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Thursday 24 April 2014

Tongatabu

Wednesday 23rd April 2014

Tongatabu
Today was going to be an exploratory walk to the summit of Tongatabu near Geeveston, and if time permitted, a walk around Swearing Bobs Plain. All did not go to plan.
I drove along Hermons Road at Geeveston and turned into Boney Road, which I followed for about 2 kms. to find a spot to park just before the road becomes 4WD. The road up to this point was quite okay for conventional vehicles and passed through a recently logged and burnt area.
I set off walking just before 0800. The first part of the track was through a nice rainforest area before it opened out and traversed around Swearing Bobs Plain. This section of track is actually part of the Tasman Trail.
Rainforest section of track
The walking was easy and I soon reached the intersection of Boney road and a forestry road which I walked up for about 400 metres to where I figured I would walk up to the summit of Tongatabu. This is where the fun started or not. It was very scrubby with cutting grass and lots of trees and assorted scrub which made progress very slow. Finally I came to a slightly more open section and I thought I was right for a more easier walk to the summit. How wrong I was!! The scrub became thicker and did not relent until I decided to turn back some 350 metres from the summit. It had taken me 2'15" to walk 700 metres and I had had enough. Even though I was wearing a long shirt and pants, the sleeves of my shirt were just so bloody from all the scratches. I had intended to walk to the summit and along the ridge and back down via a different route but the only way back down was really down the way I had come up as it was at least a slightly cleared path.
View from halfway up Tongatabu
I was so relieved to finally reach the track that I sat down for a while and had a late lunch. I abandoned plans for the Swearing Bobs Plain walk and retraced my steps back to the car. On the corner of Boney Road and the forestry road that I followed to Tongatabu I did discover piles of shells which included abalone and scallop shells. I don't know what they were doing so far from the sea. This area seemed to be a somewhat cleared area for camping and a few camp fire places were evident.
I don't think I would attempt another walk up to the summit unless I can find any easier route. I will however try a walk through Swearing Bobs Plain in the future.
Distance: 10.8 kms.
Time: 6'00"
Ascent: 495 metres
Open section of track

Shells

Shells

Burnt section of forest where I parked

Click here to download GPX track.

Friday 11 April 2014

Bakers Creek Trail

Wednesday 9th April 2014

Stony Point Trail
The goal of today's walk was to start on White Timber Trail, walk Stony Point Trail and Bakers Creek Trail to where it meets private property and then possibly walk to Fletchers Hill and return. The last part I had doubts about and as it turned out I did not make it to Fletchers Hill.
I drove up Judds Creek Road from Judbury and turned right at White Timber Trail and then drove 3 kms. to a convenient parking spot beside the road. The last couple of hundred metres was definitely 4WD territory, but up to this point could be negotiated by 2WD with care, although there some quite large exposed rocks on the crossing of Judds Creek.
I set off walking at 0735 and after 150 metres turned right into Stony Point Trail. The track went gradually downhill and was 4WD up to about 700 metres from the start where there was a large tree across the road. This made it impossible for any type of conventional vehicle to travel any further and for the next 700 metres there were several large trees across the road.
Stony Point Trail
The track went downhill at a gentle gradient for about 4.5 kms., crossed Crabtree Rivulet which was dry, and met the Bakers Creek Trail. It was easy walking and the track passed through some very nice forest, alternating between open forest and damp rainforest. It was extremely pleasant walking along and listening to all the bird life. At the track junction there was a forestry sign stating that the Stony Creek Trail was closed from here on and a makeshift private property sign as well. It used to be possible to walk to White Timber Mountain from Crabtree, up the Jefferys Track, on the White Timber Trail and back down the Stony Point Trail, but that has been closed for quite some time. I had prior knowledge of this, so I was not surprised by the sign.
Stony Point Trail and Bakers Creek Trail junction
Here I turned onto the Bakers Creek Trail and carried on. The track undulated somewhat but nothing drastic. I wanted to check out a small lake that was just to the west of the track and was hoping to find an easy path leading to it, but could not, so I decided to leave it until the return journey. I carried on and after some time reached the private property on the southern end of the track. Along here I was searching for a track that would lead off in the direction of Fletchers Hill, but could find nothing. I had not been that hopeful really, and not in favour of a 4.0 kms. return scrub bash, I opted to head back.
On the return trip I checked out the lake. This required a short scrub bash to get near the lake and a rather vigorous scrub bash to finally reach the lake as the cutting grass was about 3 metres tall and there was a thicket of tea trees around the waters edge.
Small Lake
I had intended to have lunch here, but there was nowhere to sit as the edges of the lake were quite wet and muddy, so I went back to the track and had a bite. The lake was a pretty sight out in the middle of nowhere and I had been hoping to see some birdlife, but alas, nothing. After lunch I kept walking back in the direction of the car and finally reached it at 1400.
This was quite a long walk, but not unduly taxing, and although there were no views to speak of, it was a very pleasant walk. I did not see anyone and the only sounds I heard were the birds.
Distance: 22.6 kms.
Time: 6'25"
Ascent: 570 metres
Click here to download GPX track.
Stony Point Trail and Bakers Creek Trail junction

End of the trail southern end Bakers Creek Trail

On Bakers Creek Trail

Bakers Creek Trail

Small Lake

Small Lake

Stony Creek Trail