Across the Strait – Tasmania Part 2

March 16, 2019 by jillianhancock

We headed out for a night at Cape Pillar to photograph the amazing cliffs in the best light. The afternoon light lived up to expectations but the sunrise was overcast.

IMG_750-14895-2+93 Tasman Island and the Blade panorama

IMG_750-14928-2 Tasman Island and the Blade panorama

Off to the west coast where we found two new campsites – Trial Harbour, a delightful little site on the coast with space for a few campers and Lake Mackintosh with no facilities but a superb outlook. This is not our car and van in the picture – these people got there first and snagged the perfect viewpoint.

Trial Harbour

Lake Mackintosh

We took advantage of the clear weather on the notorious west to climb Mt Farrell behind Tullah with the little jewel of Lake Herbert nestled into the side. With Lakes Mackintosh and Rosebery surrounding the mountain we had wrap around scenery.

Lake Herbert

Lake Mackintosh

Tullah and Lake Rosebery

Lake Herbert

Lake Mackintosh

A final stop at Cradle Mountain included a day trip to Twisted Lakes via Hanson Peak, a rugged little climb where a chain is provided to help you to haul yourself up. We elected to return via Lake Hanson and not downclimb the chain.

Hanson Peak

Twisted Lake

IMG_750-15292-2a Cradle Mountain over Dove Lake panorama

Across the Strait – Tasmania

March 15, 2019 by jillianhancock

We took our annual trip to Tasmania and had our usual variety of experiences. Being summer the waterfalls were not expected to be flowing well but Tasmania seems to have had more rain and we found them impressive. We visited two falls in the Meander Valley – Shower Cave and Cleft Rock falls and Nelson and Montezuma falls on the west coast. We also walked to the falls at Cradle Mountain.

Shower Cave falls

Cleft Rock falls

Nalson falls

Montezuma falls

Pencil Pine falls

Knyvet falls

We crossed over the central plateau on our way to visit the Walls of Jerusalem. The fires came to the very edge of the villages up there but only one building was lost. With all the wilderness areas being closed because of the danger of fires everyone was clustered at the Walls but we didn’t feel it was overcrowded. We stayed at Wild Dog creek and visited the Pool of Bethesda, a great mirror for the West Wall. A climb up to Solomon’s Throne gave us the grand view back over the valley and the surrounding wilderness.

Solomon’s Jewels

Pool of Bethesda

Solomon’s Throne

We settled down at Dixon’s Kingdom Hut before taking a trip out to Mt Jerusalem. An early exit from the Walls gave us time to visit Devil’s Gullet which was literally a blast. A night on the Mersey River and a visit to Honeycomb Cave, a fun place we discovered out of Mole Creek, rounded out the trip.

Dixon’s Kingdom Hut

Mt Jerusalem

Devil’s Gullet

On the Mersey river

Honeycomb cave

Winter in Tassie

July 8, 2018 by jillianhancock

Just for a change we’ve taken only our 2nd trip to Tasmania in winter. It’s the season to chase waterfalls and we found there was almost too much water as 75mm fell the night before we arrived. In the north we visited our favourite Liffey Falls which was roaring. The Honeycomb Caves we have explored in the past could not be entered due to the water flowing through. We joined with Robin, a local who chases unknown waterfalls, to visit Montana Falls and to revisit the very impressive Sensation Gorge.

Liffey Falls

Honeycomb caves

Montana Falls

Sensation gorge falls

A trip to Meander Falls that we had previously seen trickling over in summer had us climbing up into the snow. The falls were flowing well but we didn’t linger in the cold. We had to wade the cold Mother Cummings rivulet to visit Chasm falls but it was as always worth it.

The Western Tiers

Meander river

Meander falls

Meander river

Caveside church below Mother Cummings Peak

Lower Chasm falls

Middle Chasm falls

We headed south to base ourselves in Kingston and chase more waterfalls and peaks. Snug falls were flowing well and Pelverata falls were an unexpected delight as they dropped down an impressively stepped mountainside. A glorious day had us heading south to climb Hartz Peak. The clear night had all the pools covered with ice and the snow on the peak being hard and slippery. We took it carefully and were rewarded with grand 360 degree views.

