Collins Bonnet

Wednesday 25th July 2012

Collins Bonnet from Collins Bonnet track

Collins Bonnet can be accessed from a few different directions, but I think starting from Big Bend provides the best scenery.
To get to the start drive up Mount Wellington to just past Big Bend and park in the large car park. There is a small car park nearer Big Bend but I like to use the large one.
I started off just after 0800 on a magnificent winters day and walked down to the Big Bend trail and downhill for about 2.1 kms. to the Collins Bonnet track on the left, along this for about 400 metres and turned right heading towards Collins Bonnet.

Collins Bonnet from Mount Connection

The track went downhill for a short period before gently climbing up to Mount Connection where there were great views all around. The track then descended to the East West fire trail and after following this for about 800 metres I found the marked ascent track to the summit. The track climb up to the summit via boulders and was clearly marked with poles. At the top was a trig marker and superb views. After lunch I retraced my steps back to the car.
This is a great walk with magnificent scenery on a good day.
Distance: 15.0 kms
Time: 5'10"
Ascent: 780 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

From Mount Connection

From Mount Connection

From Mount Connection

Collins Bonnet Summit

Mount Wellington from Collins Bonnet

Trestle Mountain from Collins Bonnet

From Collins Bonnet

Collins Bonnet Summit

Towards the Huon from Collins Bonnet

Mount Stewart Circuit

Sunday 22nd July 2012

Mount Stewart Summit

Mount Stewart really does not deserve to be called a mountain as it is only 135 metres above sea level, but that is what it is called. Actually the main section of the walk is from Lime Bay past Monk Bay and up then up to Mount Stewart to complete a circuit.
To reach the start drive out to Lime Bay on the Tasman Peninsula and park anywhere, really.
I started walking at 0920 after the 2 hour drive to get here. The first part was along the beach in an easterly direction to the rocks at the end where I picked up a faint track that followed the coastline around. It was easy walking with lovely water views.

Beautiful clear water

The water was exceptionally clear as I walked around Whitehouse Point and then to a nameless point where I walked out to have a look. It was great as the sea was so calm. Continuing on I reached Monk Bay and descended to the beach and walked along it to the southern end.

Pile of shells on Monk Beach

There were a few piles of white shells washed up on the beach. Near the end of the beach I found a convenient place to climb up and walked across country through the bracken fern to pick up the track to Ironstone Point. I carried on in roughly a south westerly direction to meet a service road which I followed down to a lovely little beach with low sandstone cliffs.

Cliffs on the beach at end of service road.

From here I walked west for 1.5 kms. on the road to the Mount Stewart ascent track. This was a gentle ascent  to the top. At the summit are remains of what was once a signal station ( just a few piles of bricks, really) but never the less quite interesting. Mount Stewart is the remains of an extinct volcano. After admiring the view I walked down the northern side through tall bracken fern to find a fire trail. A short deviation right followed before turning onto another track. I walked this right back to Lime Bay and instead of walking along the beach, followed the track back to the car.
This was a very enjoyable walk with no major ascents and great coastal scenery.
Distance: 13.2 kms.
Time: 3'45"
Ascent: 350 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

East end Lime Bay

Looking back at Lime Bay

On eastern side

Nice little deserted beach

Track to Mount Stewart

Mount Stewart ruins

Lime Bay from Mount Stewart

From Mount Stewart

Grey Mountain

Wednesday 18th July 2012

Grey Mountain Summit

The walk starts in Van Morey Road out from Margate. From Margate drive out about 9.3 kms. on Van Morey Road and park off the road just near a quarry. Note The last 2.0 kms. are 4WD only. It is possible to park further back down the road at a car park but that will add about 4.0 kms. to the walk.

Snug Tiers Recreation Area

I started off at 0848, past the quarry, and the above sign into the Recreation Area. It was immediately apparent that it would be somewhat of a muddy walk as there were mud puddles everywhere on the track. The track basically follows the fire trail until the final turnoff to Grey Mountain. I walked for 2.1 kms. before turning left and following the trail across Pelverata Creek, across Snug Plains and over Slippery Creek to the turn off on the right for the final ascent.up an access road. There was lots of communication equipment up the top and the views were limited. I then walked back down the road and back along the track I had used before turning off to check out a water storage dam. This dam is on Nicholls Rivulet and is associated with supplying water for Cygnet. There was a reasonable amount of water in the dam. I then walked back to the car.
Not a great walk due to lack of views but nevertheless it was okay.
Distance: 18.4 kms.
Time: 4'22"
Ascent: 550 metres
Click here to download GPX track

Grey Mountain

Grey Mountain

Grey Mountain

Grey Mountain

Grey Mountain

Water Storage

Water Storage

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Billy Browns Falls

Wednesday 4th July 2012

Billy Browns Falls

This is a short walk in the Judbury area. To reach the start, drive out along Judds Creek Road from Judbury and at 11.6 kms. there is a small sign on the right just past a road junction indicating the start of the track.
The track climbed steadily for about 700 metres before descending to the base of the falls. There was a good flow of water and the falls were quite high. I walked back to the car after spending a little time here.
An enjoyable short walk to some nice falls.
Note: The bridge over Judds Creek was washed away in 2018. It has now been repaired but the road is not suitable for 2 WD vehicles. See comment below.
Distance: 2.2 kms.
Time: 1'15"
Ascent: 264 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Bill Browns Falls

Billy Browns Falls

Start of track

Mount Field East

Tuesday 24th May 2011

Mount Field East Summit

There are two starting points for the Mount Field East walk, both on Lake Dobson Road. Head towards Mount Field National Park on Lake Dobson Road and the lower car park is sign posted on the right and the upper park is about 2 kms. further up the road. This enables one to walk either clockwise or anticlockwise, or out and back from either park.
I chose to start from the upper park in very cloudy and misty conditions and visibility was not great.

Lake Fenton

I walked along the track, crossed Lake Dobson Road, went past the lake and on to the track proper. The track climb steadily and my first objective was to walk up to Seagers Lookout. Why, I don't know, because I knew I would not be able to see anything, but up I went anyway. Just as I had expected, a total whiteout.

View at Seagars Lookout

As I was descending from the lookout a light snowfall began and it was quite pretty.

Snow fall on Seagars Lookout track

I reached the main track and kept going up slightly to Windy Moor which was quite wet in places but easily negotiated. By this time visibility had improved somewhat and I could see Mount Field East in the distance.

Mount Field East from Windy Moor

I walked across the moor and found the ascent track which proved to be mostly over boulders. It had an ice covering and was quite slippery so I had to take my time. Even so it only took 20" to reach the top. It had cleared a little more to provide some views which were appreciated.

From Mount Field East Summit

I climbed back down and walked down past Lake Rayner and Lake Nicholls where I stopped at the hut for a bite to eat.

Lake Nicholls

I then kept going down and found the Old Pack track on the right which gradually climbed back to the car sometimes on track and sometimes for short distances on the road.
A very enjoyable walk in nice alpine country, and even though the views were restricted it was still a great walk.
Distance: 11.0 kms.
Time: 4'45"
Ascent: 616 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Seagars Lookout track

Track to Windy Moor

Mount Field East

Mount Field East

Lake Rayner

Lake Nicholls hut