A relaxed spring morning walk beginning at Gunn Street and walking beside tbe River Derwent on the wide Bridgewater Foreshore trail to Green Point (via a detour to the Jordan River bridge) for a leaisurely mornimg tea.  Continuing on around the Point and returning on the Foreshore trail.  IT 'S ALL ABOUT THE VIEWS.  Enjoy open sky and green spaces, swans and wetlands, mountains and rivers.

We will walk clockwise past the emu farm and up onto 

Hidden  valley track , storm bay view track , stopping for morning tea along the way .

then continue down to goats beach for lunch 

after lunch continue only the foreshore tracks back to the car park 

coffee afterwards at TMC 

This is flash substitute for the Cheyne Range walk, which looks like hard work in poor weather.  It is 40+ years since I have been on Schouten Is, and I have some stories to tell about that little adventure.  The East Coast in an easterly - beware!  But this looks like one of the drier places this weekend - let's hope so.

We will meet at Sorell in the Station St carpark and arrange transport to Coles Bay, unless we can arrange transport earlier.  Currently we have a booking for four people to depart Coles Bay at 12:00pm on Thursday, returning to Coles Bay with an 11:15am departure from Schouten Is on Sunday.  The water taxi fare is $250 return per person.  As long as the Water Taxi has available space we can increase numbers up to a limit of 12 people, but remember we are competing with other people booking so a space cannot be guaranteed until it has been booked with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys.  If you want to come you must contact me first to arrange a booking.  No exceptions.  

Once on the island we will establish camp and start walking.  There are two major summits - Storey and Daedalus - and I will aim to climb both over the Friday and Saturday.  There are innumerable capes and coves, and some seal colonies - we will see as much as we can in the time available. 

We will pack up and be ready to catch the return vessel at 11:15am on Sunday.  That should see us home in good time.

We will meet at Coningham Beach (at the main carpark with public toilets) and will then circuit the Reserve in an anti clockwise direction to take advantage of the views. There is approx 1km of walking uphill on a gravel road (not much traffic) before we re-enter the Reserve at Shephards Hill.  I have included the classification of Medium as there are a couple of steep sections as we traverse up and down Shephards Hill and over the course of the walk we gain an elevation of around 200 metres.  But overall nothing too onerous for regular Thursday walkers.

A lovely coastal short walk from Taroona Beach to Kingston Beach. We will meet near the BBQ shelter at Taroona Beach (at the end of Taroona Cresent). With the exception of about 500 steps each way, this is an easy walk. We return the same way.

Meet at Station Road car park,Sorrel at 8.30 to arrange car sharing.
Drive to Buckland & turn left onto the C318, just before the Shell garage. Continue for 11.6 km, & about 600m past the Cutting Grass Road intersection there is a small car parking area & the start of the walk.

We will start the trail on the eastern side of the gorge & cross the river early. Climbing up the gorge side, we will follow the contours for a few kilometres, before crossing the river again to complete the circuit on the western side of Bluff River gorge.

We will stop for morning tea at a beautiful spot on the track, and lunch at another beautiful spot on the track a bit later, when we get hungry again. I have a couple of places in mind.

The track is steep in many places, not particularly well marked, there are river crossings x 2, a fair amount of scrub bashing, but well worth it for some fabulous rock formations & scenery. 
It’s a gorgeous walk.

Last time I did this trail was roughly a year ago, in Spring, & the whole group was affected by pollen being blown in the wind at a specific spot. I will be taking antihistamine tablets in my pack, as a precaution, but suggest that allergy sufferers take their preferred brand too. 

We will meet at the boat ramp at the end of Jetty Road, Old Beach.  We will walk the riverside track to the end where we will have morning tea.  We then return the same way picking up our cars and head to Karen and Kens’ to eat our lunch.  This is an amazing garden that we are lucky enough to be able to share.

We will start from the Upper Springs car park, 9.30, steep up steps to the Milles Track.  We will follow that to the Snake Plains turn-off for morning tea.  The track is undulating, can be rough and slippery, rocky towards the end, it will not be a race.  We get nice views from the track most of the way.  Lunch at Disappearing Tarn, we may be lucky enough to find water as there has been some rain.  We return the same way.

It has been a long time since I have climbed up to the Anne plateau, so a return visit is overdue.  And I've never climbed Eve Peak - it was not even named when I first set foot on the plateau.  

My first thought is to do this as a day walk, and to do it on whichever day is the most suitable weather-wise.  An alternative if the forecast is good is to make it a weekend trip and to camp on top, which should also give us the option of climbing Mt Anne itself.  That involves some serious scrambling and a good head for heights.  If you are interested please let me know whether you would like to do this as a weekend or a day trip.

Either way it is a big climb, especially with a pack, and there is scrambling involved at various points.  You need to be fit, and able to last a long day.   I will not be going fast, but my aim is to get there, and safely back in daylight - hence the early start.  

On a clear day and still night the views from the Anne plateau will be magnificent.  But if a front is coming through it is not a good place to be!

If the forecast is for poor weather I will search for an alternative destination in the south-east on whichever day is likely to be more hospitable. 

We will meet at the carpark at the end of Lenah Valley Road, crossing the New Town Rivulet onto the Lenah Valley Fire Trail and up to Junction Cabin for morning tea or brunch, then returning via the same route or following the North South Trail if there aren't too many weekend bikers.

We will meet at Sandfly Hall 7.45 for a car shuffle. We will start our walk at Cockle Creek. We will wander through light, ferny forest, followed by duckboarded marshlands. After a short, steep climb, we will come out onto a clifftop with spectacular views across South Cape Bay, the Southern Ocean and Lion Rock. If weather is good we will walk down some steep stairs to the beach and have our lunch there, and maybe a wander to Lion Rock. 
track can be muddy at the start, also a little rough in places and have a few ups and downs, but generally easy going. 

Ryton Hills are part of the Prosser Tasmanian Land Conservancy Reserve near Orford. This will be a ramble rather than a “walk”. The pace would be best described as ambling so that we can examine the expected wonderful array of wildflowers. Contributions to afternoon tea welcome, but optional. 

Elevation gain of about 200 m. The terrain of this dry schlerophyll site is mostly open grassy woodland, but rocky in parts.