Snug falls

Pelverata falls

Esperance Lake

Snowy Peak

Hartz Peak

Shelter from the wind

As Jessica and Nick returned home we headed to more waterfalls on Mt Wellington. Myrtle Gully falls look much better with a decent fall of water and Secret Falls are very mysterious. Dark Mofo was on so we had dinner at the midwinter feast with a great variety of food stalls to choose from.

New Holland honeyeater

Drystone bridge

Myrtle Gully falls

Secret falls

Strickland falls

Midwinter feast

We were booked in to stay at Government Huts on Mt Field but made a stop at Russell Falls on the way. There was a very impressive display of fungi and as usual it was Horseshoe falls that captured all out attention.

Russell falls

Horseshoe falls

We were lucky to have a blue sky day to climb up to Tarn Shelf as the others in the huts had had days of drizzle. It meant the snow was again treacherous (at least to we cautious oldies!) but we made it safely to Rodway Hut. It was then fairly easy to head to the tarns, the first one of which had a layer of ice on top. After lots of photos we headed back down.

Jess and Nick at Lake Dobson

Tarn Shelf

IMG_750-8036 IMG_4550 Tarn Shelf panorama

We were lucky enough to have a visit from a quoll who enjoyed the milk that had been left out in the cold. The possums here are very dark and have a thick coating of winter fur. The setting of the huts by a valley with tarns and pencil pines had us making numerous trips outside to capture it in various lights including a frost on the last morning.

Fagus hut

We headed up the east coast for our trip home stopping at Swansea to enjoy sunrise and sunset over the Hazards on Freycinet Peninsula.

Sunset over the Hazards

Sunrise

Our final night was at St Helens with a visit to the Bay of Fires then a couple more waterfalls on the way to Devenport.

Binalong Bay

Sloop rock

Halls falls

Punchbowl falls

Walking to The Labyrinth

December 1, 2017 by jillianhancock

IMG_56907 IMG_3136 While we were in Tasmania we joined with two of our children to revisit the Labyrinth, a trip we had done previously with all the family in 2005. We had limited time so decided to walk into Pine Valley Hut and do day walks from there. Ray and I walked in to Echo Point Hut carrying all the food because the boat was too expensive with only two of us on the afternoon run. As usual it was harder than we remembered but that was because of heavy packs and September snow that had knocked over many trees. We had to go over, under and around them until we finally arrived at the hut in its unique setting, hidden in the trees but opening to a lake view.

Echo Point Hut and Mt Ida

Mt Ida

Echo Point Hut

Echo Point Hut and Mt Ida with morning cloud

We went on to Narcissus Hut and then Pine Valley, passing a very still snake that could well have been dead except it was gone on the way out. We reminisced about our first trip in when many of the rivers were crossed on logs rather than bridges. The logs are still there but no longer used. Our children finally caught up with us after they set off a day and a half after us.

At Narcissus Hut

Seed pod

Mt Olympus in the clouds

Old log bridge

Old and new bridge

A very still snake

New bridge

We visited Cephissus Falls and climbed to the Acropolis plateau in the afternoon. The snow detered us from climbing to the top.

Pandani

Mt Gould

Taken in 2005

We’re all off the ground!

Jessica in 2005

The next day was a picture perfect day to climb to the Labyrinth. The track no longer went through the bog our friend was caught in years ago but it still had the same big steps near the plateau that took an effort to get up with a full pack. We wandered on to Lake Elysia and enjoyed the vistas of snow dappled mountains. We missed out on the sunset views over the mountains as seen from our camp in 2005. We revisited the falls on the way out.

Looking down on The Labrinth

Walled Mountain

Mt Geryon and the Acropolis over Lake Elysia

Sunset on Geryon in 2005

Sunset on the Acropolis in 2005

Mountains above the falls

Mountains above the falls in 2005

Sara and Jessica in 2005

We headed on out the next day, Ray and I taking the boat after Jessica and Shaun had walked all the way out the previous day.

Relaxing on the verandah of Pine Valley Hut

The view of Mt Olympus

The Acropolis

Our group in 2005

Taking photos in 2005

Sunrise

The weather was too good to waste so Ray and I completed the circuit walk to Mt Rufus and discovered what we’d missed out on all these years. It was well worth the big effort.

