Point Puer

Wednesday 26th February 2014

Cliffs at Point Puer

Point Puer is the site of the first reformatory built for boy convicts, aged 9 - 15, in the British Empire and operated from 1834 to 1849. It is part of the Port Arthur historic site and tours can be booked there to get information on the site. There is no historical data to be viewed at the Point so it is more or less impossible to determine what the ruins are, but never the less, it is interesting to explore the area.
We stayed at Burilda Waters and I commenced my walk from there. I walked along Big Possum Beach, around Brick Point, having to dodge under a jetty, along Little Possum Beach, around Tramway Point, under another jetty, and on to Briar Paddock Beach - all very interesting names. The rocks were quite slippery in places and I was always looking for the dry line. From here the shoreline started heading out to Point Puer and the walking was

Big Possum Beach

sometimes on rock and sometimes on sandy beach. There was quite a lot of seaweed and kelp washed up on the beach and it smelled pretty bad in places. I walked along to Old Station Beach and when I could see the road next to the beach I opted to take it into the site. There were ruins of buildings and some walls etc. but as I said previously, I did not know what they were. I wandered over to the west side of the peninsula and was pleasantly surprised by the high cliffs that existed there, one of which was named Suicide Cliff, for obvious reasons, I guess.
I spent some time looking around and then walked back along the Point Puer Road and Safety Cove Road to the start.
This was a very pleasant short walk and I enjoyed it immensely.
Distance: 7.7 kms.
Time: 1'53"
Ascent: 90 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Briar Paddock Beach

Point Puer Ruins

Point Puer Ruins

Looking towards Budget Head

Point Puer Ruins

Point Puer Ruins

Sign on access road

Clarks Cliffs

Tuesday 25th February 2014

Clarks Cliffs

Recently my partner and I spent 5 days down on the Tasman Peninsula and I managed to get in a few short walks.
Clarks Cliffs is a circuit walk of Mount Clark and the walk starts at a small car park 5.5 kms. along Fire Tower Road from B37.
I started walking just before 0800 and the first part of the walk was up an old fire trail and was a gentle climb uphill. It should be noted that the walk can be done in either direction and I choose to walk it anticlockwise. After 1.9 kms. I reached a sign indicating a lookout over Norfolk Bay and duly checked it out. Shortly after this the track left the fire trail and became a walking track only. I could hear some dogs barking up ahead, but never came across them.

Norfolk Bay Lookout

The track followed along the top of the ridge for some distance before coming to a sign indicating Musk Forest. It was only a short distance to walk before coming to rocks overlooking a musk forest, which was quite nice and worth a look. Back on the main track it was a short distance to Clarks Cliffs which provide limited views out to the south west. I had a short break and then continued on. Pretty soon the track started going downhill, quite steeply in places and some of the rocks were a little slippery. The track basically followed a creek down before levelling out. It was in this lower section where there numerous trees down and some scrambling was required to dodge them. Soon the track met up with the road and it was a short stroll back to the car. It was not a fantastic walk and the views were limited but the forest was rather nice in places and quite pleasant to walk through and it was a rather easy walk.
Distance: 6.4 kms.
Time: 2'30"
Ascent: 300 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Fire Trail

Fungi on the fire trail

Musk Forest

Clarks Cliffs

Clarks Cliffs

Mount Wellington Huts and Ruins

Monday 17th February 2014

Luckmans Hut

Today was to be just a short walk on Mount Wellington to look at some of the huts and ruins around the Big Bend area.
I started the walk at the lower end of the Panorama track which I walked up for a short distance and then headed mostly off track to find Luckmans Hut, which is in a fairly good state of repair. After a good look around I continued on to locate the site where the Wellington Ski Club Hut was originally located. All that remains now is the base and a few concrete slabs. From here I walked out to Pinnacle Road and uphill for a short distance to find the remains of the skating rink. It is just a cement slab with a lip around the edge which apparently filled with water and then froze to form the skating surface. It is quite small, really.