We will meet at the beach carpark at the end of the canals at Lauderdale.  We will take a walk along the beach until we reach the start of the track to Mays Beach.  We will head along there as far as we feel able before heading back to our cars.  We’ll be having morning tea along the way.  

We will then head down to Angie Sue’s for lunch.

WHY WALK TO FRASER CREEK HUT? 

The location provides an opportunity to:

- be immersed in the rugged beauty of the West Coast

- experience staying in a mountain hut

- see first-hand the remains of some of the early logging and mining sites in the area

WALK OPTIONS: Fraser Falls (4⁺ hrs. RTN); Fraser Falls/Montezuma Falls circuit (7-8 hrs. RTN); Moores Pimple (4-5 hrs. RTN); Calendar Tree (1½ hrs. RTN). ALL WALKS ARE WEATHER DEPENDENT.  

The hut is located approx. 13 km east of Zeehan, in the foothills behind the historical mining town of Dundas.  From the car parking area, the walk to the hut is just over 4km, with an elevation of around 600m and takes 2½-3 ½ hours, depending on fitness and track conditions.  The in-out walk initially follows a 4WD track and then traces the Carbine Track, an old horse drawn sledge track which, as well as being steep, is washed out in places.  It then follows a short section of what was Wallace’s tramline.  Bear in mind the location is only a stone’s throw from Mt Read and the ground underfoot, whether uphill or downhill, is usually wet in varying degrees, all year round.

The overall walk is rated as medium – hard, as the initial walk into the Hut, although steep and rough under foot in places, is reasonably easy to follow.  However, the track condition of the optional walks, baring the Calendar Tree, are considerably overgrown in places and with some more challenging up and down sections.   

You will need to bring the usual multi day bushwalking requirements, minus crockery, cutlery and tent (unless you are keen to sleep in the rainforest under a likely cloud covered sky).  Three butane gas stoves are available but you would need to carry in a butane gas canister.  A variety of billy’s and saucepans are also available.  Some people prefer to take their own cooker and pans to avoid waiting. 

There is a wonderful fire, but all participants need to be prepared to carry wood, on a daily basis, from pre-stacked piles a short distance up the track – in all weather conditions!

Both the hut and bunks are small and so for comfort, numbers for this trip are limited to five. Additional information about the hut, including a shared hut fee, will be forwarded to participants upon registration.

Travel arrangements will be made once attendees are known.

After meeting at Sandfly Hall we will car pool to start of walk at Huon Bush Retreat where there is limited parking  and quite a steep climb up final section of unsealed road.

From the picnic area (toilets available)  we will take Tall Trees Track to viewing platform, then 3/4 hour climb up escarpment to sub-alpine heathland plateau.

Morning Tea at Flat Rock   (360 degree views)   then about one hour along  plateau to top of Mt Misery  for lunch and views (and Jack Jumpers!)

After returning along the same track there are some short diversions to a beautiful little waterfall (sometimes with water!!) and past a tree which has suffered a massive lightning strike.

Several short walks possible after completion of circuit-well worth the effort.

Afternoon tea at Summer Kitchen?

Gold coin donation is appreciated for ongoing maintenance of the track and facilities.

Craigow Hill in the Meehan Range area is a beautiful flat summit with gorgeous views and interesting vegetation. We will start this walk in the Meehan Range before venturing onto private property that the owner permits entry for respectful users.

The trail there is mostly on formed gravel 4WD tracks and bike tracks so be prepared with hiking poles for the slippery downhill sections.

The final route is yet to be fully explored but might require a few off track and scrubby sections where the old roads have been left to regrow and a number of fallen trees may also need to be crossed. At this stage it is likely to be an in and out rather than a circuit due to a new landowner not allowing the old circuit to be used.

This is a long walk but with relatively easy conditions which is why it has been graded medium. There are a number of steep and long inclines and declines on gravel surfaces.

Please note that if a full circuit is done the total walk distance is approx. 18km

This walk is in the Three Thumbs State Reserve, near Orford. The recce for this was done a few years ago, so things may have changed a bit. The walk starts along an old forestry track. After about 5 kms, we head into the bush & to the most challenging part of the walk. Here, we carefully descend steeply through scrub and slippery, moss-covered rocks to the Griffiths Rivulet. Things become easier after this as the vegetation is more open from now on. After lunch at the Falls, we retrace our steps till we're about a third of the way along the forestry road. Then we take a slightly shorter route back to the cars. Total ascent is about 800m. 

We will meet outside the MACq 01 Hotel where we will be met by our guide.

This is a 90 minute tour, but there are some areas where you can sit on the way round.

Pier in the past.

The shifting shores of Sullivans Cove

Join this MACq 01 storytelling journey through time, where the past comes to life before your eyes. With retro viewfinders in hand, you’ll glimpse today’s waterfront as it once was, standing in the footsteps of those who walked these very streets over 130 years ago.

Starting from MACq 01 Hotel, you will wander along historic Hunter Street, alongside the waterfront and around Victoria and Constitution Docks. Then step inside the Hunter Street warehouses, which date back to 1823. Now The Henry Jones Art Hotel, these buildings show the full gamut of architectural styles, from Georgian to the 21st Century. 

More than just guides, our MACq 01 storytellers are the keepers of Tasmania’s past—handpicked for their passion, knowledge, and gift for bringing history to life. Their tales will immerse you in the rich, authentic spirit of this island, forging a connection to Tasmania that lingers long after the tour ends.

 To know Hobart, you need to experience its stories.

Growling Swallet is a large limestone cave in a rain forest below Mt Field West. A creek flows into it and if there is sufficient water and you are inside the cave it makes a loud growling noise. We will drive out to the trail head and wander up a forestry road which leads into a mercifully unlogged rain forest within the borders of the National Park. The forest is very beautiful and peaceful and contains some enormous ancient trees. After visiting the Swallet, we'll drive back into Maydena and out to Junee Cave.The creek that enters the Swallet emerges in Junee Cave, which is in very pretty wet forest and is accessed by a short and well constructed track. Around 4 hours walking. Lunch will probably be at the start of the Junee Cave track. Coffee afterwards in Maydena.