View from Mt Rufus

The Colours of Spring

November 29, 2017 by jillianhancock

Table Cape

Spring saw us in Tasmania to see the tulip display at Table Cape with the waterfalls being a bonus. We started by visiting the bathing boxes in Brighton, Victoria while we waited to board the Spirit of Tasmania. They are certainly very colourful and bring lots of people to see them.

Brighton bathing boxes

We went straight to visit the tulips but we were too early and so spent a week chasing waterfalls before returning to an amazing display of colour and well worth taking a special trip to Tassie.

Too early for tulips

Table Cape lighthouse

Tulip farm by the road

Table Cape tulip farm

Not my ball!

The Tasmanian coast provides lots of opportunities to create colourful photos with rocks covered with vivid orange lichen or bright green algae or just beautiful patterns. Sunsets and rises are often special when there is nothing to block your view and you can never beat blue water and coloured rocks.

Boat Harbour Beach

Full moonrise

Misty sunrise

Stairway to the sun

The Nut

Nelson Bay

At Granville Harbour

The Hazards, Freycinet NP

Springtime brings out the blossom and unsettled weather especially on the west coast. We took some walks in the fresh, green forest and discovered the magical Japanese garden at the Hobart botanic gardens.

Deloraine

Battery Point

The Sinkhole

Fungi

Pieman River

Japanese Garden

The Sound of Falling Water

November 26, 2017 by jillianhancock

For a change of season we headed to Tasmania in Spring instead of our usual Summer trip. This gave us the opportunity to revisit favourite waterfalls with good flows and also find some new ones. The tiers along the northern coast produce many of them. We went back to Guide Falls, an easy walk, and Champagne and Bridal Veil Falls near Lemonthyme Lodge. Upper Cam Falls are a photographers delight and the Castra circuit gave us a number of falls.

Guide Falls

Upper Cam Falls

Silver Falls

Castra Falls

Step Falls

Champagne Falls

Bull Ck

Bridal Veil Falls

A website, Waterfalls of Tasmania, was our gateway to many new falls as well as reminding us how to get to ones we’d seen before. Sensation Gorge had only a rough track but was well worth visiting. Another new one to us was Bastion Cascades in a very pretty setting. We revisited Smoko Creek with its many lovely falls and cascades though we were disappointed that the rickety log that enabled you to see Chasm Falls had been removed (it was very dangerous!). Hopefully a bridge will replace it in future. Dip Falls were amazing as the water cascaded over the basalt columns.

First falls in Sensation Gorge

Second falls in Sensation Gorge

Lobster Rivulet

Meander River in Deloraine

Small fall on Bastion Creek

Bastion Cascades

Lower Chasm Falls, Smoko Creek

Middle Chasm Falls

Cascades on Smoko Creek

Above Chasm Falls

Dip Falls

Every trip to Tasmania seems to see us at Liffey Falls, possibly my favourite of all.

Liffey Falls

We also headed down the west and back to Hobart. This took us past the delightful small but colourful Nelson Bay Falls in the Tarkine, the ever reliable Nelson Falls, Tarraleah Falls near the town and the popular Russell Falls and the photographers’ favourite – Horseshoe Falls.

Nelson Bay River Falls

Nelson River

Nelson Falls

Cephissus Falls

Russell Falls

Horseshoe Falls

A wedding on a mountain

March 25, 2017 by jillianhancock

After the exhilaration of the walk we had to come down to earth and get back to the main reason we had come to Tasmania this year – our daughter’s wedding. We tried to do all we could to help as the excitement grew as the day grew closer. We even got an advance peak at their wedding outfits as they made sure they still fitted.

Jessica and Nick at Boronia

We headed for Launceston where the mainland relatives gathered ready for the trip up Ben Lomond. A trip to Cataract Gorge filled in the day.

Cataract Gorge

The next day we all headed up the mountain where the sun was shining and the forecast winds didn’t eventuate. My job was to put together the bouquets for the bridesmaids with the help of my son and then we helped where possible. The outside ceremony was lovely and we were royally fed, put together by the groom and his mother. The folk band had the feet tapping and the dance floor full. We had to retreat outside to cool down.

Rovers Lodge on Ben Lomond

Shaun with a bouquet

Preparation

The menu

Check out those boots!

Deb and her masterpiece

The wedding cake

Dancing

Cutting the cake

Stars over Ben Lomond

The next morning we were treated to pastries and coffee for breakfast before the big clean up and retreat. We retreated to Chudleigh where we explored the nearby Honeycomb caves.

