Hiking South East Tasmania

Monday, 25 March 2013

Tom Thumb Circuit

Monday 25th March 2013

Summit cairn Tom Thumb

I parked in the large car park just uphill from Big Bend and set off walking at 0757. It was a beautiful clear day with a mild temperature so all was looking good. I walked back downhill to the Big Bend Trail which descended for 3.3 kms. to a cairn marking the start of Tom Thumb ascent.

Big Bend Trail

The climb to Tom Thumb summit was short and only took about 20 minutes. The views from the summit were very good. After a break I climb back down to the Big Bend Trail and carried on passing the Knights Creek Track on the right before meeting up with the East West Trail. I followed this for a while to the Myrtle Forest Trail junction and was met with a sign saying that the East West Trail was closed due to the fire damage. It had a phone number so I rang the ranger and was told that, indeed , the trail was open and they had missed taking down the sign. Thankful I carried on, now uphill to the Collins Bonnet Track and then more uphill to Mount Connection. As I reached the summit I deviated off track to check out The Lectern and Pulpit Rock, both worthy of a visit, and then back to the main track again. Eventually I reached the Big Bend Trail and completed the final climb to the car.
This was a good walk with great views around the Mount Wellington area. There is a bit of up and down but it is not too bad.
Distance: 15.6 kms.
Time: 6'10"
Ascent: 764 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Various views from Tom Thumb Summit

Various views from The Lectern

On the Collins Bonnet Track

Thursday, 28 February 2013

Wellington Falls Circuit

Thursday 28th February 2013

Wellington Falls

I parked the car at the car park just near the start of Pinnacle Road at Fern Tree and set off at 0730. I first walked back along Huon Road past the tavern and onto the start point of various tracks in the park . The first track I walked up was the Middle track followed by the Radfords track to The Springs and then up past the site of the old hotel, cosmic ray observatory and on to the Milles track. It was all uphill to this point, but best to do this early in the day, I say.

Cathedral Rock from Milles Track

The track climbed steadily passing the Ice House track on the right and kept on climbing, but not steeply before descending to Disappearing Tarn and The Potato Fields. There was no water in the tarn which is pretty normal and the Potato Fields which consists of many, many boulders which have to be negotiated, although this was not difficult. After this the track climbed steadily again to near the falls.

Potato Fields

The track now descended to the falls where there is a lookout and it is also possible to descend to the base of the falls. I opted not to do that today. From here the track descended all the way back to the car via the Wellington Falls track and Pipeline track.
Overall a good walk and even though it is quite long, much of it is easy, so it does not take a great deal of time.
Distance: 21.3 kms.
Time: 5'55"
Ascent: 630 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Potato Fields

Top of Wellington Falls

Saint Crispins Well

Montagu Thumbs from Pipeline Track

Cathedral Rock from Pipeline Track

Monday, 25 February 2013

Denmans Cove

Monday 25th February 2013

Denmans Cove

Denmans Cove is on the Tasman Peninsula. To reach the start of the walk turn right into old Fortescue Road about 5.5 kms. past Taranna and then after 300 metres right into Andersons Road. Drive for 1.2 kms. to a parking area and signs.
I set off at 0920 and walked uphill on an old track for 700 metres before finding the track on the right hand side. This descended steadily through some nice forest for a further 700 metres to Stinking Bay which is aptly named.

Arriving at Stinking Bay

It was a perfect day and the water was very calm. I walk along the track to the beach at the head of the bay, crossed Gathercoles Creek, which was only a trickle, and carried on up the beach to pick up the track again near the rocks.

Gathercoles Creek and Stinking Bay Beach

The track went inland then back to the coast and followed the coastline to Simmons Creek, which was easily forded and then kept going along the coast to finally arrive at Denmans Cove, some 4.0 kms. after setting off.

Arriving at Denmans Cove looking north

Denmans Creek flows into the cove so I walked up it a little way and found a spot for lunch and then after that I walked out on the rocks on the southern side of the cove. It was a picturesque place. There were views of Port Arthur and I could see the cruise boat sailing around the Isle of the Dead. After dwelling for a while I simply retraced my steps back to the car.
This is a great short walk with no great effort required and provides excellent coastal scenery.
Distance: 10.0 kms.
Time: 3'45"
Ascent: 320 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Arriving at Stinking Beach

Denmans Creek looking out to the cove

Looking towards Port Arthur

Denmans Cove

Looking towards Stewarts Bay

Saturday, 26 January 2013

Snowy South

Saturday 26th January 2013

Snowy South Summit

I had been waiting for a clear day to walk to Snowy South, and, although today was not totally clear, it did not look to bad, so off I went.
To access the start of the walk drive out from Judbury on Lonnavale Road and take the left fork into Denison Road and then right into McDougalls Road and finally left into an unnamed road and drive a short distance to a small parking area. Signs indicating "Lake Skinner" generally indicate the correct direction.

Lake Skinner

I started off at 0740 with fine weather and walked south westerly for about 20 minutes until I met up with the old track. From here the track climbed steadily through nice forest until it reached a plateau and then went down slightly and the up again to come out at Lake Skinner at about 3.4 kms. from the start. Here I stopped for a snack and photo opportunity.

Shelter Rocks at Lake Skinner

Lake Skinner is a beautiful large lake and just near the its outlet of Falls Rivulet is an ideal rock shelter to protect ones self from the weather. The weather was okay so far so I did not require it and soon headed off across the rocks on the outlet of the lake. I picked up the track on the other side which went uphill gradually and then very steeply up to the top of the ridge. The track from here was mostly boulder hopping for a while and then became a track marked with cairns.

Tarn near the summit

When I could see the small tarn near the summit I turned left and headed for it and to the left of it. By now the summit was shrouded in cloud but I had come this far so I just kept going. It was just a matter of finding the best route up to the top along a bit of a ridge. I finally reached the summit which was still in cloud so there were absolutely no views to be had. I found a sheltered spot for lunch and discovered a sort of a cave.

Cave at the summit

After lunch I walked back down to the tarn and back along the ridge. There was no cloud along here and the views were great. I descended the steep section and came across a fellow hiker at Lake Skinner, and after exchanging a few words, carried on back to the car.
This was an excellent walk with fantastic views (what I saw anyway when I wasn't in cloud). I will have to do it again but choose a slightly better day.
Distance: 12.3 kms.
Time: 6'30"
Ascent: 860 metres
Click here to download GPX track.