Chicks Perch

Saturday 21st July 2018

Looking up to one summit on Chicks Perch

Today's walk had two purposes. I wanted to check out some more tracks in the Sherwood Hill Conservation Area and I also wanted to walk up to Chicks Perch which is a line of small peaks on the eastern boundary of the Area. Most of Chicks Perch is private property so I had to be aware of where I actually was and to remain in the Conservation Area. I had been in the area before but started from Knights Road on that occasion. This time I drove to the end of Dowlings Road and walked from there.
The first section was an access road that went gradually uphill to the start of the Conservation Area. A snow capped Sleeping Beauty stood out in the distance. I turned left and checked out a few tracks on the north eastern side but they were only from people harvesting timber in the past and there was nothing much to see, although the surrounding forest was quite nice.

Access Track

Nice Forest

Sleeping Beauty

After that I followed a track up to the top of a hill where there were limited views and then down through the scrub to another track.

Top of the Hill

 I followed this track for a short time before taking to the scrub and heading up to Chicks Perch. The scrub was okay to start with but became thicker as I went and became a little annoying but I carried on and eventually emerge on to rocky ground and the first peak. There was not a lot to see from here. I then followed the boundary down and around and up to the second peak. There were good views of Huonville, the Huon Valley and Mountain River.

Huonville and Huon River

Snow capped peaks

Native Cherry Trees

Huonville and Huon Valley

Huonville and Huon Valley

Sleeping Beauty

After some lunch I walked down the ridge to the road and followed that around to pick up an old overgrown track. Either the track petered out or I lost it so I had to scrub bash through to another track and then it was a straight forward walk back to the car.
This was an okay walk but nothing startling although the views from the second peak were the highlight of the day and rather good. Some of the walk was off track but for an easier walk just stay on track and check out the various tracks and old roads in the area.
Distance: 9.4 kms.
Time: 5'43"
Ascent: 600 metres
GPX file is here.

Carlton Bluff and River

Wednesday 4th July 2018

Carlton Bluff

Today's walk was an exploratory along the banks of the Carlton River starting at Primrose Sands and then to return and walk around Carlton Bluff and back to the start point.
It was an overcast day to start with so some of the earlier photos depict that.
I parked at the western end of Primrose Beach and walked along Frogmouth Lane to the Carlton River and then in an easterly direction along the southern bank of the river for about 4.3 kms. to where the river reserve ends. It is private property after that. It was easy walking, sometimes on the beach and other times on a rough track above the beach, with some small rock hopping thrown in.

Carlton River

Carlton River

Carlton Bluff

Carlton River

Carlton River

Once I reached the end of the reserve I turned around and walked back to the start of the Carlton Bluff track but deviated inland slightly to check out the wetlands or salt marsh. There was plenty of water in here.

Carlton River

Salt Marsh

Drain for the Marsh

Heading towards Carlton Bluff

I walked along the bank of the river for a short distance before scrambling up to the track that runs around the bluff. It is a reasonable track for about half way round but becomes very faint and ill defined later on. That is not a problem as it is just as easy to make one's own way. There were a few patches of nuisance scrub but nothing bad, although some of the prickly bushes had a bit of a bite.

Carlton River

Carlton River

Spectacle Head

Carlton Bluff

Carlton Bluff

I stopped about half way around to have some lunch and then continued on walking close to the shoreline.

Carlton Bluff

Carlton Bluff

Carlton Bluff

Once I reached an old road I followed it down to the beach and rock hopped back to Primrose Beach and just managed to keep my boots dry from the incoming tide.

Heading back to Primrose Beach

Heading back to Primrose beach

Primrose Beach

This was a good walk with nice views, both in the river and from the bluff. The walk is best done when the tide is low as it would be more problematic with higher water levels.
Distance: 14.2 kms.
Time: 4'33"
Ascent: 270 metres
GPX file is here.