The plan is to drive to the Freycinet walks' car park on Saturday morning and hike around Fleurieu Point to Hazards Beach, then continue on the Peninsula Track to Cook's Beach where we will set up camp.  In the event of bad weather it should be possible to cook and socialise inside the old hut as we will be camped nearby.  There is likely to be time for a walk across to Bryan's Bay during the late afternoon, but considering the limited daylight we should take torches with us.

On Sunday we will retrace the walk to Hazards Beach then continue across the peninsula to Wine Glass Bay and return from there to the car park.

The walking involved is on very good tracks and without overnight packs would certainly be graded Easy.  However, with the additional weight of rucksack and the distances if we venture further to Bryan's Beach it may feel more like Medium.  This is a walk very suitable for those getting started with overnight camping.  Anyone interested in attending, but feeling unsure about what to pack, is welcome to ring me to discuss equipment and packing. 

UPDATE 18 JULY 2024 - meeting place and time as per my email to all attendees 10:00pm 18 July 2024.  Campbelltown at 8:00am or corner of Lake Rd and Macquarie Rd at 9:00am.

The aim is to climb two or more peaks on the Western Tiers as day trips, with the targets being Stevenson's Lookout and Miller's Bluff.  We have permission to climb both, and Roderic intends to join us on the walk to Stevenson's.  You are free to come on either day, though my intention is to make a weekend of it, probably camping at Longford.  But, if there is enough interest we could probably weasel out of camping and find warmer, cabin-style accommodation, and dinner at one of the pubs in Longford has a certain appeal too.  Do let me know your preference.   Both require off-track walking, and some scrub and scrambling will be encountered.

Daylight will be short, and we will need an early start, and possibly a late finish on both days.

While we might change the order of the walks, for now, Saturday will be Stevenson's Lookout.

Preference will be given to those wanting to do both weekend day walks.

Further Update.  I have now booked Clayfield Homestead for Saturday night. (You can Google it.)  There is plenty of room, and we can self cater and it is a 30 minute drive to the meeting place at Connorville.  Cost is going to be somewhere between $133 (for three) and <$100 if we get five or more.   Why not drive up on Saturday arvo if you are doing the Sunday walk?    Email me if you are interested. 

Saturday climbing Stacks Bluff and Wilmot Bluff. Sunday climbing Storys Bluff, Sphinx Bluff, Bent Bluff, Broken Bluff and Pavement Bluff. More than enough Bluffs for one weekend. Drive up late Friday afternoon/evening and stay in studio apartments at Craggy Peaks, Rossarden. Utilising a mix of 1x studio, 2 rooms, 2 Queen beds, 2x studio, each 2 rooms, 1 Queen, 2 single. Cost about $60/per person/night (based on a 2 night stay). I have climbed all these Bluffs before. This activity is weather dependent and contingent on economically utilising the mix of beds.

A pleasant walk through dry sclerophyll forest, with views of suburban Clarence, the Derwent and parts of Pittwater. There is a climb of approx. 300m to gain the Trail, thereafter it is reasonably flat or undulating. Going down may be a bit slippery (stick handy). In the early stages we take a track which runs above cliffs. Including stops, the duration is approx. 4 hrs and is classified E-M. Coffee in Bellerive after the walk for those who wish. Contact the organiser if you have any fitness concerns for this walk. The walk will go ahead unless there is a significant chance of rain for the day. Coldness should not be a problem as you should warm up and in any case will have your clothing layers including gloves.

The aim is to climb two or more peaks on the Western Tiers as day trips, with the targets being Stevenson's Lookout and Miller's Bluff.  We have permission to climb both, and Roderic intends to join us on the walk to Stevenson's.  You are free to come on either day, though my intention is to make a weekend of it, probably camping at Longford or Cressy.  But, if there is enough interest we could probably weasel out of camping and find warmer, cabin-style accommodation, and dinner at one of the pubs in Longford or Cressy has a certain appeal too.  Do let me know your preference.   Both require off-track walking, and some scrub and scrambling will be encountered.

Daylight will be short, and we will need an early start, and possibly a late finish on both days.

While we might change the order, for now, Millers bluff will be on Sunday.

Preference will be given to those able to do both the Saturday and Sunday walks.

