Three Thumbs Circuit

Saturday 24th May 2014

The Second Thumb taken from the Third Thumb

The Three Thumbs walk near Orford is only about a two hour return walk or maybe three if the last thumb is included so today I chose to complete a circuit walk and thus made it a slightly longer walk. To reach the start of the walk either drive to Orford and take Wielangta Road or turn off just before Copping and end up on Wielangta Road at the southern end. If choosing this option be aware that there is much more gravel road than the other way. The turn off is signposted about 4.3 kms. south of Orford.

First section of track

I set off just after 0800 and walked past a forestry gate and almost immediately turned right onto what was once a forestry track. The weather was overcast and cold and it had been raining on and off on the drive up. The first section of track was okay but soon deteriorated to a faint pad which was being overgrown by the scrub. As it had been raining earlier on the foliage was very wet and soon I was too. I followed this track for 1.6 kms. until it petered out at a low rocky ridge line and then scrub bashed across country in a westerly direction, down across a dry creek to pick up wider forestry track. When I say scrub bashed, it was not too bad really. Note - Since walking to Hidden Falls I discovered that I missed the continuation of the track here. The track actually does a right turn just before the rocky ridge.

Wider forestry track

This wider forestry track was walked until it came to a 4 way junction where I turned right and walked down to an old quarry and then turned right again onto a eroded forestry track which went downhill to a washed out and broken bridge.

Washed out bridge

The bridge was crossed on the left hand side and the track then meandered up hill until it reached the ridgeline that lead up to the Three Thumbs. I was not sure if this was going to be scrubby or clear and thankfully it turned out to be really easy walking with practically no scrub at all. The ridge went up to a summit and then down and up to a second summit. It was very easy walking all along here.

Walking along the ridge

There were good views to the west from here although it was quite hazy. After negotiating the second summit I headed in a north easterly direction to where I figured the summit of the third thumb should be. The scrub did get a little thicker in this section, but nothing major, and I arrived at the summit right at the small cairn. From here I just walked along the top of the third thumb and down then up to the summit of thumb number two. There was no actual track in this area - just a faint pad here and there, but it was easy just to choose a path.

The Third Thumb taken while ascending the Second Thumb

At the summit of the second thumb there is a rock shelter and a trig marker. It was here that I decided on an early lunch. After a short break I headed back down along the Thumbs ridgeline towards the car. Between the first and second thumbs there is an option to turn right at a pole marker and follow a track that passes through the forest to meet up with the main track further down. I opted to walk up to the first Thumb and down that way.
This was a good walk, although quite short, and the views were restricted due to the haze but I enjoyed it anyway.
Distance: 8.6 kms.
Time: 4'06"
Ascent: 560 metres
Click here to download GPX track

Looking west from ascent ridge

Wombat burrow

Second Thumb summit

Second Thumb summit

Orford and Prosser River from second Thumb summit

Orford and Prosser River from Thumbs Lookout

Maria Island from Thumbs Lookout

Sandspit River from Thumbs Lookout

Dolomieu Point

Saturday 17th May 2014

The Lanterns, Totem Pole and Cape Hauy from around Thumbs Point

I had walked to Dolomieu Point a few years ago from Fortescue Bay but I had not walked the section of the Tasman Coastal Trail between Tatnells Hill and Dolomieu Point before. I decided to start from Balts Road as I had also not done that section up to Tatnells Hill either. Why not combine the two, I thought, so that is exactly what I did.
To reach the Balts Road starting point, drive just past Taranna and turn into Camp road. Follow this for 2 kms. and turn into Balts Road which is followed for 1.3 kms. to a junction. Go straight ahead for 2 kms. to a small parking area. This last couple of kilometres is 4WD only but not too bad.

Looking north from Tatnells Hill

I set off about 0800 and the first 1.5 kms. was on an old forestry track which went downhill to meet a walking track up to Tatnells Hill. This track was quite overgrown and obviously gets little use. Even though it was overgrown, it was not too hard to follow with the occasional marker here and there. After about an hour from setting off I reached the top of Tatnells Hill and walked down to the junction with the Tasman Coastal trail. From Tatnells Hill to Dolomieu Point was basically downhill all the way with a few minor ups and downs. Of course, this meant that it was going to be all uphill on the way back, which I must admit, I am not that keen on later in the day. I would much rather do any uphill early on.

Looking towards Cape Hauy from Tasman Coastal Trail

The trail down to Thumbs Point was in good condition and very easy to follow. There were only fleeting glimpses of the coastal scenery at a few spots but the walking was enjoyable with the forest varying from rainforest to more open forest. From Thombs Point to Dolomieu Point the track mostly followed along the top of the cliff line with spectacular views from the many lookout spots along the way. I reached Dolomieu Point just over 3 hous from setting off and had lunch at the same place as i did a few years ago, overlooking the great scenery.

An example of the Tasman Coastal Trail

After lunch it was time to head back. The climb back up turned out to be a bit of a slog but I eventually made it back to the car just before 1500. It took me 3'40" to get back. I was quite glad to eventually arrive. All up quite a good walk with great coastal scenery to enjoy.
Distance: 20.7 kms.
Time: 7'00"
Ascent: 1030 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Thumbs Point

Looking north from Thumbs Point

Thumbs Point

Looking south towards Cape Hauy

Thumbs Point

Looking south towards Fortescue Bay

Looking north from Dolomieu Point

130 metres to the sea below

To walk to Dolomieu Point from Fortescue Bay start at the Fortescue Bay day use area(National Parks Pass required) and walk up the beach in a northerly direction to the track at the end of the beach. The track then goes past Canoe Bay and Bivouac Bay before a short climb to Dolomieu Point. A good walk.
Distance: 12.4 kms.
Time: 3'45"
Ascent: 560 metres

Click here to download GPX track from Fortescue Bay.