We will meet at Cartwright reserve near the start of the walking track. Although this is a short walk, I have made the rating medium as the Truganini Track has deteriorated over time and requires caution. The walk will follow the Truganini Track to the Signal Station, a 308m climb, then return along a track via Porters Hill junction. Please note that the Signal Station Cafe has closed, however the Helios Coffee Van at Cartwright Reserve will be open for those wanting a morning coffee.

The walk starts from Mortimer Bay car park. From Sandford drive down Rifle Range Road for approximately 3.5kms. The road then curves into Gellibrand Road. The car park is a further 3kms along on the right. The Mortimer Bay coastal track offers scenic views across Ralph's Bay to Arm End as it undulates the coast. We will cross to Goats Bluff and return via bushland tracks. The tracks are well formed with a couple of hills. We will update the description once a recce has been completed in October.

After a car shuffle at new Norfolk, the walk starts from Mount Field East Carpark. We start with a gradual uphill climb past Lake Nicholls and onto open moorland. This can be very exposed. From here there is a short scramble over some large boulders to the Summit, where hopefully we will see the magnificent views available at the top. We then continue along the moor and descend the boulder fields to Lake Fenton. We may take a short side trip to Seagers Lookout, depending on how everyone feels. After this there will be a short trip down the road before heading back onto a bush track which brings us to cars. Bring morning tea and lunch maybe some afternoon nibbles as well. 

Book your campsite at Mt Gnomon Farm.

Enjoy sundowners together in the evening as the campsite has great views of the area.

Meet up the following morning at 8.30 to drive to the Mt Duncan/Mt Montgomery car park, about 3 minutes away to commence our walk.

The track commences on a 4x4/MTB trail before turning off onto the Tall Trees Track after about 10 mins. It is well marked, taking us through beautiful forest, however there are plenty of steep sections both up & down. Heaps of shade, & the Dial Creek runs close to the track for a couple of kilometres. After crossing the creek the path becomes steeper & we soon start walking the Mt Duncan Track, reaching the summit at 681m, the tallest peak in the Dial Range. 

Fabulous view across the coast, ranges & towns of the north west. 

We then have a choice of either returning the same way or being a bit more adventurous & taking the circuit track around Mt Duncan. On our recce we took the adventurous route which I would classify as somewhere between ‘tricky’ & ‘quite difficult’ in parts, so please take note! I would prefer to take this route again as the alternative return route would be a very steep descent, but it would be weather/conditions/group dependent.

The final couple of kilometres to the car park is along a 4x4 track which makes a complete circuit of 11km. We spent almost 6 hours on the walk, but only 4 hours moving (food, views & locating the circuit track required a lot of downtime).

Day 2 - Leven Canyon Floor OR Leven River

Pack up camp & drive for 1 hr to Leven Canyon.

I haven’t recce’d this walk, but it’s one I’ve wanted to do for ages. 

We will drive to the Leven Canyon main car park & walk out to Cruikshank’s Lookout, Fern Walk & Edge Lookout to view the canyon from above. Morning tea somewhere here.

We’ll then drive on a couple of kilometres to begin the main walk of the day.

A short, flattish start & then a steep descent into the canyon floor & head to a bridge. From there we walk to Devils Elbow, apparently only about 1 hr return, but considered ‘challenging’.  We’ll have lunch at a beach by the rivers edge, then return the same way. 

Expect a steep trek down to the canyon floor, some great scenery & rock formations along the Leven river, some scrambling over rocks, & possibly wet feet! 

it’s only about 2km, but I expect the whole walk to take over 2 hrs (including lunch).

Our alternative would be a considerably less challenging walk along the Leven River, following an old haulage track. It’s the first few kilometres of the Penguin/Cradle Trail, and we would walk about 8km return. A much easier alternative, very lovely, & dependant on weather & conditions. 

Return home later in the afternoon. 

This urban/suburban ramble will mostly follow paths through parklands and reserves, but there will be some pavement and street walking. 

From our meeting point we will cross the Brooker Highway and follow pathways to the point that overlooks Cornelian Bay, then along the foreshore track to the Botanical Gardens for our morning tea break. We’ll climb to the Domain summit, then follow the Soldiers Memorial Walk to the Cenotaph. After traversing Sullivans Cove, lunch will probably be at Battery Park, before we move on via Battery Point streets to the UTas Sandy Bay Campus, arriving at Churchill Avenue in time to catch the 1:55pm bus back to New Town. Alighting at Creek Road, we will follow the rivulet path back to our cars. For those interested, coffee or tea at a nearby cafe will be an option. 

We will climb four HWC peaks during this three day trip - McCall, Propsting, Mcutcheon and Cracroft Hills. Expect a road bash, scrub bash, button grass and a mix of all of the above with varied West coast weather and some long days. Both will be long days of hiking, with Cracroft Hills to be approximately 12 hours. More info here: https://rockmonkeyadventures.wordpress.com/2023/03/15/mccall-propsting-and-cracroft-hills-11-13-march-2023/

Participants will be required to have a  AWD car with good clearance (4WD preferred as the last few km's are 4WD only) for this activity- 2WD cars will not be possible on McCall track. All cars will need to be clean and washed as per the requirements for the key and permit being issued (your permit may be declined if not clean and will be checked). This is to prevent disease and weed spread before commencing on the track. 

All Leave no Trace principles including carry out waste (poo pots/wag bags/other) will be required. We will be car camping with no facilities (with the exception of Friday night where there is a toilet at Darwin Dam - Lake Burbury). Please bring enough water in your vehicle for the duration of the trip.

If I have not walked with your previously, please get in touch via email to introduce yourself including your hiking experience, and to confirm what gear you have to meet the trip safety requirements before registering.

This is a lovely coastal walk that we frequently do with our puppy. We will meet at the BBQ shelter at Taroona Beach and follow the coastal track north. The track follows beaches, coastal tracks and some suburban roads. We will have the option of following the rocky foreshore (at low tide) or the cliff top track. Morning tea will be at the coffee van at Cartwright Park then returning to Taroona Beach the same way. For those interested, we can have coffee/lunch at the nearby Picnic Basket.

Because of limited parking at the start of the walk we will car pool for the short trip to the start.  We will then head off along a fire trail to the Betts Vale track.  Depending on time and conditions from the top of the track we will head to either Lone Hut or Junction Cabin.  From there we head back to the Springs and down the Fingerpost Track and back to our cars.  We will find suitable spots along the way for morning tea and lunch.

