spring' I'm aware of near Canberra is at Yarrangobilly Caves, in Northern Kosciuszko National Park.

Wedged up against the spine of the snowies, on a chilly early spring day the Yarrangobilly spring's 27 degree waters might not seem be quite warm enough to take a dip, but it has enticed travellers for well over a century. Although a small wooden platform was first built over the spring in 1896, the current pool (which is about 20 metres long and 2.5 metres deep) was constructed in 1969 by prisoners when Yarrangobilly was a place of detention. These days the cave are a tourist resort again and the spring's popular precinct features a children's wading pool, change rooms, toilets and picnic facilities.

The water also has a greenish tinge to it – partly because it's mildly mineralised (contains dissolved magnesium, sodium and calcium) and also because there's algae growing on its concreted bottom – apparently a sign that the water quality is good.

In fact, the water is so healthy here that the Eastern Banjo frog (also called the 'pobblebonk' due to it's distinctive 'bonk' call) frog breeds here and at this time of year you can sometimes see tadpoles swimming along the sides of the pool.

If you go for a dip, take care as there's no lifeguard. Also, as the pool is accessible via a steep 700-metre walk, only take the esky (or toddler) down if you are prepared to carry it (them) back up.

Meanwhile, despite several leads, this column is still no closer to solving the puzzle of the vanishing lake (June 14, 2014) south-east of Braidwood. The mystery body of water was highlighted by The Northern Star (Lismore, NSW) newspaper of 14 October 1876 when it published an article about a Reidsdale (15 minutes to the south of Braidwood) resident who "came across a small lake…reported to be at the very extreme edge of the table land, and so closely overlooking the sea that the surf can be seen rolling into the shore, and vessels passing can be distinctly observed."

In response to my shout-out to anyone who had visited the cryptic 'lake', Reidsdale local Gary Sully-Watkins writes that while he was once told of a number of 'perched lakes' in the Tallaganda State Forest, one of which is said to have a costal view, he "has never set eyes on any of them."

Peter Knobel reports that while he's not aware of the mystery body of water in question, around thirty years ago on a camping trip he trekked to an equally intriguing watery oasis — The Yellow Waterhole near Cleatmore (also referred to as Cheatmore Caves on some maps) Caves, in Deua National Park located 20-30kms south of Reidsdale.

Peter reports that early European settlers resorted to novel means to measure the depth of the seemingly bottomless hole and quotes an excerpt (p. 19) from a book titled Ballalaba to the Badja and Beyond… compiled and written by Yvette Conaghan, Ricky Cooper and Jeanette Hindmarsh and published by the Krawarree-Ballalaba Historical Group in 2011.

"According to the story passed on through the generations, an old identity of the district, Alf Heanes, tried to find the bottom of the hole with a long sapling. He then tied another sapling to the first and could only feel a type of muddy substance at the bottom. The waterhole was never known to go dry, and only once overflowed during a particularly wet season."

The same reference states that "according to local knowledge, the water was highly regarded by the aboriginals in the area for the healing properties it contained. They carried the water as far away as Yass to give to sick members of their community."

So while it may not be the 'hot springs' that Kateena Clarke is after, maybe a dip in the 'healing waters' of the Yellow Waterhole might be just what the doctor ordered.

If you've swum in the Yellow Waterhole or know of any 'hot springs' near Canberra, I'd love to hear from you.

Having a whale of a time
While recently exploring the shoreline of Lake Eucumbene at dusk, photographer Paul McIver stumbled upon this rock which bears a striking resemblance to a breaching whale. If you want to check-out the land-locked marine mammal look-a-like yourself, according to Paul, it's near "Seven Gates [a popular fishing spot] at the head waters of dam".

Meanwhile, if you prefer to marvel at whales of the flesh and blood kind instead, then now is an ideal time to beat a path to the south coast from where this column has been flooded with reports that the great whale migration south for summer has begun in earnest. For landlubbers, here are my top three vantage spots to whale watch:

1. Green Cape Lookout: Green Cape is in the southern portion of Ben Boyd National Park, 45 kilometres south-east of Eden. Allow four hours drive from Canberra, including at least 50 minutes from Eden (the last 21km is on a 2WD accessible dirt road). Park at the lighthouse car park and from there it's only a 300m level walk to the lookout. On a recent visit to the lookout, seasoned whale-watcher Sarah Chenhall of Eden "watched mesmerised as 4 pods hugged the coast", and adds "they literally steam, feed and play past Green Cape in their hundreds in September and October."

2. Wajurda Point Lookout: a short drive and walk north of Tathra in Mimosa National Park. Park at Moon Bay car park and the lookout is an easy 500 metres walk. Offers expansive views north across to Nelson Beach and Baronda Headland.

3. North Head Lookout: in the southern precinct of Murramarang National Park. From Princes Highway, take Durras Road and then turn right onto North Head Road and follow it to the end.

Meanwhile, if you want meet the whales in their watery domain, then your best bet is to book a cruise with one of the several charters operating off the Sapphire Coast:sapphirecoast.com.au/whales/whale-watching/

Finally, if you wish to travel vicariously, then check-out Cat Balou Cruises in Eden (Ph: 0427 962 027 or catbalou.com.au) on Facebook - they update their photos after each cruise. On a recent cruise, passengers eye-balled an incredible 20 humpbacks.

More, including a free app to log your sightings and for spotting tips: wildaboutwhales.com.au

Running amok in Yarralumla
This column's recent trip down the memory lane to the Yarralumla Brickworks (July 26) rekindled childhood memories for Peter Deane, who was brought up in the lakeside suburb, and now lives in Wagga Wagga. "As kids we spent many hours playing there," recalls Peter, who "remembers pushing one of the rail carts up the track in the quarry, jumping in and riding it all the way back to the kiln."

Peter, who also "spent many hours catching yabbies in the ponds in the brickworks", recalls that "another good 'playground' was the Molonglo River next to Corkhills Dairy, [now the Water Police HQ] where there was a small weir where we tested our canoes made from corrugated iron and old banana boxes, smeared with black mastic."

And to think these days we grumble if our kids venture out of sight from those mass-produced plastic modular playgrounds surrounded with tan bark. How times have changed.

Our 'Big' river
Following recent rainfall and snowmelt, several rivers in and around the ACT are flowing with increased zest. However, I'm not sure whether the increased flow rate of the Murrumbidgee is sufficient to warrant the change of name as suggested in this sign which was snapped by Jack Palmer of Watson, near Yaouk (pronounced Yi-Yak) which borders the ACT to the south of Namadgi National Park.

Contact Tim: Email: timtheyowieman@bigpond.com or Twitter: @TimYowie or write to me c/o The Canberra Times, 9 Pirie St, Fyshwick. A selection of past columns is available at: A selection of past columns is available at canberratimes.com.au/act-news/by/tim-the-yowie-man.

Where in Canberra?

Clue: Well-educated bees
Degree of difficulty: Medium

Last week: Congratulations to Juha Turunen, of Queanbeyan, who was the first to correctly identify last week's photo, which stumped many readers, as a scene at the enlarged Cotter Dam. According to a spokesperson for ACTEW Water, "the 'stairs to nowhere' were a trial of the concrete forming system used to construct the secondary spillway walls of the dam". Apparently there were plans to remove them following the dam's completion, but they were left for their 'heritage value.'

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