Walks

Blue Tier Forest – Goblin Forest Walk

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Fifty Toes Walkabout

The Blue Tier forest reserve sits off the road between St. Helens and Weldborough, and has a number of walks but we couldn’t resist the name of one of Tasmania’s top 60 short walks. At around 750m high the hills were shrouded in cloud when we arrived. Entering the forest took us into a fairy tale world where branches and rocks were coated with lichens, ferns and mosses of all shapes and sizes. In some areas the ground even looked like it was coated with snow.

Fungus on Wombat pooh!
Lichen covered forest
Goblin Forest Walk
Colourful Mosses
Goblin Forest
Forest Log

The boardwalk snakes through the humid forest, and wombat trails can be seen winding their way amongst the trees and fallen logs. We found some beautiful pink orchids on the forest floor but at this stage my lens decide to seize (and later a piece of metal fell out).

We chose to drive on along the road expecting it to take us out of the reserve but very soon we found ourselves on an increasingly challenging 4WD track. It was a bit late in the day to continue, especially without any phone coverage!

Categories: 4WD, Australian Outback, Big Lap, Discover Australia, Explore Australia, Journey Narrative, Kids Travel, Location, National Park, Offroad, Photography, TAS, Tasmania, Travel, Travel Adventure, Walks | Tags: , , , , , | 4 Comments

Bay of Fires

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Fifty Toes Walkabout

Cosy Corner was our camp for a couple of days in the Bay of Fires. Luckily the day we arrived the sun was out and we got to enjoy the pure white beaches and beautifully coloured water. A day trip from the beach took us up to the St. Columba Falls and a forest walk through tree ferns (or “man ferns” as they are called here). With the rain we have had recently the falls were looking very healthy. Apparently these are the tallest falls in Tasmania

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On the way back we stopped at the Pub in the Paddock for early refreshments and the opportunity to give the resident pig a beer. Unfortunately for us it seems Pinky was nursing a hangover from the previous day and was not interested in a couple of stubbies. Her predescessor’s sty still stands next door, though unfortunately Priscilla passed away recently.

Next stop the Holy Cow Café for Cheese-tasting and to watch the robotic milking process that even included an impressive automated neck, back and bum massager for those cows in need. The cheese recipe used is the original and the mature cheddar is highly recommended by FiftyToes!

Categories: Australian Outback, Beach, Discover Australia, Explore Australia, Journey Narrative, Kids Travel, Location, National Park, Photography, TAS, Tasmania, Travel, Travel Adventure, Walks | Tags: , , , , | 5 Comments

Douglas-Apsley National Park

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Fifty Toes Walkabout

A short drive north found us in the town of Bicheno, the biggest we have been in for a while and the first where we could top up the gas. First stop was the famous blowhole, for a photographic opportunity, then down to the Gulch! None of us were quite sure what a gulch was so we had to go and have a look.

 

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It was the narrow channel of water between the boat ramp and islands inhabited by hundreds of birds, particularly the crested terns. The office near the boat ramp where the glass-bottomed boat trips can be purchased caught the kids eyes and a showcase of Tasmanian underwater secrets drew them in. With giant crab pincers as long as your arm, sperm whale jaws, urchins, abalone shells all displayed randomly in a big glass showcase the kids noses were pressed against the glass trying to find some new treasure previously undiscovered – it turned out to be the piranha, and only alien in the tank. After a very informative chat with the man in the office we drove to Chain of Lagoons to camp. This lies just to the east of the Douglas-Apsley National Park, just behind the beach. All day the hills in the national park were masked by low lying clouds that constantly drizzled, and periodically this stretched down to our camp.

Waterhole at Douglas-Apsley NP

Waterhole at Douglas-Apsley NP

Next day in pouring rain we decided we couldn’t miss a trip to the famous waterhole in the national park, and somewhat reluctantly the kids agreed to come along too. It rained, and rained but that didn’t stop Xavier from finding a frog!

Frog

We then decided it was a good day to focus on schoolwork until the rain stopped.