We’ll set out from Roches Beach and head towards Seven Mile Beach then climb Single Hill. Our climb to the summit will be via the new(ish) zig-zag track which offers a much gentler gradient than the old route. We will then meander back down, through a few different tracks to rejoin the Tangara Trail near Acton Rd. We'll continue on to do a loop near Lauderdale then back to the cars at Roches Beach. There may be the possibility of a coffee or ice cream at TCM after we arrive back at the cars, if people wish to.

Day 1. We will drive to the Pyengana Recreation ground, which will be our base camp for 3 nights. The Recreation ground has plenty of room for Tents, Campervans and Caravans, $5 per person, per night. For anyone who does not wish to camp the Pub in the Paddock offers accommodation and is only a short walk from the Rec ground. https://pubinthepaddocktas.com.au/accommodation/ 

  After lunch we will leave the Rec ground by 2 pm and car share drive to Ralphs Falls 18k from the campground.  There is a 50 min, 4k circuit walk to the Falls, via Cashs Gorge.  This is one of Tasmania's Highest Waterfalls and drops dramatically nearly 100m off the escarpment in a single curving ribbon. After our walk we will head back to Pyengana Recreation ground for Sundowners before dinner.

Day 2 & 3.  There are two nice walks in the Blue Tiers, starting from the now abandoned town of Poimena. A few footings of the buildings remain. It will depend on the weather as to which we do first. Both walks are approx 9 km long and not difficult.  tracks are reasonable but we may encounter fallen trees over the track and a few creek crossings.  We will walk through some beautiful rainforest that  is regenerating strongly after the ravages of tin mining. There are remnants of mining history in this area, which make it quite an interesting area.  There are toilets at the car park at Poimena.  The best road to travel up to Poimena is Lottah Rd via Goulds Country and the distance is 22.6k

 After our walk on day 3, we will have dinner in the Pub in the Paddock.  Please advise me at the time of booking this event, either way if you are going to join us for dinner or not. The pub is just a short walk from the campsite.

We will also visit St Columba Falls at some point. They are only a short drive from the campground. The walk is 20-30 mins return.The falls are more than 90 mtrs, one of Tasmania's highest. The South George River tumbles down in a delightful series of steep cascades. The wall to the base of the falls takes you through shady rainforest that has some of the tallest tree ferns you'll see anywhere. 

Some of the roads are gravel. The only road that was quite rough was down to the Big Tree but we managed ok in 2 WD car's.

Another place of interest, that we may want so visit on the last day before we head of home is the Pyengana Cheese Factory. We may be able to see the cheese being made and have Breakfast/Morning Tea/ Lunch.  They also have some interesting cows.

Social Evening, we've run these in the past, in different formats, with differing degrees of success. The Committee have agreed to have another go at having a regular monthly Social Evening. 

6:00-7:00 socialise, eat a meal or snack, arrive at a time that suits you.

7:00-8:00 guest speaker, video, training, 'slide' show. We may not be able to give too much prior notice as to what's happening during this hour, but it will be relevant, pertinent, entertaining and worthwhile. 

8:00-9:00 socialise, network, debrief the previous hour, leave when you're ready to leave.

We've booked the Caroline Room at the Black Buffalo Hotel. Meals or snacks can be ordered and eaten in the Dinning Room or in the Caroline Room. Drinks can be purchased throughout the night. Seating, heating, air-conditioning and overhead projector are all available. Ample parking in the Hotel carpark or surrounding streets. 

We've booked three evenings, and if the support is there we'll book extra evening in 2026.

We will meet at Sorell and carpool out to the Lavender farm,

Once at Lavender farm we will explore the lavender fields and a possible talk of the owners Claire and or Brendon. Then have morning tea and afterwards explore their farm.

Then we will travel to the reservoir and have lunch. After lunch we can walk around the reservoir and check out the wildlife.

Return to Sorell to our cars and have coffee etc if you wish

This walk commences from the bottom of Hinsby Rd in Taroona. From the Channel Highway it may be approached either directly or via Jenkins St. (Look for walkers at bottom of street). We shall make our way via Hinsby beach to the Shot Tower and then follow stairs and tracks to Bonnet Hill. We shall need to cross the Channel Highway twice. We shall return a slightly different way to the Shot Tower however this will still require doing the stairs a second time. The walk is classified as Medium but is not difficult. Afterwards we may enjoy refreshment at the Picnic basket 176 Channel Highway Taroona.

Pandani members did work on the Mt Bowes track earlier this year (with Park's permission).  So this should be the payoff - a reasonably trouble free walk to Mt Bowes itself, and hopefully excellent views of the South-West.  

Last time I was on the summit you could see all of about 5 metres - so this will be a new view for me - hopefully!

The walk is on Marsden's track, aka the Old Port Davey track, from just near Frodsham's Pass.  For the most part it goes though lovely old growth rain forest - myrtle, celery top and horizontal.  We reach a button grass saddle on the east side of Mt Bowes and then turn right, and go sharply uphill.  It is not difficult though there will still be the odd patch of downed trees to negotiate on the track itself.

Waratah and other summer wildflowers should be spectacular. We will meet at the Lower Springs car park, then car pool to a car park near the Chalet or the start of the Panorama Track. We will decide whether to walk clockwise or anticlockwise, taking in the Organ Pipes Track, the Zig-Zag Track to the summit and the Panorama Track. The possibility of dividing the group into two, walking in opposite directions and meeting for lunch (as we did last year) will be considered if interest is strong. Morning tea and lunch will be taken at appropriate points along the way. If the weather for high altitude walking is unsuitable an alternative walk may be offered.

Cruise on board ML Egeria then lunch back at Motoar Yacht Club

We will start this walk from the Cascade Silos in South Hobart and make our way to  the Cascade Gardens and walk up behind the gardens and making our way onto various  tracks behind the Brewery. The walk will be a solid uphill walk on a fire trail for approximately three quarters to an hour walking.  We will meet up with the Main Fire Trail Track which will take us to the start of the Myrtle Gully Track before we explore more tracks in that area. Please Note: There maybe a Creek crossing which could be muddy and slippery. We will then join the Cascade Track back to our cars and coffee for those who wish to. Some track are very rocky and uneven so walking sticks are advisable. Morning Tea and Lunch will be enjoyed on the way

Speaking to Simon and a few other Pandani folks who love adventures, this sounds like a cracking day trip to try!

