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.