 

Categories: Australian Outback, Beach, Camper Trailer, Car, Discover Australia, Explore Australia, Journey Narrative, Kids Travel, Location, Mitsubishi, National Park, Photography, TAS, Tasmania, Travel, Travel Adventure, Twitcher, Walks | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Huonville to the end of the road

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Fifty Toes Walkabout
Whale Sculpture, Cockle Creek
View of Cockle Creek
Recherche Bay
Fifty Toes at Fisher Point
Fresh Oysters
Ruins at Fisher Point
Whale Sculpture at Cockle Creek

From Huonville we drove through Franklin and Geeveston and shortly afterwards the road became gravel once more. We passed through a few sleepy settlements, Lune River, Ida Bay, and Moss Glen before entering the campgrounds at Cockle Creek. This is the furthest south you can drive in Australia. Crossing the bridge into the National Park the road turns North for a kilometre then ends. A short walk takes you to an impressive sculpture of a Southern Right Whale. From here if you want to walk further south you can, but we took the short walk to Fisher Point, where the ruins of a cottage mark the point where a pilot used to reside. Back at Camp the Roaring Forties blew their best and showed us how bleak the weather can be.  The fresh oysters from the rocks were as large as I have ever seen and they tasted beautiful. Whilst there the winds blew, it rained and then the glimpses of sun we got showcased what a fabulous place the whole area of Recherche Bay is. It was still cold though, barely reaching 17 degrees during the day.

Categories: Australian Outback, Beach, Camper Trailer, Car, Discover Australia, Explore Australia, Journey Narrative, Kids Travel, Location, Mitsubishi, National Park, Photography, TAS, Tasmania, Travel, Travel Adventure, Walks | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tarkine Drive

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Fifty Toes Walkabout

We decided to head inland and explore some of the forest via the Tarkine Drive, but with a few detours up some less worn tracks. The kids loved some of the bushwalks, and the walk to Wes Beckett Falls was fun, with steep drop-offs.

As the day drew to a close we diverted to Marrawah to look for fossils in the limestone at Ann Bay. We took a different road and found an interesting aboriginal site at West Point where women used to hide in depressions, built into the boulder strewn beach, waiting for seals to come onto the beach.

More spotlighting back at camp but still no Tassie Devils!

Lake Chisholm
Wes Beckett Falls, Tarkine
Burrowing Crayfish mounds
Julius River
Giant Mossy Trunk
Arthur River view
Categories: Animal Action, Australian Outback, Journey Narrative, Kids Travel, Location, National Park, Photography, TAS, Tasmania, Travel, Travel Adventure, Walks | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Boat Harbour

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Fifty Toes Walkabout

Our first stop at Boat Harbour was a relatively short drive west from the port of Devonport. Our camp couldn’t have been closer to the sea! We are all loving the NW coast of Tasmania, the kids are keen fossickers, scouring every shoreline for treasures.

Crayfish pots
Offroading
The kids at Big Tree
Stanley and the Nut
Pademelon
First River Crossing
Little Dip Falls
Forest Road
Penguin chick
Boat Harbour Beach

Our second day there saw Fifty Toes take on the challenge of the Stanley Nut, a large volcanic lava plug that dominates the port of Stanley. A very steep walk, rather than chairlift saw us at the top in 10 mins. Different lookouts grant you a mutton bird’s view of the town below, where filming was just about to commence for a movie called “The Light Between Oceans” based on the book. We found our first Pademelons (tiny wallabies) in a little forest up there, dozens of them squatting below the bracken. We explored the harbour, then headed inland to explore some of the roads less travelled on the edge of the Tarkine forest. These ancient forests are full of giant trees, tree ferns lining the roads, and the humidity allows a fecundity of mosses and ferns to cover dead and living trees. The kids loved the first river crossing!

On the way back we did another detour to see Little Dip Falls and the Big Tree (it was big and impressive).

The evening treat was another drive east to Burnie, on a tip-off from or neighbours, to see the penguins coming in to feed their chicks. What a great end to the day to see the little blue penguins hopping out of the ocean and up to the chicks who were sitting in their nests only metres from us, and in some cases below the boardwalk we were standing on.

 

Categories: Animal Action, Australian Outback, Beach, Car, Challenges, Journey Narrative, Location, Mitsubishi, National Park, Photography, TAS, Tasmania, Travel, Travel Adventure, Walks | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Photographic farewell to Wilsons Promontory

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Fifty Toes Walkabout

As we bid farewell to Wilsons Promontory and Tidal River campground some final photos from our enjoyable experience there.

Let us know if you have any challenges for us on our trip – bear in mind we all have to be able to complete them.