This will be a full day trip (12-14 hours hiking plus travel) with 1500m of elevation gain in scrub and button grass, with epic views if the weather behaves. There is a pretty big chance we'll be returning to the cars by head torch, and it will be a relatively fast moving trip so we get back in a somewhat reasonable time.

The walk starts by climbing up and over the Sentinels which is steep in itself - before heading onto button grass, offtrack scrub bashing and then some more elevation - don't let the small km fool you - apparently it is all steep hiking up and down, all day. 

If I haven't hiked with you before please get in touch before registering to share your hiking experience and to make sure you have the right gear for the trip conditions etc.

 A reminder: your gear must be clean and free from weed seeds, dirt and mud prior to arriving at the Sentinels carpark and commencing the walk. This includes tent poles, hiking shoes, gaiters and socks, and walking poles. Remove weed seeds and ensure gear is washed and cleaned prior to joining the walk. This is to prevent weed spread and Phyotophora.

We will meet at the fern tree carpark at the start of the Fern Glade Track. We will continue past the Springs up to Miles Track. From here another climb on the icehouse track to South Wellington. We will then loop around to the potato fields and back onto Milles Track, passing disappearing tarn.  We complete the loop by heading back to the start of Milles track, then back to cars at Fern Tree. 
This is quite a rocky track at times and includes a descent over some decent size boulders. 

The walk has been changed from Icehouse Track due to knee issue.

We commence by walking the Risdon Brook Dam circuit road to the northern end, then join an old vehicle track with a gradual climb over two hills, continue along the flat to a creek, then go off track for a short distance to make our way to the lookout with sweeping views of Baskerville and the Derwent Valley.

On our return we partly retrace our steps with the option of an interesting detour we can decide on the day.

Coffee at Spencers or MYCT for anyone interested.

Accommodation options at Derwent Bridge/Lake St Clair seem to be limited to self contained camping at the Derwent Bridge Hotel site next to the road (no cost), Lake St Clair NP campsite ($45/night) or Derwent Bridge Chalets ($195/night). The hotel isn’t advertising rooms at the moment. There is also camping at Fergies Paddock at Lake St Clair, and free camping at Lake King William, about 3km from Derwent Bridge, suitable for tents & caravans. (If that’s your preferred option I’ll give more details on request).

Meet at Derwent Bridge Hotel at 5.30pm on Tuesday 9th December for a drink in the bar. I suggest that we eat dinner there too, however that’s your choice. The hotel is open for meals.

We will meet at Lake St Clair Visitor Centre at 8am to start walking as soon as everybody arrives. 

Initially the trek is fairly straightforward through pretty scrubby bush until the turnoff to Shadow Lake circuit. Then we start to climb in earnest with several peaks looking like the summit, but there’s always another one beyond! 

The walk involves a 792m ascent to the summit of Mt Rufus, which sits at 1416m, rewarding us with views to Frenchman’s Cap, Mt Olympus, Little Hugel, and the SouthWest NP, if the weather is good.

There should be plenty of scoparia in bloom at this time as well as the usual stunning flowers & shrubs.
Descending through dolerite rock formations, Richea Valley-a section of rainforest, mossy trees and streams, and a beautiful lake. It’s got it all!

It’s going to be a long day and I will be staying overnight again, with the intention of eating pub grub rather than driving home the same night.

Details to come

The Christmas Party is the Club's biggest Social event of the year. A chance to meet up with friends old and new. And reminisce about the year's activities.  Fingers food, drinks and 'Christmas cake' will be provided. At some stage during the evening Awards, both humorous and serious, will be presented. The Committee look forward to welcoming Club members to the Christmas party. 

This activity has been added to the Program in consultation with Club members Ai-Ming, and is envisaged as a [P] plate Ramble around the Mt Anne circuit. Our focus will not be on climbing Peaks per say, but enjoying the country and developing skills to safely traverse Alpine environments. Any or all of Mt Eliza, Eliza Bluff, Eve Peak, Mt Anne, Lot, Lots Wife and Mt Sarah Jane may be available to climb - but not assured.

Participants should anticipate some big ascents & decent, scree, rocks scrambling, exposure, variable weather, challenging tent pitching at Shelf Camp and possibly mud in areas without 'track hardening'. 

Priority will be given to Club Members who are developing their bushwalking skills (rather than Peak Baggers) and who are up for a bit of a challenge. As such the pace will be possibly a little slow and attention to thermal laying will assume a higher priority than normal. Pack hauling will be required at The Notch.

I have climbed Mt Anne twice and participated on a number of different walks on the Anne circuit. 

Our route begins with a vehicle track through forest for the first few km, then a couple of km of rough foot track before emerging on the shoreline of Norfolk Bay close to Tinpot Island.  Unless the tide is very high it should be easy to hop across the rocks to this little island.  The return is different - we follow the shoreline most the way.  It's quite rocky in places so you need to be comfortable with some rock-hopping but that's the price you pay for the lovely coastal location.

This will be first walk as a coordinator and will be mentored by Joseph Roach.

Tramontane is an elusive, well hidden peak, and there is no easy way.  This trip - weather permitting - will be from the Lyell Highway over the Collingwood River and up Pigeon House Hill to the Rocky Hill campsite, with the second day to rough camping short of Five Duck Tarn but with access to the ridge leading to Tramontane. We will climb Tramontane from there.  On the return, if there is time, we will climb Camp Hill from the Rocky Hill campsite. 

The Collingwood can be uncrossable in high water, and if that is the case we will simply have to wait - both on the way in and the way out. 

You will need to be an experienced multi-day walker to join this trip.  If you have not walked with Me or Joseph before, please contact both of us and let us know what you have done.  For this trip to succeed it is important that everyone has the ability to go the full distance.  That said, it will likely be longer days than faster and shorter days - Joseph knees are not what they were!

We’ll meet at the Cambridge Park car park to car pool, then drive to Buckland.
Turn left onto the C318 for 3km to Sand River Rd, then 7km to the start of the walk.
Sand River Road is unsealed, but had just been graded when I did the recce, so in very good condition.