Skating Rink

From here it was back to Pinnacle Road and downhill to Big Bend and on to the Big Bend Trail, which I walked along for a couple of hundred metres before turning off and walking in the direction of the Scout Hut. I soon located it and had a look around. This hut also is in reasonable condition. After a bite to eat I then walked back to Big Bend and took the Lost World track.
After about 150 metres I headed in a westerly direction sometimes following a track and sometimes not. I was trying to find the Sama Hut but could not locate it as the weather closed in and it became a whiteout. I did not have any coordinates for it, so I probably walked right past it. Anyway, it was quite pleasant walking around on the top of Mount Arthur and I walked over to a point where I could see the Scout Hut.

Scout Hut

I walked a slightly different route back to the Lost World track but still had no luck finding the hut.
Another day! After getting back to the Lost World track, I followed this down to Lost World - alas still no views as the place remained in cloud. From here it was a steep climb down the "Yellow Dot Track" to eventually meet up with the Old Hobartians Track, then up the Hunters Track to Pinnacle Road and uphill to the car.
This was an enjoyable walk which offered different sights to a normal bush walk and was quite short in time and distance, only requiring half a day.

Distance: 8.1 kms.
Time: 4'54"
Ascent: 510 metres
Please Note - I have removed the Map and GPX download facility from this post due to a complaint about providing sensitive information on Wellington Park. If anyone wants further info please email me via the Contact Form on the Home Page.

Inside Luckman Hut

Remains of Wellington Ski Club Hut

Skating Rink

Inside Scout Hut

East Risdon Reserve

Monday 10th February 2014

Geilston Bay Marina

Today was only going to be a short walk and so it turned out, taking just over 3 hours.
I parked in De Bonfords Lane at Geilston Bay and walked back to the main road and then into Geilston Bay Road and walked to the end where there was a small car park and the start of the track. I noted that there was a new bridge linking the two roads and I could have saved about 1 km. of walking - oh well, I logged it into my brain for the return.
The track followed the north side of Geilston Bay and then around the point and down to Shag Bay. After this the track climbed and I took to the scrub to meet up with an old track which climbed steeply uphill. The bush in this area was easy to walk through with no scrub bashing required.

Shag Bay

The track was now an old road which climbed steadily up to almost the top of Government Hills. The bush in this area was very pleasant and the only sound of civilization was the drone of the zinc works across the river. After peaking, the track descended to finally meet up with Risdon Street and then down to the river bank where the return track began. There was plenty of activity out on the water from all types of water craft, including, jet skis, fishing boats, pleasure boats, rowers and tinnies. It seemed that heaps of people were out enjoying the great weather.
I stopped for a while and watched a ship being unloaded with, I presume, ore for the smelter and then continued on what is called the Bedlam Walls Track. The water views were great and it was quite relaxing, just dawdling along the river bank.

Ore Ship

The track went around Porter Bay and to Tommys Bight and then headed uphill to join up with the outward leg. This was followed for a very short distance before walking down towards the river bank again to Shag Bay Point and on to Shag Bay.
I then walked back to the car omitting the extra leg that I had walked earlier in the day.
I found that I enjoyed this walk more than I had expected and if anyone wants a shortish walk close to the city with not too much ascent, then I would recommend it. There are roads and tracks everywhere in the Government Hills area, so there are plenty of opportunities to vary the walk.

Distance: 11.3 kms.
Time: 3'10"
Ascent: 387 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Shag Bay

Old Boiler in Shag Bay

Track through Government Hills

Tasman Bridge

White-faced Heron

Rowers on the Derwent

Zinc Works

Glen Huon to Franklin

Saturday 1st February 2014

Glen Huon with Rimons Hill in background

This was not meant to be typical bush walk with much of the walking to be on roads or firebreaks.
I arranged to leave a car at Franklin and set off walking from Glen Huon at about 0745. The walk was on Sunny Hills Road which climbed steadily uphill for about 6 kms. with an ascent of 450 metres. I could have driven most of that. The walking was pleasant through nice forest and the weather was great although the mountains in the distance were in a smoke haze. There were quite a few pademelons(lives ones) on the road and an unexpected surprise was a high cliff line running along the side of the road in one spot.
After almost reaching the top of the climb the road seemed to end at a house, and as I was not keen to walk past it, I took to the bush and scrub bashed to where I expected a track to be. Sure enough I came across it after a short while.

