Blakes Opening

Sunday 29th January 2017

Blakes Opening

Today, we had a great walk along the Huon Track to Blakes Opening. It was a fantastic day without a cloud in the sky and the temperature was quite mild.
The only thing out of the ordinary was a small snake on the track, that the person leading managed to step over without noticing. It soon scurried off into the bush. The river had its usual tannin colour and was flowing reasonably well. See Blakes Opening 2014 for more information.

Start of Huon track - note tall cutting grass

Huon River

Huon River

Huon River

Huon River - note tannin colour

Blakes Opening

Monk Bay Circuit

Wednesday 25th January 2017

Monk Bay

 Today was meant to be a repeat of the walk done in 2015 but circumstances necessitated a slight change of plans towards the final stage of the walk.
We started at the Coal Mines site on the Tasman Peninsula near Saltwater River and headed off to Plunkett Point, bypassing the ruins, as we intended to check them out on the return.

Plunkett Point

Plunkett Point

Ironstone Point

Cottage at Plunkett Point

Cottage at Plunkett Point

 After Plunkett Point we continued on to the fire break where I almost missed the track turnoff. the track from here to Ironstone Point is becoming overgrown and appears to receive little use but it is still reasonably easy to follow. We stopped at Ironstone Point for a short break before continuing on around Monk Bay. It was a perfect day.

Monk Bay

Monk Bay

Monk Bay

Nameless Point

After Monk Bay we carried on past Nameless Point and Whitehouse Point before finding a shady spot for lunch. The colour of the water all along the coast here is terrific and it changes as the walk goes around the coastline.

From Whitehouse Point

Ironstone Point

From Whitehouse Point

Nameless Point

Whitehouse Point

After lunch we walked on to Lime Bay and just as we approached the turnoff to the old vehicle track, one of my companions tripped on a sapling stump that someone had cut off at just a height to cause a serious hazard. Why people do this I do not know, but I see it quite often in my travels. Anyway she did a good face plant and injured her nose and knee and tried to carry on but was in pain. I suggested that we walk to Lime Bay, which was not far, and I would walk back along the road to get the car. This we did. It was a hot, dry and dusty walk back along the road but it only took an hour and I was back at Lime Bay to collect them. By that time my companion had recovered somewhat from the shock and was glad to be heading home. We did not bother to check out the ruins at The Coal Mines site. Another day, perhaps
This is a great walk with really beautiful scenery.

Waterfall Bluff

Wednesday 11th January 2017

Looking north near Waterfall Bluff

I had a new walker with me today so I wanted something relatively flat and reasonably easy. Waterfall Bluff from the Tasman Blowhole seemed to be a good option.
We parked at the Blowhole car park and had to search in the scrub to find the track. I am sure it was not so obscure the last time I used it and it does not appear to get much use these days, which is surprising. We did lose the track a little further on but soon picked it up and carried on to Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen.

Tasman Arch

Tasman Arch

After this it was on to Waterfall Bay on a good track.

On way to Waterfall Bay

On way to Waterfall Bay

Patersons Arch

On way to Waterfall Bay

Waterfall Bay

Waterfall at Waterfall Bay

Waterfall Bay

After Waterfall Bay we simply walked to Waterfall Bluff with a brief stop at Camp Falls.

Camp Falls

Camp Falls

After reaching Waterfall Bluff we just retraced our steps back to the car.
This was an easy walk with spectacular coastal views.
Distance: 11.4 kms.
Time: 3'57"
Ascent: 400 metres
Click here to download GPX file.

Coningham Reserve

Friday 6th January 2017

Towards Bruny Island

I have done quite a few walks in the Coningham Reserve and this one is a little different as it skirts around a substantial amount of the reserve boundary.
I parked in Old Station Road at one entrance to the reserve and set off uphill on the old track. Soon I branched off onto a walking/bike track and headed over to the southern boundary of the reserve where there is a fence line indicating the border between reserve and private property. This is where the private property starts and not where the sign indicates. Once I reached the fence it was just a simple matter of following it down to the coast. It was easy walking with pads to follow.

Ridge line

Following the fence down

Towards Bruny Island

Towards Bruny Island and South

 On arriving at the beach at Peartree Bay I started heading north along the coast. The walking was on small pebbles and easy but soon it became impossible to walk along at water level due to the sandstone cliffs. I had to ascend and followed a rough pad along the cliff tops.

Peartree Bay

Creek running into Peartree Bay

Looking north at Peartree Bay

Simmonds Point

I passed the fish farm and eventually arrived at the access steps. I did not bother going down as I had been before.

From the steps I simply joined up with the Coningham Clifftops walk which basically goes back to Coningham Beach. I did deviate to the cave on the way.

Coningham Beach

When I arrived at Coningham Beach I walked up the road and into the reserve once again following an old road uphill towards Sheppards Hill before branching off onto a walking/bike track which took me back almost to the start.
A really good easy walk with nice scenery.
Distance: 9.7 kms.
Time: 3'23"
Ascent: 470 metres
Click here to download GPX file.