I’m billing this walk as the ‘poor man’s Bluff River Gorge’, as the sandstone cliffs are not as spectacular and its less than half s long. However, there are some fantastic escarpments where climbers are often found doing whatever climbers like to do, and there is plenty of walking through beautiful sclerophyll forest close to the river. 

We start by heading down along some steep descents and continue to follow the path until it crosses the river. There was some water, but not a lot when I did the recce , but that could be quite different on the day.
Crossing the Sand River the path heads towards the North Ridge, the Colosseum & Plebians Wall, all of which are rock faces visited by climbers. There are fabulous views of the area, although we are only at 240m high. 
We follow the escarpment for 500m before dropping back to the forest & river, to a point that we crossed earlier.
Instead of retracing our steps, we will walk in another circuit, possibly adding The Panoptican, a different escarpment. However that is a short, steep 20 minutes each way, and will be decided by the group on the day. 

We will return to our cars having walked two linked circuits.

We meet at the end of Lenah Valley Road for a car shuffle to Lumeah Avenue at 8.30

more info coming shortly

Please join me for this annual social occasion - however you prefer or can manage at this busy time of year - come for the walk and stay for lunch, walk only or lunch only. It will be beaut to see you and wish each other a Merry Xmas.

From the Springs carpark we will head out on the Lenah Valley track with the aim to be at Junction Cabin in time for elevenses.  But this is entirely flexible, we can decide on the day and maybe we will only get as far as Lone Cabin or take our elevenses at some point beside the track. We will then return to The Springs to enjoy our shared picnic lunch, hopefully we will be able to nab a table but if not there is plenty of room on the grass (bring a folding chair just in case). And the bonus is that we will be able to get a coffee from Lost Freight, a great way for the Thursday walkers to finish off our year. 

Continuing the Pandani tradition of a cracker long day walk to celebrate the Summer Solstice - last year it was Mt Leillateah. This year it is Adamsons, the Calf and Mesa. Three peaks, 24km and 1780m ascent - there is a track to Adamsons Peak and then off track with some scrub to the second and third peaks. This will be a quick moving walk to cover the distance and elevation, and may end in walking back via head torch. There will be an early start so car camping or staying close the night prior is strongly recommended.

Please get in touch via email before registering if I haven't walked with you before to share your experiences and to make sure you have the right gear for the walk.

A reminder: your gear must be clean and free from weed seeds, dirt and mud prior to arriving at the meet point and commencing the walk. This includes tent poles, hiking shoes, gaiters and socks, and walking poles. Remove weed seeds and ensure gear is washed and cleaned prior to joining the walk. This is to prevent weed spread and Phyotophora.

I think I have climbed Mt Mueller.  It was a very long time ago, in winter, the wind was howling and the spindrift lashed our faces as we clambered over the boulder field to the summit.  There was no view to be had, so high time I made a return trip.  

It is a reasonable climb - about 700m of vertical ascent - and should take us 7 to 8 hours return. 

The views this time should be spectacular, and the calories consumed getting there should put everyone in race trim for the rigours of the Xmas season.  

Not a difficult walk, but you will need to be fit rather than fast.  

As I was planning on walking the Frankland Range anyway I thought I would open it up to Pandani Club Members comfortable with exposed alpine multi day trips. I will make contact with walkers who register to ensure both they, and I, are comfortable with their capacity to complete the trip.

We will not be moving fast but we will be moving consistently. The rough plan will be to start at the Serpentine Dam and enter the Wilmot Range via Mount Sprent. From there we will traverse the Wilmot Range across the Frankland Range and end at Scotts Peak Road. The aim will be to climb as many peaks along the way including Mount Sprent, Koruna Peak, Coronation Peak, Double Peak, Red Top Peak, The Cupola, The Lion, The Citadel, Remote Peak, Murphy's Peak, Cleft Peak, Grey Cap, Frankland Peak, Right Angle Peak, Mount Giblin and Mount Jim Brown. *The trip is limited to four members as we will have access to a boat from Mt Jim Brown to take us back to Scotts peak Dam. Capacity of the boat is 4. The final itinerary will be worked out between walkers.

Each walker should be comfortable with exposed alpine walking and understand that all walkers will take turns navigating/leading. As some campsites are known to have "weird" winds and/or be exposed please ensure you bring along some extra tie downs! Capacity to carry water will be required if the range is dry. This is an off track walk. There will be exposed walking, rock scrambling, scrub, navigational challenges etc.

Depending on weather and which peaks we wish to summit I envisage the trip will be anywhere from 6-8 days but have allowance for 9 days. Putting it out to the weather gods for views! Trip will be postponed or cancelled due to unfavourable weather.

This walk will meet in Olinda Grove near the entrance to the sports fields at 9.30 am. We shall then commence the walk using various tracks and occasional footpaths via Hobart College and Mt Nelson Oval to Mt Nelson. After lunch we shall circuit back via a variety of tracks and trails to our meeting point. The actual walk (including stops for breaks) should be about 12 kms and take approx. 4 hrs. Hopefully a pleasant way to see out the 2025 walking year.

Start the New Year with a mystery tour to "The Valley"

More information will be provided to attendees however the exact location will not be disclosed and all attendees must be discreet about posting photos and track notes as this is a well kept local secret and we want to keep it this way.

You must be able to travel to Mole Creek on Friday 2nd January for an early departure on Saturday 3rd.

We will hike to "The Valley" and set up camp, returning the same way on Sunday and heading back to Hobart.

The walk in is medium grade, so please only register if you have previously participated in a recent overnight hike. Sections of the walk are off track and you must be comfortable with this.

Please come prepared for a remote one night camp in a special place.

Yet another attempt on the Eastern Arthurs, with the lesser peaks the main objective - Easy Portal and the Needles particularly.  It has been a very long time since I walked this part of the Arthurs, and I would love to do it again.  Whether I will climb Federation itself is not at all clear to me; but I would like to get out to Geeves Bluff.  

So, this is NOT a walk with submitting Federation as the main objective; though it remains a possibility.  Registration for a party of six is in place.

Still, walking the ridge and across the moors is a wonderful experience in good weather - though that cannot be guaranteed either.

If you are interested in coming please get in touch.  You will need to be relatively experienced, and capable of undertaking a 7 day walk. 