Collins Bonnet and Trestle Mountain

I followed this track and then on to another one and then a short foot track which connected up with a fire break. It was at about this stage I came across a tiger snake sunning itself and I am not sure who got the biggest fright. After letting it slither off into the bush I carried on to a junction where I intended to turn right and walk that track. It soon proved to be too scrubby with tall cutting grass so I retreated and stayed on the original track which was quite easy walking.
The track eventually connected up with New Road Mill Site Track and then became New Road.
As I was walking down the road I came across a guy cutting firewood, and I somewhat startled him as he was not expecting anyone to come from that way. We had a good chat and I continued on walking down New Road to Franklin which I reached at 1150.
It was a good walk with the ability to stretch the legs out a bit.
Distance: 16.3 kms.
Time: 4"05"
Ascent: 612 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

On Sunny Hills Road

From Sunny Hills Road

Cliff Line on Sunny Hills Road

Cave in the cliff line

Small creek

Blakes Opening

Saturday 25th January 2014

Blakes Opening

Blakes Opening was just the destination that I chose to walk to on the Huon Track. The track basically follows the Huon River for quite some distance and provides access to lots of places in the south west wilderness including Mount Picton, Western Arthurs and Melaleuca. Anywhere along the river provides nice scenery.
To reach the starting point, drive out from Geeveston towards Tahune and just before reaching it turn left into Picton Road, straight ahead into Riveaux Road and then right into Quartz Quarry Road and follow to the sign indicating the start of the track.
I arrived at the start point a little after 0800 and just as I was getting ready it started to rain. As much as I detest walking in wet weather gear I decided that I would don my raincoat as it was quite cold. Just as well that I did as the foliage on the track was very wet and I would have soon been saturated.

Section of track

At about 0820 I commenced walking and after a short distance there was an overgrown sign on the right indicating the Huon Track and not long after was the walker registration booth. I noted that a lone walker had registered the previous day to walk to Melaleuca - better him than me I thought.
Not long after registering I became somewhat geographical challenged and actually lost the track for a short while but soon found it again when I walked up to the ridge where I suspected that it would be. I noted my mistake on the way back.
I followed the track for a couple of ks and could then hear the rapids in the river and the track then paralleled the river up to about 3 kms. and then headed across country thus bypassing a bend in the river.

Huon River

The track was okay in some places but in others it was a nightmare of downed trees which required climbing under or over or having to take a detour around. Don't let the track photos fool you as I only managed to take shots of the good sections.
I guess it was not too bad but it did slow me down quite a lot. At about 4.5 kms. the track was back on the riverbank again and continued like that until Blakes Opening. This last section was not too bad and was relatively clear of trees. All along the section of walk along the river bank were great views of the river at various stages and in some sections I had the opportunity to descend to the river itself.

Nice section of track

As I arrived at Blakes Opening there was a tent pitched it the middle of the clearing, all closed up, so I assumed that someone had left for the day, maybe to Mount Picton and was coming back in the afternoon. I did intend to walk to the Mount Picton turnoff so continued on, but, immediately the track became a quagmire so I turned back to the Opening. As I arrived back I heard a zipping noise and this head popped out of the tent. It turned out that it was the guy heading to Melaleuca and he had had a rough day yesterday carrying his heavy pack from Tahune, dodging all the trees, and was sleeping in. I informed him that it was 1100 but he was not perturb and said that he probably should get started soon. After passing the time of day I left him to it, wished him well, and headed back downstream to find a nice lunch spot.

Lunch spot on the Huon

I soon found a good place and clambered down the bank and had a restful break. Soon I was back walking again and reached the car at about 1415.
The only rain I had for the day was in the first 30 minutes and it was not too heavy but it was quite cool for most of the walk. The largest ascent on the whole walk is only about 70 metres, so I would describe it as a flat walk and fairly easy except for all the downed trees.
Overall a good walk with nice views of the river.
Distance: 17.7 kms.
Time: 5'52"
Ascent: 430 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Huon River

Huon River

Blakes Opening

Huon River lunch spot

On the track

Section of track

Huon River