Breakfast

Morning panorama

Chudleigh

Honeycomb caves

Rural life

Leven Canyon is another of our favourite stops in northern Tasmania and this time we took advantage of the free camping in this delightful spot. A highlight was walking to Devil’s Elbow where the river makes an abrupt turn under towering cliffs.

The campsite

Leven Canyon

Down the steps between lookouts

Devils Elbow

From Cruikshank Lookout

We needed to fill in one last day and discovered the beautiful Guide Falls at the back of Burnie that we had not visited before. Ferndene near Ulverstone had us stretching our legs on a walk to old mines and Goat Island was accessed while the tide was out before we returned home on the Spirit.

Gunn’s Plains

Guide Falls

Ferndene

Old mine

Goat Island

Back to Melbourne

Off to the Pigsty

March 13, 2017 by jillianhancock

Pigsty Ponds

What a name for a place that we found quite delightful! Though I must admit reading about other peoples walks to this area the weather is not always as good as we had it – though the walkers after us had it even better.

We were walking in to the Southern Ranges in Tasmania and aiming for Pigsty Ponds. We had a warm up walk on Mt Wellington first, completing a circuit from Ferntree via the Organ Pipes and returning via O’Grady Falls. The forecast was looking more promising than it had been for the rest of our time in Tasmania so we decided to head off on the walk. After reading the track notes we decided to turn it into a 5 day walk rather than push in in one day. As we climbed Marble Hill on the first day we decided that was a good decision. The track heads straight up the hill side and luckily was well marked with tape as we were a bit bamboozled at times. We finally made the top of the hill and enjoyed the next flat bit along the ridge before it was once again straight up a hillside. We passed a dry campsite in the trees before climbing on to Moonlight Ridge where a fire had killed off the scrub and left sharp, pointed sticks to catch unwary legs. We reached our destination on Moonlight creek and found the only dry camp site in a bog surrounded by dead trees. They did look good in the late light.

Organ Pipes

Junction Cabin

Lone Cabin

Bullfrog Tarns on Moolight Ridge

Our campsite

Next morning we climbed up Hill One from where we could start to really appreciate the mountains around. First we had to traverse a garden of cushion plants that Parks had put stepping stones across – it wouldn’t look out of place in a Japanese garden. We later met the ranger in charge and he said they hadn’t been trying to make it beautiful, just protect the vegetation. Hill Two gave us a muddy ditch guarded by prickly scoparia and we realised we should have brought gaiters. Once we were through that and up onto Hills Three and Four the views were just fantastic under blue skies. We looked across to Federation Peak, ahead to Precipitous Bluff and not be outdone – the nearby Hippo. We were passed by a walker who had left that morning and would easily keep up with Chapman’s fast times in his guide book (whereas we were slower than his slow times!) After lunch was taken sheltering between rocks from the relentless wind but overlooking the impressive scenery, we headed down to Pigsty Ponds. The whole area was one giant soak so you need a tent with a good floor but we managed to get an almost dry site situated between two ponds and mostly sheltered from the wind. From our campsite we admired the changing light as the sun lit up the Cockscomb (jagged tail end of La Perouse) and surroundings.

Looking back from Moonlight Ridge

Garden on Hill One

IMG_47439 Mt Wylie to Federation Peak panorama

Towards Federation Peak

The Hppo and La Perouse

Pigsty Ponds and Reservoir Lakes

Pigsty Ponds

Pigsty Ponds

The Cockscomb

The weather was quite different the next day with overcast skies but not too bad to put us off climbing La Perouse. We followed the closely spaced cairns to the top where we were pushed to the top by gale force winds and cloud obscured the views. We caught our breath behind the huge not quite on the summit cairn before breaks in the cloud had us making for the edge to enjoy glimpses of the coast. We didn’t linger and pushed back across the rocky summit using the now fortuitously spaced cairns to find the route back down and escape the blasting winds. Pindars Peak peeped out from the cloud and made us think we would perhaps need to return. A side trip down to Reservoir Lakes showed alternative sheltered campsites.

