Hiking South East Tasmania

Sunday, 17 November 2013

Hellfire Bluff

Saturday 16th November 2013

Start of Hellfire Bluff

Note: Please see the comment below regarding a log blocking the access to the walk start.

To get to the start of today's walk I had to drive out almost to Copping and turn off onto the road that passes through Kellevie and then onto Wielangta Road. At 568767/5269139 I turned right into a forestry road and followed this for 7.4 kms. to arrive at a quarry where I parked. This road was okay for 2WD with care but I did have to drive under a large gum tree which was leaning across the road. There was only enough space for my vehicle to pass under and all day I was hoping that it remained where it was because if it had come down I don't know how I would have been able to get out. I had a few different routes planned for this walk but when I checked a couple out I was not impressed with the steepness and scrubiness of a couple, so I decided to stick with the original route that I had planned.

Cockle Bay Track

I started walking at 0845 and the first 500 metres was a scrub bash downhill to meet up with a very overgrown pad through the bush.This was followed for a further 500 metres before encountering an old overgrown road which I walked for a short distance before arriving at an open area which had obviously been cleared in the past. I could see the Cockle Bay Track in the distance so I walked down to it and turned left and started walking uphill. Just a note here that from the start of the walk to the Cockle Bay Track is on private property but I saw no evidence of buildings, fences, stock or people and I am sure that other people have walked this way, although not too many, gauging by the state of the track through the bush.

Looking south from Cockle Bay Track

The track went uphill for some distance and at 4.3 kms. from the start and at 574094/5268202 I turned right onto a 4WD track that went uphill. This was followed until it petered out and then the track was just a walking pad along the cliff tops. At some places the track went within centimetres of the edge so some care needed to be taken. The views along here were spectacular and the water was like glass. I would guess that is why there were so many boats out fishing. There were quite a fews ups and downs along the way and just when you thought you were reaching the end another hill loomed up. Most of the time there was no real track to follow but it was just a matter of following the top of the ridge along. At some points the track was over 200 metres above the water and that was a long way down.
I finally reached the trig point at Hellfire Bluff at about 1100 where I had an early lunch and then headed back to the car. Overall a good walk with great views.
Distance: 13.8 kms.
Time: 5'01"
Ascent: 800 metres
Click here to download GPX track.