This column recently revealed that our South Coast is blessed with 400 beaches. The folk in the Shoalhaven have not only counted the number of beaches on their patch, but they've also issued a 100 beach challenge. How many can you tick-off? While some die hard beach bums have ticked off all the beaches (really!), others use the guide to discover beaches they wouldn't otherwise visit.

Expect: A range of surfing, secluded and even a singing beach (well, at least that's what it sounds like when the waves wash over the stones).

Did you know? While crowds continue flock to Hyams Beach at Jervis Bay due to the spurious claim of being the whitest sand in Australia, there are 16 other beaches in Jervis Bay where the sand is just as white if not whiter, plus they are less crowded.

Look out for: White bellied sea eagles overhead and marine critters in the shallows.

Tim's tip: If ticking-off 100 beaches sounds a little bit daunting, why not tackle one of the themed sub-groups, like 'best for picnics', 'pet friendly', 'best bush to beach', or my favourite 'secret'. Also be sure to check up to date road access following recent fires in the region.

What you'll need: Depends which beaches you check out. Sandals or thongs might be OK for a short walk, but if you plan a longer hike then covered footwear is a must. Oh, and don't forget your towel and togs.

Suitable for: All the family. You could turn it into a swim-crawl where every beach you walk to, you also take a quick dip at. Not all beaches are patrolled by lifeguards, so take care.

Chill factor: Oh yeah, bring it on. Enjoy that refreshing water, it'll cool you down before the next stage of your 100 Beach Challenge.

Take me there: The 100 Beach Challenge highlights the Shoalhaven Coast, stretching from Seven Mile Beach near Shoalhaven Heads to North Durras near Batemans Bay. You can register online or download a hard copy of the list (and map) here: www.100beachchallenge.com

If you love pizza and enjoy paddling on the water at sunset then combine the two and you'll be in heaven.

Expect: A gentle sunset paddle on the Clyde River, with a stop half way for your favourite pizza delivered right to you kayak. Divine.

Did you know? This tour ordinarily requires a minimum of four participants to run. If you wish to book with less than four people, contact Region X to discuss your options. These may include a private tour, or joining another trip or activity.

Look out for: Just upstream from Batemans Bay is Budd Island. Not only is this small island home to a number of historic oyster sheds where generations of oyster farmers have processed the much-sought after Pacific and Sydney Rock oysters, but if you look closely on the northern side of the island in the top of dead tree you can see the imposing nest of an Eastern Osprey.

"Every year I see the bird arrive to the nest with a new stick and it's quite frightening paddling underneath as the stick is often over a metre long," says Josh Waterson who leads most of the pizza kayaks.

Tim's tip: Soak up the atmosphere - the moon, stars and Clyde River National Park become your restaurant as you explore the area rich in history and marine life.

What you'll need? An appetite, which if you don't arrive with, you'll soon quickly work up.

Suitable for: Pizza lovers and anyone aged 4 or above.

Chill factor: Perfect for a balmy summer evening. Don't overdress as you will get warm paddling, especially clad in a safety vest.

Take me there: Two-hour sunset kayak tour of Batemans Bay Harbour. From $65pp . Bookings essential. Ph: 1300 001 060 or www.regionx.com.au

Putt around aboard an oversized oyster punt on the Pambula Lake with Brett Weingarth, aka 'Captain Sponge', a local oyster farmer tour guide.

Expect: Much more than just oysters. You'll also discover the secrets of this beautiful south coast lake. The renowned Sydney Rock oyster isn't the only oyster grown on Captain Sponge's farm; he also dabbles in farming the native 'Angasi' oyster.

Did You Know? During the millennium drought Brett and his young family moved to Pambula. "I was always interested in aquaculture, but I couldn't grow fish because we didn't have enough water out on the farm," explains Brett, adding "one thing led to another and ended up down here buying an oyster farm and the rest is history."

Look out for: Ancient Aboriginal middens hidden among the steep tree-studded banks of the lake.

Tim's tip: Make sure you hat has a strap. I almost lost my akubra when the breeze picked-up. Heaven forbid.

What you'll need: Sunscreen and hat. The water is usually fairly flat so even landlubbers should enjoy this voyage without risk of getting sick.

Suitable for: All the family. The kids will love Captain Sponge's knock-about style and if they don't eat oysters, that simply means more for you. Yum!

Chill factor: There's almost always a breeze when out on the water and Captain Sponge's boat also has a canopy.

Take me there: Captain Sponge's Magical Oyster Tours operate from Landing Road, Pambula Lake. About 2 hours. Adults: $70 discounts for children, concession and families. Under 5's free. Bookings essential: www.magicaloystertours.com.au or 0429 453 545.

Regular readers of this column will recall the outrage expressed by South Coast locals and holidaying Canberrans when one of the coast's best known natural landmarks, the Gerroa 'Bum Tree' was felled by Shoalhaven City Council back in 2014 "to improve safety" on a busy road.

To many the blackbutt gum (Eucalyptus pilularis), located on Gerroa Road which infamously sported the word 'BUM' painted above two prominent naturally-occurring bulges was a loved local icon, a visual pun half-way along the 'sand track' and a natural wonder, to others a graffiti blight or a traffic hazard. To the endangered population of greater gliders in the Seven Mile Beach National Park, it was a home.

Following conflicting claims about the age and value of the tree, after being felled, Berry Landcare began a project to salvage a sample 'slice' of the trunk and accurately determine the tree's age. Close inspection of the stump revealed the tree originally had two trunks, and at some time in its early life, one of these had fallen, and the resulting overgrowth across the scar had formed the infamous burl.

Hundreds of volunteer hours then followed in preparing the sample and sanding the surface to a fine burnish to reveal its record of tree rings. An analysis of the rings, combined with radiocarbon dating, was then conducted by Dr Matthew Brookhouse at the Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University.

The analysis recently concluded that the Bum Tree probably germinated sometime between 334 and 388 years before it was felled in 2014. This places the tree well before European knowledge of the Australian continent and makes it a contemporary of the British monarch Charles II.

Berry Landcare project director, Kelvin Officer hopes proof of the antiquity of the tree justifies "rather than felling, greater effort in road design and resource allocation in the retention of such ancient trees, for the benefit of our environment and our appreciation of it."

It's hard to disagree.

Cryptic Clue: Tom was here

Degree of difficulty: Medium

Congratulations to Lyn Shelton of Spence, who was first to correctly identify last week's photo as the ocean pool at Ulladulla.

How to enter: Email your guess along with your name and address to timtheyowieman@bigpond.com. The first email sent after 10am, Saturday, December 28, 2019 will win a double pass to Dendy - The Home of Quality Cinema.

Yowies Beware!

With signs like this, who needs friends. Rod Taylor of The Canberra Times' Ask Fuzzy fame thinks your akubra-clad columnist best keep his head down over the summer break, especially if "planning a trip up north near Toowoomba where this warning was spotted". Heck, I don't think I'll leave home.

Cow Corner

Simulacra fancier Sarah Ryan of Watson was recently walking her cavoodle, Charlotte on Mt Majura and "actively looking for a contribution" to this column when she spotted "a very credible wavy stick by the side of the road that was quite a good representation of a snake".

However, after Charlotte "stopped suddenly and raised her head", my dedicated correspondent realised that she'd encountered a real brown snake and not a stick that looked like one.

The simulacra search wasn't all for nothing, for Sarah and Charlotte did manage to find this grazing cow, which she reports, "definitely wasn't real".