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