Adamsfield

Sunday 17th December

Saw Back Range

 Some friends expressed an interest in walking in to Adamsfield so we decided to do it today. Adamsfield was a mining town established around 1925, and is where osmiridium was mined by various methods up until the 1960s. There is very little left of the town now as most of it has been reclaimed by the bush or burnt down in bush fires.
It was quite a long drive for us from Judbury but we started early and reached the start at 0915. The start is reached by driving towards Strathgordon and at 3.8 kms. past the Scotts Peak Dam turnoff, take the Clear Hill Road. Drive 17.8 kms. on a 2WD road to the walk start. The last couple of kms. are a bit rough but okay for 2WD.
We walked along the Adamsfield (Morley) Track for about 1 km. to the first items of interest, Clarks Huts.

Adamsfield (Morley) Track

At Clarks Huts

Morleys Mansion

Morleys Mansion

Clarks Huts

Clarks Huts

We checked out the outside of the huts before fording the stream and carrying on towards Adamsfield town. It was all easy walking on a good track. Just past Clarks Huts we found a great shelter shed and BBQ which was a great spot where we had lunch later.

 
About 3.6 kms. from the start we reached the site of the township where there is little to see except for a few relics.

The town was 100 metres up the foot track to the left of this sign

Around here was rain forest type country with lots of tree ferns but once past the township it opened up into more button grass type landscape. We did see a wombat crossing the track but I was not quick enough to photograph it, only capturing its rear end.

Now that the country was opening up we started to get views of the surrounding mountains.

The track carried on to the open cut mine where we could see what we assumed was some black osmiridium ore on the ground. There were a few relics in this area but not a lot.

We wandered around the mine for a while before climbing back up to the track where we had great views of the surrounding countryside. The scenery was spectacular as it was such a great day. we could see Lake Gordon in the distance.

We kept going up the track and then along Packers Spur to a mine a short distance up the track. This was our destination point. There were good views from up here also.

After turning around and heading back we had lunch at the previously mentioned shelter and returned to the cars.
This was an excellent walk on a good wide track and the views were spectacular.
Distance: 13.6 kms.
Time: 4'40"
Ascent: 360 metres
Click here for GPX file.

Tinpot Island

Tuesday 5th December 2017

Tinpot Island

 I parked in a largish car park in Sommers Bay Road at Sommers Bay just out of Murdunna on the Forestier Peninsula. There was space beside the road at the start of the walk proper but I thought it would be safer there. It was only 500 metres up the road to the path down to the jetty. The weather was perfect with no breeze at all.

Sommers Bay

Sommers Bay Jetty

From the jetty I walked along a faint path around the headland to the pick up the reasonable track that follows the Flinders Bay foreshore to Flinders Bay settlement.

Track to Flinders Bay

Flinders Bay

Flinders Bay Settlement

Flinders Creek

Flinders Bay

Once past the settlement there was a rock hop around the next point as the bush was not too inviting. The rocks were good for rock hopping and it did not take too long to round the point and find some more open country along the foreshore.

The rock hop

Flinders Bay

Rounding the point and more open country ahead

Once I reached the open country it was reasonably easy walking with the occasional casuarina scrub and the odd short rock hop to round another larger headland.

Open Country

Towards Tasman Peninsula

A bit more rock hopping

From this headland I could see the Mackerel Islets which were off the last point that I had to negotiate before reaching Tinpot Island. I carried on around the coast to that point. There were some buoys washed up on the beach and there was plenty of bird life on the islets.

Little rocky beach

Mackerel Islets

From the point at Mackerel Islets

Mackerel Islets

After the islets there was a bit of a scrubby walk around to Tinpot Island with the odd rock hop. I soon reached the island and settled down for lunch. I debated about whether to cross over to the island or not but decided against it as I did not feel like walking back with wet boots. It would have been quite easy as the water was not deep.

Tinpot Island

Tinpot Island and looking out to Norfolk Bay

After a short break I chose to walk across country to pick up my outward track. It was a bit scrubby but not too bad and it saved me 600 metres but only about 10 minutes and was probably easier. I made sure to keep in the reserve at all times. Once back to the shore again it was just a simple matter of walking back to the car.

Sea Urchin

This was a good walk and I saw no one for the entire walk which was good.
Distance: 15.1 kms.
Time: 6'01"
Ascent: 270 metres
Click here to download GPX file.