Loosely based on a previous trip to Geryon South. Catch the first ferry of the day on Friday, walk through to Pine Valley Hut for a quick break, then onto 'climbers camp'. After setting up the tents, ascend Geryon South. Anticipate getting back to the tents on sunset. Day 2 climb out of the valley and around to the flanks of the Du Cane Range. Finish the day with a climb of Geryon North. Day 3 we'll sleep in, and play 'tourist' in The Labyrinth, with the option of climbing other peaks in the area. Day 4 will be a push back to Narcissus, with a debrief at the Hungry Wombat.

This walk will involve some scrub, some untracked walking, scree, rocks, more rocks, lots of exposure (at times) and just some exposure other times. Some camping spots may be very exposed to the weather. Ability to move comfortably over scree and rock highly desirable. Preference will be given to Club Members who have previously walked with me in an Alpine environment. Note: I have previously climbed Geryon South and traversed the Du Cane Range, but haven't climbed Geryon North.

This walk is in the South-West, about half an hour past Maydena. Total of an 80 km drive from Granton. We will go up the steep & often muddy & slippery track to the saddle where we’ll have morning tea. Optional climb to the summit after that. Then, we head east along the ridgeline. How far along depends on the group. At our last attempt, we had to turn back because of the rain, wind & sleet! The ridgeline “track” is undulating, rocky & becomes less distinct the further you go. The end point will be our lunch spot. Next, we retrace our steps & go back to the cars. Ascent is approximately 400m. On the way home, we can have coffee or an icecream at Westerway (optional). 

We’ll car pool from Sorell to the start of the walk at Orford  (about a 45 minute drive & 55 kms). The first part is on part of the Convict Road of the walk is easy & fairly level. Upon arrival at the ruins of Paradise Gorge Probation Station, we’ll do some exploring & look at obvious ruins & try to identify less obvious ones. Morning tea here. Next we enter Tasmanian Land Conservacy property (with permission) & head uphill on an unnamed & sometimes rocky track.When we reach the top of the hill, we’ll continue a short way until we reach the Messenger Track. Then we’ll return to the hilltop & have lunch. Then it’s back to the cars. Optional coffee at Orford. 

Based on the success of previous paddle to The Iron Pot I'm putting activity back on the program. Because this area is very exposed to wind, swell and waves my preference will go to seakayaks 4.8-5.3m in length because they handle rougher conditions better. If the forecast conditions are calm I may accept estuary kayaks of 4.3-4.8m. 

Launch from South Arm Beach, adjacent to the boat ramp. Paddle south along the coast, to turn around the seaward side of The Iron Pot returning to the small beach below Cape Direction - getting out for a snack and stretch the legs. Return along the coast to South Arm Beach. Depending on the group and the conditions we may continue further north before returning to South Arm Beach. We may also take the opportunity to do some deep water self rescue and assisted rescue.

I have paddled around The Iron Pot a few times now. This activity is wind, swell and wave dependent. And if the conditions are right, and the mix of experience within the group suitable, this activity will suit novice paddles. Some prior experience in paddling an estuary or seakayak is a prerequisite.

A great practice paddle for members participating on the Gordon River/Macquarie Harbour trip.

We will start from the north end of Lake St Clair, which means either taking the boat, or kayaking up the lake.  I am inclined to the latter, though conditions have to be suitable.  If suitably experienced you may wish to join me, or organise to take the ferry.  

We will walk in to Pine Valley and up to the Labyrinth.  From there we head north to the end of the DuCane Range, climbing several of the peaks on the way.  Then down Big Gun Pass and up to Mt Massif, which has a delightful bowl in the summit plateau, ideal for camping in good weather.  From there we will make our way to Falling Mtn, and then down to Kia Ora.  With luck - an awful lot of luck - we might find my hat from the late 1990s!     Then it is back to Narcissus and either the ferry or a kayak down the lake.

Clear Hill provides extensive views of the Southwest after a relatively short walk (only about 2.5 km each way) but a 550 m climb and a rather long drive to get to the start.  It's surrounded on three sides by Lake Gordon and allegedly also provides views of the upper Gordon gorge.

We have not done this walk before.  However it seems to be moderately popular and the information here is from online sources and "The Abels" book.  The first section of the track appears to be very steep and it should be assumed that the track as a whole is fairly rough.  That plus the 500 m climb is the reason for the Med-Hard grade although the pace will be relaxed.

Join us for a sightseeing walk through a fascinating area of our city.

We’ll meet at the Cornelian Bay car park near the Cornelian Bay playground (off Gas Rd) . When we head off, we will pass by the historical boathouses on the foreshore at Cornelian Bay and then continue on to pass by the Tasman Bridge.

We will have morning tea while sitting among the beautiful flowers of the University Rose Garden and then continue

on to The Soldiers Walk , to walk up to The Queen’s Domain, with lunch at the summit.

 In the afternoon we’ll descend on a track via Grassland Gully, pass through the Botanical Gardens, and return to Cornelian Bay.

I have allowed a bit of extra time for this event as there are a lot of "points of interest" we may pause to look at, as we go. If we finish earlier than anticipated, we could have a coffee at the Abundance food van in the Botanical Gardens.

The walk will be on formed gravel paths, some footpaths and bushland tracks.

We will meet at the Black Buffalo Hotel from 10.30, where Michael will give us an understanding of the role of chemical and illicit drugs in forensic science.  The talk will start at 11.00 so meet around 10.30.  Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available.  Should you wish, lunch can be had at the hotel after the talk, but I would like to know numbers beforehand. 

We will meet at the Neika Car Park from where we will gently stroll the pipeline track, which, after a couple of hundred metres of gentle uphill, is mostly level and shady with some lovely eucalypts, tree ferns and small creeks. We will make the short diversion up to Silver Falls.

We will then proceed to Ferntree where we will have lunch in the park.

There is an option of coffee or a cold drink from the Ferntree Tavern.

We will then walk back to Neika.

Anyone wishing to join the group for the one-way walk (Neika to Ferntree) may be accommodated providing your organise your own car pooling and let me know in advance.

At the conclusion of the walk there is an option of visiting the Tavern for coffee or a cold drink.

