Okines Beach

Wednesday 4th April 2018

Sandy Point from Okines Beach

The aim of today's walk was to start at the eastern end of Carlton Beach and walk around the coast to Okines Beach opposite the dunes on Sandy Point.
I parked at the end of River Street in Carlton Beach and set off doing a circumnavigation of Steeles Island initially, before walking west along Carlton Beach. It was a great day with little wind and lots of sunshine.

Carlton Bluff and River

Salt marsh Steeles Island

Carlton Beach

Spectacle Head

It was about a 3.0 kms. walk along Carlton Beach before reaching Spectacle Head. I was not sure if there was a track around the head but suspected there probably was. I found a track and started walking around. The views from up here were great.

Carlton Bluff

Carlton Bluff and Beach

Tasman Peninsula

I got to a point where I could not see where the track went so walked down to the road and walked along it for a bit until I found a track branching off to the Whale lookout and then down to the point on Spectacle Head.

Spectacle Head

Spectacle Head

Spectacle Head

From here I tried walking around the coast but the goat track became too indistinct and very close to the edge so I opted for the road and walked down to Red Ochre Beach.

Spectacle Island

Red Ochre Beach

There were lots of boat sheds along the beach. I continued around to Tiger Head where a track runs around the head.

Tiger Head

Red Ochre Beach

Red Ochre Beach

At Tiger Head with Spectacle Head in background

After negotiating Tiger Head I descended to Tiger Head Beach and walked along it before rounding the point to Okines Beach. All the while I could see Sandy Point and when I reached a point opposite the dunes, I finally sat down for a break.

Red Ochre Beach

Red Ochre Beach

Sandy Point

Looking towards Pitt Water

After a break I headed back, taking a road detour at Red Ochre Beach as the tide had come in, and bypassing Tiger Head via a road. I thought I would have a go at rounding Spectacle Head from this direction as I could see a track leading up from the beach but it only went to houses. I did find the track on the other side of the head and walked it before descending to Carlton Beach and the trek up the beach to the car. There were lots of surfers out as this is a well known surfing spot.

Spectacle Head

Carlton Beach and Bluff from Spectacle Head

This was a good easy walk with nice coastal scenery.
Distance: 18.9 kms.
Time: 4'42"
Ascent: 270 metres
Click here for GPX file.

Craigow Hill

Tuesday 27th March 2018

Summit Craigow Hill

I wanted to do a longer walk today, something with some uphill and some ups and downs and Craigow Hill seemed to be a good choice.
I started off from the car park in Belbins Road and headed up the old 4WD track before walking along one of the many bike tracks in the area. Once the bike track finished at the top of Golden Hill, there was a steep descent to Cross Rivulet which was almost dry.

Bike Track

Craigow Hill

Cross Rivulet

Cross Rivulet

Once across the rivulet I followed the track along the rivulet for some time before climbing quite steeply up to Craigow Hill. This was a track that I had not been on before. Craigow Hill was much as I remembered from previous visits with grass trees on top. The sun was in the wrong place for photos but I took a couple.

Craigow Hill

Craigow Hill

Craigow Hill

From the hill I headed north and walked a little loop where there were views over Hobart.

Hobart Views

Looking North

I then walked back and followed the normal route along to Eagle Hill and then descended once more to Cross Rivulet. It was totally dry here. The track kept going to Flagstaff Hill where the quarry has expanded since I was last here. There were no entry and blasting in progress signs near the quarry so to kept everyone safe and happy including me, I took a shortcut through the bush down to the track. It was not far.

Hobart

Hobart and Mount Wellington

I kept going along the track before taking the Clifftops bike track where there are views from the cliffs.

Hobart and Derwent

Hobart

Cliffs

Hobart

More Hobart.

Kept going down to the bike park and then along the track beside the highway back to the car.
A good walk with good views over Hobart. I got in my uphill and my ups and downs, so I was quite satisfied and I tried out a few tracks that I had not been on before.
Distance: 18.6 Kms.
Time: 6'04"
Ascent: 970 metres
Click here for GPX file.

Sullivan Point

Friday 16th March 2018

Sullivan Point

Sullivan Point is located on the western end of Little Lagoon Beach in the Southport Lagoon area. It is one of my favourite beaches in the south east as it usually deserted and gives one the feeling of being isolated. The walk starts at the end of South Cape Spur 1.
It was an overcast morning and a bit dreary but there was no rain. There was another track that I wanted to check out so I headed off on the Big Lagoon Beach track. The mountains to the west were a little indistinct in the gloom.

To the west

Button Grass Plains

After about 45" I located the track that I wanted and followed it until it almost met the Little Lagoon track. This track was reasonable but is slowly overgrowing. At the end of this track I turned south east and walked towards Eliza Point, initially along a fence line and then an old almost non existent track which has overgrown more since I was here last.

Walking along the fence line.

After some scrub bashing when trying to locate the route I finally reached Little Lagoon Beach which was just as nice as it usually is.

Eastern end Little Lagoon Beach

Little Lagoon Beach

I walked the length of the beach to entrance of Black Swan Lagoon and sure enough there were plenty of swans there.

Little Lagoon Beach

Towards Sullivan Point

The Images

Black Swan Lagoon

I kept going to Sullivan Point and wanted to cross over to the western side on Recherche Bay so I looked for a track but did not see one so just walked across through the bush which was quite easy. As I reached the other side I did locate a track which I would follow back eventually. Over this side of Sullivan Point was really quite nice as well, so I sat on the rocks for a well earned break.

Recherche Bay

Recherche Bay

Fishers Point

Sullivan and Fishers Points

After a while I headed back on the track which went to Quiet Cove and then back to Little Lagoon Beach. Not sure how I missed it on the way in as it was quite obvious. It is private land in the middle of Sullivan Point but a sign shows that access is permitted.

Quiet Cove

Quiet Cove

Once back on the beach I started walking back towards the car via a track that provides a good view of Black Swan Lagoon.

Surf Rolling in

Black Swan Lagoon

Black Swan Lagoon

View from track heading back

The Little Lagoon track is overgrowing also with button grass and cutting grass and is quite indistinct in places. Someone has placed a few tapes here and there which makes it a little easier. I made it back to the car in a shorter time than I had expected.
This is a really nice walk but expect some scrub and cutting grass which will only get worse with time, but the beach and surrounds are worth the effort.
Distance: 16.9 kms.
Time: 4'53"
Ascent: 250 metres
Click here for GPX file.