After completing the Mt Anne Walk, we headed to Mt Field National Park to camp in the very crowded campground. The next day, we dropped Steph off at New Norfolk, where she could get a bus to Hobart. Wendy and myself then headed up the Lyell Highway, heading to the Tarkine. On the way we completed two short walks – one at the Franklin River and another to Nelson Falls.
Wendy at the Franklin River
Franklin River Nature Walk Continue reading
After a short rest at Mt Field National Park – we headed out to the start of the track up Mt Anne at Condominium Creek.
Its then a big 900 m climb up to the Eliza Plateau. We stopped just above the Memorial Hut for lunch. The hut seemed a bit run down – with the door having fallen or being ripped off. Continue reading
After completing our walk along the Western Arthurs, we spent the night at Mt Field National Park (at the Hotel). The next morning we drove to New Norfolk to drop off Colin for his bus back to Hobart. After a visit to the laundromat we headed back to Mt Field National Park.
We set up camp at the camping area near the National Park visitor centre, and then spent the rest of the day on a nice walk. We started off from the visitor centre and first went to Russell Falls. Continue reading
The traverse of the Western Arthur Range is one of my favourite walks. It features great views in what is undoubtedly the best glacial landforms in Australia and has some very enjoyable scrambling. However the range is subject to bad weather and is quite strenuous.
Our party – Wendy, Steph, Colin and myself set off from Huon Camp at Scotts Peak Dam and walked to Junction Creek via the Port Davey Track. This track invariably seems to be very boggy and muddy and is tiresome walking. On our way, we could see the Western Arthurs becoming closer, but the tops were obscured by clouds. The forecast was for the weather to improve – so we hoped the tops would clear by the time we reached them. Continue reading
We drove out to Scotts Peak Dam in South West Tasmania and set up our Tents at Huon Camp. We planned to start our Western Arthurs Walk the next morning.
Near Huon Camp, we found some nice fungi – Continue reading
This is the first in a series of posts from a holiday in Tasmania. The holiday included some bushwalks and some touring. It was organise by my friend Wendy. We were also joined by Colin and Steph for part of the time. Wendy was keen to walk in the Western Arthur Range in South West Tasmania, and that was the main goal of the trip. But when we arrived in Tasmania, the weather looked poor, so we delayed our departure by a day. During that day, we headed up to the summit area on Mt Wellington (we had a hire car).
On top of Mt Wellington, the worst of the weather had not yet arrived – it was cold and windy, but not wet. It was not misty and we had fair views. After visiting the summit trig, we walked for a bit on the plateau area – enjoying the dolerite boulders and the alpine vegetation. Continue reading
Here is a short video that focuses on conservation and recreation aspects of Radiata Plateau. It is well worth watching –
Leave Radiata Plateau Wild – Conservation and Recreation from BMCSNSW on Vimeo.
Posting some now old photos of some of the local birds I saw about a month ago.
These were all taken in the Boat Harbour – Cup and Saucer Creek part of the Cooks River. Photos of a juvenile White Faced Heron, a Striated Heron and and several Egrets – Continue reading
Wilderness supporters are invited to attend the launch of the campaign to save many of the Blue Mountains wild rivers from inundation due to the proposed raising of Warragamba Dam. This launch will be held at the Springwood Community Hub from 6:30 pm on Monday 26th March.
Lower Kowmung River
The NSW State Government has proposed that the wall of Warragamba Dam be raised for flood mitigation. At present the proposal is for the level of water in the dam not be raised except in times of heavy rain events. And then the water level be gradually lowered back down. At the very least this will mean that about 65 kms of rivers will be flooded during these events. This will lead to the death of trees and other vegetation, the loss of aboriginal heritage sites and the destruction of the heart of a magnificent wilderness area that currently has World Heritage Status.
One of the river that will be greatly damaged is the currently pristine Kowmung River. One of the truly wild rivers of NSW.
Perhaps the more cynical readers will think that rather than flood mitigation, the real reason for the proposed wall raising will be to open up flood prone areas of the Sydney Basin to property developers.
Speakers at the Campaign Launch include Bob Brown and Bob Debus.
For more information about the issue and the campaign launch public meeting go to this link on the Colong Foundation’s Website.
Bob was keen on a walk or canyon. We had tentatively planned a canyon trip in the Blue Mountains but had changed our plans with an unfavourable weather forecast and other reasons, so decided instead to visit Tahmoor Gorge. I like the walk through the gorge and was keen to get more photographs.
The Bargo River flows through the Tahmoor Gorge shortly before it joins the Nepean River. It is in part of the proposed Bargo-Nepean National Park. Continue reading