Our last paddle on Norfolk Bay was stunning and we started from the boat ramp near Taranna. This time I'd like to start from either the Premaydena Point (Historic Site) or Saltwater River boat ramp. No real plans for this one other than having a great day and covering as much coastline as we can between Whitehouse Point and Premaydena Point. We should be in the lee of the winds from the SW, W and NW so fingers crossed. And the wind direction on the day may dictate our start point. Though road access to Premaydena Point may also impact on that decision. 

Because of the travel distance, I will be encouraging car pooling where possible, though understand this can be challenging.

An ideal training paddle for those members going on the Gordon River/Macquarie Harbour trip.

TBA

After meeting at Station St Sorell we will carpool to start of walk, probably re-grouping at Orford. (unless road from Copping is much improved- shorter distance but sometimes road is quite pot-holed and corrugated) Route from Sorell via Copping is 40km.Via Orford 69km. Both routes have about 15km of gravel)

We will walk from the remnants of the old timber town, Weilangta ("Weilangta ="tall trees") where there is the grave of a small child killed in an explosion. The timber mill operated from 1911 to 1924 with cut  trees carted on trams to the coast at Rheban.

The walk passes through some beautiful rainforest and ferns and climbs to more open forest near the Sandspit Reserve Picnic Area (toilets!) where we will have morning tea (or lunch) depending on the time.There will be an easy creek crossing. We will return to cars by the same route. There is an optional short walk through a delightful fern forest near the picninc area.

As it is quite a short walk there may be time to drive to Earlham( on the way back to Orford) for short beach and lagoon walk where we may see pelicans, swans, dotterel, oyster catchers, gulls-but probably not the rare visiting King Penguin

Coffee at Earlham. Or Orford. Or Sorell.

A chat with another Club Member encouraged me to re-invent a successful activity from a few years ago, so I'm proposing a three day activity walking the Bay of Fires coastline. Starting from Stumpys Bay, day one is about 12km to camp at Deep Creek. Then day two is about 17km to camp at Policemans Point. While day three is about 16km to The Gardens. Participants will walk with a daypack, while their duffle bag and eski will travel by car. Bay of Fires involves predominantly beach walking, with the occasional rocky headland to negotiate. 

There are two groups required to make this activity possible, 'walkers' and 'drivers'. For every three walkers we need one driver (and car). So you can register as either a 'walker' or as a 'driver'. Participants will be responsible for their own camping and cooking. 'Drivers' will shuffle cars and gear forward each day, plus do some walking. If the tides are in our favour, I'd like to include crossing the Ansons Bay outlet, a 100-150m swim, but if this doesn't prove possible we will use the cars to ferry participants around Ansons Bay.

Social Evening, we've run these in the past, in different formats, with differing degrees of success. The Committee have agreed to have another go at having a regular monthly Social Evening. 

6:00-7:00 socialise, eat a meal or snack, arrive at a time that suits you.

7:00-8:00 guest speaker, video, training, 'slide' show. We may not be able to give too much prior notice as to what's happening during this hour, but it will be relevant, pertinent, entertaining and worthwhile. 

8:00-9:00 socialise, network, debrief the previous hour, leave when you're ready to leave.

We've booked the Caroline Room at the Black Buffalo Hotel. Meals or snacks can be ordered and eaten in the Dinning Room or in the Caroline Room. Drinks can be purchased throughout the night. Seating, heating, air-conditioning and overhead projector are all available. Ample parking in the Hotel carpark or surrounding streets. 

We've booked three evenings, and if the support is there we'll book extra evening in 2026.

The plan is for a through trip from Jackson Creek at the northern end of Lake Rowallen, via Lakes Myrtle, Meston, Junction, Payanna; and then either north to the Gatepost and down the Overland track to Cynthia bay, or (a bit more adventurous) or south via Travellers Rest Lake and Lake Ina to the Lyell Highway.

This aims to be a fairly enjoyable trip, with time for swimming and exploring, as well as climbing a few peaks on the way: Mt Spurling and Mt Ida, and perhaps a few other highpoints depending on our final route.

You will need to be reasonably fit, and able to manage five days walking of around 7-8 hours a day.  There may be some patches of scrub, and some route finding, but it will not be a slog.  The Central Plateau in summer is a delightful place to be, and water is always to hand, either to quench one's thirst or for a swim.

There will be a need to arrange a drop off at our start point, and a pickup at Cynthia Bay, but with a bit of co-ordination that should be doable.

Please contact me if you are interested, but have not walked with me before. 

An 8 to 9 day seakayaking trip on the iconic Gordon River and Macquarie Harbour.

Day 1: drive to Strahan and embark on the yacht StormBreaker across Macquarie Harbour and up the stunning Gordon River to Sir John Falls. Disembark our seakayaks and gear and set up camp.

Day 2: a daytrip upstream to the confluence of the Franklin and Gordon Rivers. Continuing upstream on both Rivers as far as possible, before returning to our camp at Sir John Falls.

Day 3: paddle down stream to Eagle Creek, checking out any points of interest along the way.

Day 4: paddle down stream to Pine Landing, checking out any points of interest along the way.

Day 5: paddle down stream into Macquarie Harbour, and follow the coast north to the old town of Pillinger, checking out any points of interest along the way.

Day 6: continue paddling north, following the coast to Braddon River, checking out any points of interest along the way.

Day 7: continue paddling north, following the coast to Pine Cove, checking out any points of interest along the way.

Day 8: continue paddling north, following the coast to Strahan.

Day 9: an extra day, just in case.

The distances to be paddled each day aren't excessive, allowing time to have lazy starts, early finishes, time to explore, and the opportunity to make changes to the itinerary. I have packrafted the Lower Franklin River into the Gordon River and up the King River, but haven't paddled the lower Gordon River or Macquarie Harbour. Strong winds on Macquarie Harbour will present a challenge, and may necessitate staying put for a period of time and maybe combining two days paddling into one. I would anticipate that the rough outline above might be changed by the participants as plans are discussed prior to the activity, plus during the activity. The focus each day will be on the journey and not on the destination.

SouthWest Expeditions have quoted $300 per person to transport us, with our seakayaks and gear from Strahan to Sir John Falls. Payment of this will be required to confirm your registration for this activity. Preference will be given to Club Members who have previously paddled with me on a Club Activity. Note: the Club has a seakayaking activity roughly every four weeks. I also have two 5.2m rota-moulded seakayaks available if a member would like to attend but doesn't have a suitable seakayak.