South Arm

Friday 31st August 2012

Near start of walk

Drive down South Arm Road through Opossum Bay to the end of the road where there is a small parking area. The walk is basically around the coastline to Gellibrand Point and back via the opposite coastline. The walk can be done in either direction. I chose to walk clockwise and set out on a clearly define track.

Start of the track

I aimed for the TV tower that I could see in the distance and once I had reached that I just followed the coastline around before descending to Mary Ann Bay and walking along the beach. At the end I climbed back up and continued on to Gellibrand Vault which is the burial site of William Gellibrand who was the original grantee at South Arm. The area has been rehabilitated. Along this section of coastline are good views of Mount Wellington and Taroona where the shot tower is visible.

TV Tower

Gellibrand Vault

I continued on around Gellibrand Point where I stopped for lunch at a good viewing spot. After lunch I kept walking, past a small lagoon and on to The Spit. I walked out to the end of The Spit, but have since found out that walking out there is discouraged as it is a sensitive bird breeding area, so should be avoided. Onward I went and found an old vehicle track which I walked to Shelly Beach. I walked along the beach to an obvious exit on to a track and walked back to the car.
This is a good short walk that is close to Hobart and is quite flat and easy.
Distance: 7.0 kms.
Time: 2'00"
Ascent: 155 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Looking back to Opossum Bay

Mount Wellington and Taroona

Looking north to Gellibrand Point

Mary Ann Bay

Looking north to Gellibrand Point

Gellibrand Vault

Near Gellibrand Point

Near Gellibrand Point

Small lagoon on Gellibrand Point

The Spit

Grasstree Hill

Thursday 23rd August 2012

Grasstree Hill Cairn

The walk starts at Risdon Brook Reservoir car park.
It was a glorious day and I set off at 0830, walking around the eastern side of the reservoir and just past the bay I headed up an old track in a north easterly direction. The track went uphill reasonably steeply and I just followed this and other tracks plus I did some cross country hiking to a cairn on Grasstree Hill summit.

Risdon Brook Reservoir

There were views once I got higher up.

View from up high

View from up high

There was not much at the summit except for the cairn so I headed off north east and picked up a vehicle track and when I came to a junction, being the inquisitive type I decided to see what was down the right fork.
It went steeply downhill, so not wanting to have to walk too far back uphill, I did not venture too far, but did arrive at a point which provided good views to the east. After climbing back up I took the left fork and just followed my nose back to the reservoir, sometimes on old tracks and sometimes across country. It was easy walking. When I reached the dam I walked around the western side for a bit of variety, across the dam wall and back to the car, thus completing a circuit.
This was a good walk with some views.
Distance: 14.7 kms.
Time: 4'38"
Ascent: 750 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Local Wildlife

Shelter of some kind

Risdon Brook Reservoir

Risdon Brook Reservoir

Risdon Brook Reservoir