 

South Point. Wilsons Promontory
Squeaky Beach
Squeaky Beach
Squeaky Beach Rocks
View near South Point
Whiskey Bay Wilsons Promontory
Whiskey Bay, Wilsons Promontory
Squeaky Beach
Whiskey Bay, Wilsons Promontory
Beach artist at work
Whale Rock, Tidal River
Categories: Australian Outback, Beach, Journey Narrative, Location, National Park, Photography, Travel, Travel Adventure, VIC, Walks | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments

Fifty Toes complete the first challenge

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Fifty Toes Walkabout

Our good friends Pete and Zoe set us the challenge to go to the four compass point extremities of the mainland. South Point is the most southerly. From the Telegraph Saddle car park it is a tough 16km walk to the Roaring Meg campsite then another 3.7km to South Point from there. The kids carried their sleeping bags and 3kg of water in their packs and off we went. The first few kilometres flew by (it was mostly downhill), but as we started climbing the hill approaching Halfway Hut little (and big) legs started slowing in the heat of a beautiful day. A brief stop at Halfway hut before continuing the climb. The last few km through heathland and down into the forest at Roaring Meg were a pleasure, though a few too many snakes were spotted for my liking (nearly trod on one myself). We set up camp at Roaring Meg, dropped the packs and continued the descent to South Point. There we were welcomed by a calm crystal cobalt blue ocean, the waves lapping gently up the rocks. Hannah got to pose with her favourite dog (toy one) who was smuggled into the park and my pack.

After an hour or so there we trudged back to camp completing almost 24km in a day, with barely a complaint from the kids. Despite mild conditions there was a distinct wintery atmosphere inside one of the tents in the morning as my goosedown sleeping bag continued its fatal rupture. One sneeze (and there were many) unleashed a snowdome effect.

The return trip was slower  and sore but the kids made it with flying colours and much enticement with muesli bars and the promise of treats at the end.

We think that was the hardest of the 4 compass points and 40km in two days for kids aged 6,7, and 9 was pretty impressive.

Hannah with goose down!
Halfway Hut
Hannah and Dog at South Point!
Emerging from the “snowdome”
Fifty Toes at South Point
Categories: Australian Outback, Challenges, Journey Narrative, Location, National Park, Photography, Travel, Travel Adventure, VIC, Walks | Tags: , , | 6 Comments

Final day in Croajingolong NP

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Fifty Toes Walkabout

Heading back west again and because Croajingolong had been such a pleasant surprise we took the 40km dirt road south from Cann River to Thurra Camp. The campspot was great, with a lot more spots, but again a pristine beach with few people, seals and whales, and Point Hicks lighthouse nearby, the first part of mainland spotted by Captain Cook in 1770, and named after the man who spotted it first.

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Point Hicks

On Xavier’s birthday we walked up to the sand dunes, set back from the beach, where he found jaw bones of an animal we haven’t identified yet. We think bush rat or antechinus. Xavier also found many footprints in the sand and we found a pair of lyre birds in the forest too! After 10km of walking on his birthday he slept for 3 hours in the car!

Jaw Bones in the dunes
Goanna tracks, Thurra Camp, Croajingolong NP
Early morning birthday walk
Beetle making tracks

Beetle making tracks

Categories: Australian Outback, Journey Narrative, Location, National Park, VIC, Walks | Tags: , | 5 Comments

Croajingolong National Park

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Fifty Toes Walkabout

Heading East from Lakes Entrance we visited Croajingolong National Park. On the way we past the longest timber railway bridge near Obost. We had to stop for a couple of photos.

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Then on to our first stop Shipwreck Creek, 15km dirt road drive from the nearest town of Mallacoota. It was well worth the effort, as there are only a handful of camping spots in the woods, a pristine rugged beach only 300m away. A 3km walk through the forest, heathland, and scrub takes you to Seal Creek. The beaches are similar at both with creeks, dark with tannins,  forming lagoons behind the beach, and forest growing down to the beach. Being one of three key hotspots for biodiversity in in Victoria, once again we found birdlife in abundance and the spring flowers proliferated everywhere.

On Shipwreck Creek beach our peaceful solitude was broken one day by two helicopters flying in, landing for ten minutes then departing again!

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Categories: Journey Narrative, Location, National Park, Travel, Travel Adventure, VIC, Walks | Tags: , | Leave a comment

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