Peter Murrell Reserve and Tinderbox Hills

Friday 18th November 2016

Tinderbox Hills

I have previously done a fair few walks in Peter Murrell Reserve and also combined some with Tinderbox Hills but have never written anything up about them. So here is one.
I parked at one of the entrances to the reserve just down the road from Mitre 10 and set off, crossing the Coffee Creek Fire Trail and along a walking track to the Sand Flats Fire Trail. This was followed down to meet the Coffee Creek Trail and then an obscure track was taken heading east.

First section of track

Cathedral Rock

Mount Wellington

This track finally met the Eastern Fire Trail and then Middle Fire Trail before following the eastern boundary of the park around to finally exit at Estuary Drive. There was a short walk up Estuary Drive to the start of the Tinderbox Hills track.

Start of Tinderbox track

Track up further

I came across a fairly new house pad clearance which had stunning views across North West Bay to Margate.

View across to Margate

Panorama across to Margate

House Pad

 The track carried on through some nice open forest before coming to the end from where I retraced my steps back down and reentered Peter Murrell Reserve at the same spot.

Track near top

River Derwent

River Derwent

I walked a short distance south west before picking up another obscure track which was followed down to the southern boundary of the park and then all the way to Howden Road. From here it was a simple matter of reentering the reserve along the Howden Fire Trail, walking along a bush track to Coffee Creek Trail and walking right along that to the car. I did encounter quite a large tiger snake along here but it slithered into the bush very quickly, so they have started to come out with the warmer weather.

Cathedral Rock

Pond on Coffee Creek

Pond on Coffee Creek

Second Pond on Coffee Creek

This is a good easy walk through some nice bush at times.
Distance: 14.4 kms.
Time: 3'27"
Ascent: 400 metres
Click here to download GPX file.