Rainbow over Maxwell Ridge

Summit cairn on La Perouse

Towards the coast

Heading down

Pindars Peak

La Perouse

An arrow to ensure you find the right way

Forest at Reservoir Lakes

The sun came out to farewell us as we headed back over the now familiar route. It didn’t seem nearly as hard on the way out as we knew all the worst bits. We gathered water at Bullfrog Tarns to ensure we could camp in the forest where it was dry underfoot for a change. As we headed out on the Saturday we were astounded by the number of people coming in. They had all studied the forecast and knew they were in for something special – blue skies and little wind in the notorious Southern Ranges.

The Cockscomb

Morning sunshine at Pigsty Ponds

The garden on Hill One

Moonlight Ridge

Bullfrog Tarns

Dry camp

Climbing down

Return to Bruny

February 27, 2017 by jillianhancock

Sunrise over Fluted Cape

Our now annual trip to Tasmania began with the trip on the Spirit of Tasmania – in a cabin this time as we feel we are past using the recliners for the overnight trip. We headed through the Central Highlands with our usual stop at Liffey Falls, our favourite waterfall in Tasmania. We also scrambled up the scree at Quamby Bluff for a hard climb but little reward due to cloud cover.

Liffey Falls

Scree slope on Quamby Bluff

Quamby Bluff

We timed our visit to Hobart with the bi-annual Wooden Boat Festival though it was entirely unintentional. The handiwork is amazing and the boats seem too beautiful to put in the water. The sail past was a great display of sail.

Wooden boat Festival

The weather was against our plans for walks in the mountains so we retreated to the much more pleasant climate of Bruny Island to complete some of the walks we had missed last time. We began at Cloudy Bay with a walk to East Cloudy Head where we found we could have easily driven along the beach to the very nice Cosy Corner camping are instead of making do with the more accessible Pines. The walk gave views back on Cloudy Bay but unfortunately not the impressive cliffs of the headland. We then moved to the lovely camp at Jetty Beach where a new water tank has been added. We visited the lighthouse where I took the tour to the top between showers and appreciated the magnificent views. We walked the Labillardiere Peninsula the next day, an easy walk showing the contrasting sides of the peninsula.

Cloudy Bay

Bruny Island lighthouse

From Bruny Island lighthouse

Inside Bruny Island lighthouse

Jetty Beach

Labailladiere Peninsula walk

Jetty Beach

We headed for Adventure Bay where we revisited the best views of Fluted Cape. I took the Bruny Island cruise while Ray went to set up camp at the Neck. The views of the cliffs from sea level were even more dramatic and many more features were revealed. We spotted caves, zoomed between rock monuments and were wet by spray from an undersea spout. At the Friars we watched the fur seals basking in the sun and frolicking in the water while a pod of dolphins joined us for part of the trip back.

Mavista Nature walk

Fluted Cape

The Monument

The Friars

Australian Fur Seal

The Neck campground gives views from both sides of the isthmus and turned on a spectacular sunrise. We returned to Hobart via pretty Snug Falls.

Stars over Fluted Cape

Sunrise over Fluted Cape

Snug Falls

The last of Tassie

April 16, 2016 by jillianhancock

Lagoons Beach sunset

We headed out to stay at Lime Bay to visit the Coal Mines, a less visited historical area on the end of the Tasman Peninsula. The ruins could be experienced on a well explained circular walk.

Coal Mines

Isolation cells

We walked out and peered down the deep ventilation shaft and then enjoyed the lovely setting of Lime Bay camping area.

Lime Bay sunrise

Lime Bay

We had some time to spare as we headed north to catch the boat so decided to go via the east coast. We arrived at Freycinet Peninsula in the afternoon only to find all the campsites full. We pushed on further up the coast to a large and beautiful campsite we had visited previously at Lagoons Beach. The lagoon created a great foreground for sunrise and set.

Lagoons Beach

Lagoons Beach sunset

Lagoons Beach sunrise

Lagoons Beach

We had the offer of a night’s accommodation at Ben Lomond so drove there via Mathinna Falls. We had also visited these previously and had the knowledge that it was worth scrambling up a rough track to the next level to see more falls.

1st Mathinna Falls

2nd Mathinna Falls

2nd and top of 1st Mathinna Falls

We enjoyed our time at Ben Lomond walking to the highest point and another walk that took us through the alpine plants studded with the bright red seed pods of rocket plants. The others were hard at work on a working bee but we still had time to enjoy sunset views from the top of the daunting Jacob’s Ladder.