Rimons Hill

Friday 9th May 2014

Rimons Hill

It was a beautiful day today so I chose to walk to Rimons Hill. Actually I had planned to include Mount Jackson as well but the walk to Rimons Hill ended up being much longer than I had planned so that plan was abandoned.
To get to the start of the walk head out of Judbury west on Lonnavale Road for 5.5 kms. and turn into Plenty Link Road. This road is not signposted and does not appear on maps but is a good 2WD road. Follow for 9.5 kms. to a road on the right and drive this for 2.8 kms. to a parking spot on the right where the road has been blocked off. I actually drove further up Plenty Link Road and took an alternative and longer route but ended up at the same place. I had intended to drive much further towards Mount Jackson but discovered that the bridge across the Puzzle River no longer was trafficable!!

The Puzzle River bridge which I hoped to drive across

I set off at 0740 and the first obstacle that I had to negotiate was the Puzzle River crossing. The banks of the river were almost vertical where the bridge had been so I had to take to the scrub and after a scramble made it to the opposite bank. After a short distance I turned right onto a narrow track and walked through a pine plantation. It was quite dark and cold and there was frost on the ground. I had to cross the Puzzle River twice more but these were easy crossings. Before long I reached a more substantial road, which I walked to meet Puzzle Road. This was crossed and I headed into a cleared area and took a wrong turn and ended up scrub bashing for a short distance. When I realised my mistake I backtracked and found a more acceptable route. This eventually met a better road which I walked uphill.

Looking North West from where I was scrub bashing

There were nice views of the Plenty Valley from here. I continued on past a large quarry before reaching the forestry track on the right that I wanted to take. This is becoming overgrown with Blue Gum regrowth but was not too bad and was easily walked. There were great views of the Huon Valley along here and also I could see Rimons Hill at last. I must have been walking along in a dream because I missed the turn that I wanted to to take and started heading downhill. It was a bonus really because I did see the rear end of a wombat as it scurried off down the track. After realising my mistake I backtracked uphill!! and found the right track which I followed all the way to Rimons Hill summit. This track is slowly overgrowing but was quite easy to walk. It took me 3'30" to reach here but I did waste some time with a few wrong turns.

Summit Cairn

I added a couple of rocks to the cairn as it seemed quite minuscule. There were no views at all from the top but that is what I had expected. I can actually see Rimons Hill from my place and there is no evidence of any rocky outcrops where one might hope for a view. The views on the way up make up for the lack at the summit. It was rather cold at the top and after a quick lunch I headed back down taking just over two and a half hours to get back to the car.
I suspect that it would be possible to drive quite close to the start of the track either via East Puzzle Road and Puzzle Road or from White Timber Trail, although I don't know that for a fact. I must check it out one day. This was an enjoyable walk with some nice views and even though it was quite long it was not that tiring.
Distance: 21.0 kms.
Time: 6'30"
Ascent: 865 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Plenty Valley

Plenty Valley

Huon Valley in fog

Huon Valley later looking towards Jubury

Access from Judbury - Alternate in red

Devils Throne

Thursday 1st May 2014

Devils Throne

The normal way to walk to and back from Devils Throne is via Thark Ridge, thus completing a small circuit (see map below). I chose to do it a different way via Big Bend Trail and therefore walked a much larger loop.
I parked in the large car park just up from Big Bend and set off at 0745. There was a light frost on the ground and it was quite cool but the weather was perfect. I walked down Pinnacle Road to Big Bend and followed the trail down to the turn off to Collins Bonnet, which is where I turned and walked this to the intersection of the track to Collins Bonnet and an old 4WD track. I had not been on this track before but it proved to be quite easy to walk and follow. The track went gently uphill and had become only a walking path now.

Collins Bonnet in early morning cloud

Once I attained some altitude there were good views of the surrounding countryside even though there was cloud on some of the peaks. After about 1.3 kms. I arrived at the point where the normal Devils Throne track intersected this track and commenced following it. The usual wet section across the moor was, as usual, wet, but not too bad and I reached the lookout at Devils Throne some 2 hours after setting out. There were great views all around but some cloud still lingered on Collins Bonnet summit. After a snack and some time taking in the views I set off for the rocky outcrop to the south of the main lookout.

Mountain River and Huon Valley

There were a few rocky sections on the way and I checked out all of them before reaching the last one, where I was treated to different views of Mount Montagu, Cathedral Rock, Montagu Thumbs and Thark Ridge. The weather remained perfect. After this I headed back to the track that led to Thark Ridge. I walked down the track to Roaring Creek, which was flowing quite well, and climbed up onto Thark Ridge. I walked along the ridge for a while before finding a good spot with a view for lunch. Soon I was back on track and reached the car  just after 1300. This was a good walk with great weather and great views and I would recommend it no matter which route is chosen.
Distance: 12.1 kms.
Time: 5'22"
Ascent: 480 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Collins Bonnet from Devils Throne

Devils Throne southern lookout

Mount Connection

Devils Throne

Mount Montagu

Cathedral Rock and Montagu Thumbs

Thark Ridge

The route I used

The usual route

Click here to download GPX track for usual route.