Orford

Monday 10th April 2017

Towards Spring Beach

Today was not a typical bush walk because it was mostly all on formed tracks and was rather flat, but never the less it was a good walk of 15.0 kms.
We started at a car park at Raspins Beach and walked southwards along the coast to the bridge over the Prosser River. After crossing the bridge we carried on along the good track.

Raspins Beach and Maria Island

Raspins Beach and Luther Point

Bridge over Orford Rivulet

Orford Rivulet

The track crossed Orford Rivulet and carried on parallel to Orford Beach before leading down to Shelly Beach, along which we walked for a short time before regaining the track. Just up ahead we stopped for a snack on a convenient log at Luther Point.

Shelly Beach

Shelly Beach

Sandstone on Shelly Beach

At Luther Point

Old Boat Winch at Luther Point

After Luther Point the track gradually climbed up around Quarry Point, where there were really good views and then descended to Spring Beach, which we decided was to be our destination. We could have carried on to Stapleton Beach but opted not to. It was a pleasant spot for an early lunch.

Prosser Bay

Example of good track at Quarry Point

Maria Island

Prosser Bay

Spring Beach

Maria Island and Spring Beach

Token Seagull

Northern Tip of Spring Beach

Spring Beach

Sandstone Cliffs Spring Beach

After lunch we simply retraced our steps to the car.
This was a very good easy walk with great coastal scenery.
Distance: 15.0 kms.
Time: 3'58"
Ascent: 180 metres
Click here to down load GPX file.

Dolomieu Point

Saturday 8th April 2017

Dolomieu Point

Unfortunately for us, Forestry had been doing fuel reductions burns over a wide area in the south and the sky was fairly smoky, which made some of the photos a bit hazy, but it was still a good walk. It is 6 years since I last did this walk. How time flies.
The walk starts at Fortescue Bay and to get there just head down towards Port Arthur and take the obvious turnoff a few kms. past Taranna. The gravel road is severely potholed but is 2WD.
We set off along the beach and soon left it on to the track.

Fortescue Bay

Fortescue Bay

Fortescue Bay with Dolomieu Point in the distance

Fortescue Bay

It was easy walking and we soon found a nice rocky outcrop to stop for morning tea.

From rest stop

From rest stop

It did not take long before we arrived at Canoe Bay where there is the wreck of the William Pitt.
The William Pitt
About halfway along the track you will come to Canoe Bay, where the remains of a shipwreck can be clearly seen above the waterline. Built in the UK in 1904, the ship was a steam hopper barge named Andre Reboulas,  later sold to the Dutch.
In 1907 she was renamed William Pitt and sold in Melbourne. She came to Hobart in 1940 for use in the construction of the floating Arch Bridge across the Derwent River. She was later scuttled in 1955 to act as a breakwater for small craft in Canoe Bay.

William Pitt

Canoe Bay

Cape Hauy from Canoe Bay

William Pitt

 There is a quaint suspension bridge to cross which used to have a sign on either end displaying the carrying capacity of the bridge, but they have been removed. It used to be 1 person with backpack.
 After this there was a climb up and then a descent into Bivouac Bay where there is a camping ground and toilet. The camping ground was unoccupied.

Track between Canoe and Bivouac Bays

Bivouac Bay

After Bivouac Bay there was a bit of a climb up to Dolomieu Point where there are great views from the high cliffs. We went to the lookout rocks and then down to where the rock climbers go over the edge where we had lunch.

Thumbs Point from lookout

From lookout

Thumbs Point

Coastal Cliffs

After lunch we headed back and started to encounter a few people as we went along. As we were getting closer to Fortescue Bay we met a group of scouts heading up to camp at Bivouac Bay.

A smoky Cape Hauy

Northern end Fortescue Bay

This is a really good walk with fantastic coastal scenery. Of course there is the option of only walking to Canoe or Bivouac Bays but then the grandeur of the sea cliffs will be missed.
Distance: 12.9 kms.
Time: 4'54" (3'45" when I did it solo 6 years ago)
Ascent: 560 metres
Click here to download GPX file.

Eliza Point

Friday 31st March 2017

Eliza Point

I could have called this walk a few different names but settled on Eliza Point as it is approximately half way along. Other places visited included Big Lagoon Beach, Little Lagoon Beach and Black Swan Lagoon, all of which are special in their own right.
The walk starts in South Cape Spur 1 and after turning off the main road into this, drive for 3 kms. and park at the locked gate.
I set off a bit after 0800 and walked down the usual track to Big Lagoon Beach. The track was quite dry which made walking very easy. Anywhere in this area is best walked in the dry because once the winter rains start, it becomes somewhat of a quagmire with water and mud that has to be negotiated.

Button Grass Plains

Remains of an old bridge

An example of the track

Once I arrived at Big Lagoon Beach, I headed south along the coastline towards Eliza Point. I had not been this way before and was not sure what to expect. I knew there would be plenty of rock hopping, but how hard or easy it would be, I did not know. As it turned out it was quite easy with the rocks varying in size from pebbles to boulders.

Big Lagoon Beach looking North

Big Lagoon Beach looking South

Heading South

Nice little beach heading South

I actually reached Eliza Point much sooner than expected. If you don't like rock hopping then I would avoid this walk as there is 2.0 kms. of it along the coastline, but as I have already mentioned, it is quite easy.

Heading South

Looking back to Big Lagoon Beach

Heading South

Heading South

Little Bay at Eliza Point

Once I reached Eliza Point I headed inland on an old track and then veered off down to the point just south of Eliza Point where I had a little break.

Looking towards Fishers Point and Cockle Creek

Looking towards Fishers Point and Cockle Creek

Looking North at rest stop

I then walked back to the track and along it down to Little Lagoon Beach.

Little Lagoon Beach

Little Lagoon Beach

Little Lagoon Beach

Little Lagoon Beach

Looking towards Fishers Point

After walking almost to the end of Little Lagoon Beach, I exited to the old track and up another old track to hopefully get a view of Black Swan Lagoon. I did get views of the Lagoon and it is very easy to see where it got its name. It was teeming with black swans all making a whole lot of noise.

Black Swan Lagoon

Black Swan Lagoon

Black Swan Lagoon and peaks to the West

Fishers Point, Sullivan Point and Black Swan Lagoon

An example of track heading back

I just kept walking back along the track to the car. There is a section of about 1.0 km. in length and down towards the car which is being gradually overtaken with cutting grass on this track. It makes route finding a little difficult in places and some scrub bashing is required.
Other than that this is a great little walk visiting a couple of pristine beaches where I saw no other footprints.
Distance: 14.1 kms.
Time: 4'20
Ascent: 225 metres
Click here to download GPX file.