Mount Cygnet

Monday 9th October 2017

Mount Cygnet from Cygnet

A friend staying at Cygnet had noticed a couple of rocky outcrops near the summit of Mount Cygnet so we decided to investigate. I had previously walked up to Mount Cygnet in 2013 and had no views whatsoever, so with the expectation of some good vistas over the Huon River and out to the west, we agreed to give it a go. We opted to start at the end of Blue Gum Road off Woodbridge Hill Road, near Cygnet.

The track climbed steadily uphill and was in good condition. It appeared to be an old forestry road and was well constructed with a solid base. Once we reached some flatter land up higher the track became a little wet but was really easy walking. Upon entering the forestry proper, the track deteriorated somewhat, but was still quite easy to negotiate. That was until it finished. From that point there seemed to be a walking track but we soon found out that it was only an animal pad but kept on going, doggedly.

The "track" - the good bit

 We were attempting to follow an old track that was shown on the map and we both had convinced ourselves that we could see it on Google Earth. It was there in places but it mainly consists of cutting grass now. Eventually when the track was supposed to head north it disappeared or we lost it, so we just started heading up through the scrub towards the track along the ridge. There was some discussion about turning back and finding a different way, but we carried on. It was tough going with much cutting grass and lots of downed trees, but as we neared the top it opened up a little, and we reached the road with much delight. From here there was a short walk uphill to one of the rocky outcrops. There had been a burn up here not too long ago and the scrub was open. We were presented with great views from the rocky outcrop but there was a strong, cold wind blowing.

We stopped here for lunch before heading up the track to the summit and then back to the car via another track.
When we had both arrived back home the leech count was eleven so it was an eventful walk.
This was a difficult walk because of the scrub bash but the scenery at the top was worth the effort. I would not recommend going up the way that we went.
Distance:9.2 kms.
Time: 4'31"
Ascent: 560 metres
Click here to download GPX file.
Here is a link to my friend's Blog Post on the walk to give a different perspective.

Mount Cygnet

Tuesday 26th November 2013

Mount Cygnet

I had been planning to do this walk for some time, but had no information on it, as I guess no one ever goes there. This was fairly evident from the route that I walked as nobody had been that way for a very long time.
I drove past the last house on Garden Island Creek Road and found a place to park the car just inside the State Forest boundary. I was expecting to come across a locked gate but there was none.
After kitting up I headed off just after 0800. The first obstacle was Garden Island Creek, but that was quite easily forded whilst keeping my boots dry.
After that it was a short steep climb up a ridge to find an old forestry track. When I say track, I mean it was a track maybe 10 or 20 years ago, but any resemblance to a track now was in one's imagination.

Forestry "Track"-the good bit

The track did start out okay, but soon became a mess of tangled foliage, downed trees and further up cutting grass. There were many large trees down across the track which had to be climbed over or under and the track disappeared in places requiring a scrub bash to pick it up again. I lost it many times but just kept heading up the ridge where I would occasionally find it again.
It took a little over 2 hours to finally reach the top of the ridge where Mount Cygnet was situated. This was now a highway compared to where I had been walking and in about 20 minutes I reached the small cairn that denoted the summit. There were no views at all along the ridgetop but I had anticipated that would be the case. The plan was to keep walking along the ridge top and to then return via either of 2 tracks shown on the map, thus completing a small circuit. These tracks did not exist which I find quite common and I was more or less expecting that to be the case.

Highway along the ridgetop

I then had to walk back uphill and return to the car via the way I had come. The track seemed to be a little harder to follow going back down and I continually lost it and had to refer to my GPS quite a few times. It was pleasing to finally hear Garden Island Creek as I neared the car. I did end up with a couple of leeches on me which is a rarity down here, unlike in north Queensland where they are numerous and ferocious.
Overall not a great walk, mainly because of the scrub bashing and lack of views, but it was rather pleasant walking along the ridgetop through nice forest.

Distance: 9.9 kms.
Time: 5'30"
Ascent: 660 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Tangle of branches

Log across track

Garden Island Creek

Garden Island Creek

Another log across track

Summit Cairn