Bridport - Northern Tasmania

Wednesday 24th December 2014

Bridport shoreline

This is an easy walk on well formed tracks and is comprised of different types of walks including foreshore, forest and riverside. Today I did the touristy thing and walked this circuit in the nice little village of Bridport on the north coast of Tasmania. The walk could be started from many different points on the route.

Trent Water

I started from my accommodation in Mary Street and walked down to the Foreshore Track at Trent Water and walked in an anticlockwise direction. The tide was out in the above photo, so there would be quite a lot more water at high tide.

Shoreline

The first section of walk followed the foreshore along in a northerly direction past the boat ramp at Trent Water and then past the camping area. There were literally hundreds of tents and caravans packed into the area for the Christmas holidays. Definitely not my cup of tea. The walk passed many beaches, including Goftons, Eastmans, Croquet Lawn, Mattingleys and Mermaids. There was ample opportunity to descend to many points of interest along the way via side tracks.

Shoreline

Shoreline

Shoreline

Shoreline

Shoreline

The scenery all along the coast was quite spectacular, as is normal for Tasmania. We really are very privileged to live in such a beautiful place. After the track left the foreshore it followed a gravel road for a time before I took the short detour to Adams Beach. This was a nice long beach which would be very good to walk along.

Adams Beach

Granite Point

The track then left the beach and went uphill slightly through nice forest with lookout points along the way.

East Sandy Point from lookout

The track meandered through the forest, past the golf course and then through a lovely section of she oak forest. Along here I spotted a Blue Tongue Lizard sunning itself on the track.

Track through forest

Blue Tongue Lizard

After the forest the track met up with the Brid River and followed this along past a pumping station and barrage with a water race. It was very pleasant walking all along here.

Brid River

Brid River Barrage

Brid River Barrage and Water Race

Water Race

Brid River

Brid River

Bridge across Brid River

 Finally the track emerged back on the Foreshore Track where I walked back to the start.
This was a great walk with diverse scenery, and, although it was all good, I enjoyed the forest and river section the best as they were away from the maddening crowds.
Distance: 12.3 kms.
Time: 2'46"
Ascent: 200 metres
Click here to download GPX file.

Mount Stronach - Northern Tasmania

Tuesday 23rd December 2014

Mount Stronach Summit

There are a couple of ways to walk to Mount Stronach. The one I chose was accessed by driving out of Scottsdale on North Scottsdale Road and then right into Jensens Road. I then drove about 3.0 kms. to a road off to the right and travelled up about 200 metres to park. The walking route headed off to the right. The other way to access Mount Stronach is via Buckneys Road which is off the A3 just south of Scottsdale.

Track heading uphill

I set off along the 4WD track which started climbing uphill. The track eventually levelled out somewhat after about 2.0 kms. and continued on across a rocky section of road to the lookout.

Track up higher

Road of solid rock

The lookout was a large rounded section of rock which would have provided good views of Scottsdale and the surrounding country if the weather had been fine. Unfortunately, there was a slight drizzle, so visibility was restricted.

Looking up to lookout rock

Lookout rock

After checking out what I could see, I walked over the back of the lookout rock and up to the summit cairn and trig marker. The views were really no better from here. I then returned to the car back down the same track except for where I walked around the lookout rock instead of over it. There was a cairn on the main track indicating this detour. The track that comes up from Buckneys Road was also noted on the right coming up.
A good walk with excellent views on a good day, apparently. This track could actually be driven in a high clearance 4WD to the lookout rock.
Distance: 9.0 kms.
Time: 2'21"
Ascent: 412 metres
Click here to download GPX file.

Beside the track

Scottsdale from lookout rock

North Scottsdale from lookout rock

Scottsdale from summit

Judds Bluff

Thursday 18th December 2014

View from Judds Bluff

As Judds Bluff is only a very short walk, I kept placing it in the walks to do basket. Today, I decided to bite the bullet and finally do it. I had no information on the walk, so I just figured that I would wing it and make something up. I did not know if there were any views from the bluff and I was not expecting too much. Just as well as the views were quite limited. Never the less it was not a bad walk.
I drove up from Judbury on Judds Creek Road to White Timber Trail, where I turned left and followed the road around to park just off the road where I intended to start the walk.

Forest near start of walk

I set off back down the road a little and then into the bush. It was not too bad walking, although there was some scrub in places and also lots of downed trees to climb over. The large downed trees came in handy when they were heading in the right direction, as I used them to walk along, thus avoiding some of the scrub. I walked down slightly and across a saddle and then up a slight rise and over to the bluff. The views were through the trees, so I could not see much. I then walked along the top of the bluff searching for better scenery, but it did not improve much. I did come across a small cairn of rocks on a large log where the "best" views were, so I assumed that that was indeed the spot. After a snack I walked back to the car, taking a slightly different route which proved to be less scrubby.
Overall an okay short walk with limited scenery, although the bush was quite nice. This walk is all off track. When I reached the car I drove up the road a little further where there were better views than from the bluff.
Distance: 3.1 kms.
Time: 2'45"
Ascent: 105 metres
Click here to download GPX file.

From Judds Bluff

From Judds Bluff

Forest at Judds Bluff

Cairn at Judds Bluff

Looking down from Judds Bluff

Mount Misery from access road

Looking down the Judds Creek valley from access road

Arve Plains

Thursday 11th December 2014

Huon River

As the name suggests, Arve Plains is near the Arve River and is on the southern side of the Huon River. To reach the walk start, drive out from Judbury, past the Southwood Mill, over the bridge on the Huon River and turn right into Edwards Link Road and follow this to park opposite a large quarry. Edwards and Edward Link Roads connect Southwood Road to the Tahune Air walk and are good gravel roads.

4WD track near the start

After parking the car I walked along Edwards Link Road to a track that headed off in a northerly direction. This track had been used by 4WDs and was quite eroded in places with some puddles. I found the track that parallels the river and walked along it to find a track heading off north once again. I was hoping that this would lead down to the river, and it did, almost anyway. It lead across the plains where there were areas of black soil.

Black soil country on Arve Plains

The track stopped abruptly about 100 metres short of the river, so I scrub bashed down to the waters edge. The river was quite picturesque and I stopped for a few minutes enjoying the view.

Huon River

Huon River

I retraced my steps back to the main track with the intention of following it to gain access to the junction of the Weld and Huon Rivers. I reached a point where the scrub didn't appear to be too thick, so I headed across country to eventually come out right at the junction. Both rivers were flowing reasonably well and I found a good log down on the waters edge to have a sit and a snack.

Weld (straight ahead) and Huon Rivers

Weld and Huon Rivers

Huon River

Huon River

Nice tall trees at the junction

From here I walked back to the track and carried on until the track came to a sudden halt. I searched around for another track, but without success, so I started heading back to the car via an alternate track and finally Edwards Link Road. I have since looked on Google Earth and it appears that I was not far from another track which appears to head west down to another section of the river. Another day.
This was an enjoyable, easy and fairly flat short walk with lovely views of the river.
Distance: 10.4 kms.
Time: 3'30"
Ascent: 170 metres
Click here to download GPX file.

Arve Plains

Mount Frederick

Track heading towards the river junction