South Arm

Friday 31st August 2012

Near start of walk

Drive down South Arm Road through Opossum Bay to the end of the road where there is a small parking area. The walk is basically around the coastline to Gellibrand Point and back via the opposite coastline. The walk can be done in either direction. I chose to walk clockwise and set out on a clearly define track.

Start of the track

I aimed for the TV tower that I could see in the distance and once I had reached that I just followed the coastline around before descending to Mary Ann Bay and walking along the beach. At the end I climbed back up and continued on to Gellibrand Vault which is the burial site of William Gellibrand who was the original grantee at South Arm. The area has been rehabilitated. Along this section of coastline are good views of Mount Wellington and Taroona where the shot tower is visible.

TV Tower

Gellibrand Vault

I continued on around Gellibrand Point where I stopped for lunch at a good viewing spot. After lunch I kept walking, past a small lagoon and on to The Spit. I walked out to the end of The Spit, but have since found out that walking out there is discouraged as it is a sensitive bird breeding area, so should be avoided. Onward I went and found an old vehicle track which I walked to Shelly Beach. I walked along the beach to an obvious exit on to a track and walked back to the car.
This is a good short walk that is close to Hobart and is quite flat and easy.
Distance: 7.0 kms.
Time: 2'00"
Ascent: 155 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Looking back to Opossum Bay

Mount Wellington and Taroona

Looking north to Gellibrand Point

Mary Ann Bay

Looking north to Gellibrand Point

Gellibrand Vault

Near Gellibrand Point

Near Gellibrand Point

Small lagoon on Gellibrand Point

The Spit

Grasstree Hill

Thursday 23rd August 2012

Grasstree Hill Cairn

The walk starts at Risdon Brook Reservoir car park.
It was a glorious day and I set off at 0830, walking around the eastern side of the reservoir and just past the bay I headed up an old track in a north easterly direction. The track went uphill reasonably steeply and I just followed this and other tracks plus I did some cross country hiking to a cairn on Grasstree Hill summit.

Risdon Brook Reservoir

There were views once I got higher up.

View from up high

View from up high

There was not much at the summit except for the cairn so I headed off north east and picked up a vehicle track and when I came to a junction, being the inquisitive type I decided to see what was down the right fork.
It went steeply downhill, so not wanting to have to walk too far back uphill, I did not venture too far, but did arrive at a point which provided good views to the east. After climbing back up I took the left fork and just followed my nose back to the reservoir, sometimes on old tracks and sometimes across country. It was easy walking. When I reached the dam I walked around the western side for a bit of variety, across the dam wall and back to the car, thus completing a circuit.
This was a good walk with some views.
Distance: 14.7 kms.
Time: 4'38"
Ascent: 750 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Local Wildlife

Shelter of some kind

Risdon Brook Reservoir

Risdon Brook Reservoir

Risdon Brook Reservoir

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