Further Update.  I have now booked Clayfield Homestead for Saturday night. (You can Google it.)  There is plenty of room, and we can self cater and it is a 30 minute drive to the meeting place at Connorville.  Cost is going to be somewhere between $133 (for three) and <$100 if we get five or more.   Why not drive up on Saturday arvo if you are doing the Sunday walk?    Email me if you are interested. 

This walk is one of the many great walks commencing at Risdon Brook Dam.  The walk to the Quoin is a steady climb, mainly on fire trails but at the end the route is quite a steep climb up a hill (fairly clear of  bush) not on a track.   The reward is the great views across the Derwent Valley from the top of the cliff.  It is approximately 12 km.  The Quoin is about 423m above sea level. It should take approximately 4 to 5 hours return. 

We will meet by the side of the road just after you come off the causeway heading into Sorell, just past the nursery.  We will then make our way along tracks and some road walking up to Shark Point Road.  Here we will sit on the bank and have morning tea.  We will then make our way back using the same tracks.  There will be the option to go to Velvet Cafe for coffee and/or lunch for those who wish.  This is not an organised lunch walk, but if you let me know you are planning to have lunch at Velvet, I’ll make a reservation.

We will car pool from the Campania Flourmill Park Carlpark & drive about 10 kms to the start of the walk. It is on private property & I do have permission. Even though this is is a relatively short walk, I have rated it as Medium. This is because of the variable terrain: a lot of up & down; a mix of wide, slashed, easy-walking tracks & others that are narrow & rocky with exposed tree roots. Parts may be muddy it winter. With varied vegetation & changing outlooks, there is a lot to look at. Expect to see valley views, rocky outcrops, caves, a dam (with a shy platypus), ferns, a creek & more. The pace will be slow so we can enjoy what’s on offer. 

We will meet at the car park at the end of Lenah Valley Road, crossing the New Town Rivulet onto the Lenah Valley Fire Trail and up to Junction Cabin for lunch. Return by the same trail.

These two mountains are on the peak-bagging list so I’ve decided that I should visit them to show my respect. They’re both fairly easy and short walks and I’m suggesting that together they might nearly add up to a medium grade overall.  It’s probably about an hour of trackless walking (along 1.5 kilometres and up 300 metres) from the Gordon River Road to the top of Tim Shea so that might be the place for some morning tea. We’ll have some time to explore before descending back to the Humboldt Divide for the 1.5 kilometres and up 400 metres to The Needles. My arithmetic suggests a total of about 6 kilometres and 700 metres up and down.

We will start the walk at Bayview Park and walk along Lauderdale beach (if tide level allows) to join the walking track to Cremorne which starts in Bayside Dr. We will walk the track to Cremorne Beach and return. This is a coastal walk with sweeping views of Frederick Henry Bay towards the Tasman Peninsula. If time permits we may walk around to Pipeclay Lagoon as well. There are a few hills and some steps down onto Mays Beach and also Cremorne Beach, but the track itself is fairly easy walking.

A tour of the Tasmania Fire Museum plus optional short walk.My plan at the moment is to meet at the Lower Domain Rd parking area near Main Entrance to Botanical Gardens at 9.30am and walk down to Argyle Street passing through the Rose Gardens. Hopefully this will make parking easy for us, members wishing to do the tour without the walk can meet at the Fire Service building at 10am by first letting me know by message or a phone call.
The tour of the museum will take around one and half hours, guided by volunteers with working experience within the organisation.  After completing the tour we will return to the Botanical Gardens with the option of a bring your own lunch or purchase from the snack bar. 
There is no charge for the Fire Museum tour.

We will meet in the Church car park in Sandfly Road, Margate and car share to our start of the walk, drivers will be taken back to their cars after the walk.  This track can be fairly muddy so gaiters may be a good idea and walking poles if usually used.  Near the start of the Kaoota track there is a sign depicting the history of the tramway, relics of it can be seen along the way.  We will take morning tea along the track and then lunch either at the end of the track or the beginning of the Nierinna Creek Track.  The latter track is steep, rocky in places and 'now some steps'!!!.  We will then cross Nierinna Road and follow the Margate Rivulet Track back to our original car park.

This walk along the east coast of Bruny Island explores the top of extensive and spectacular clifflines.

The meeting time is early but necessary to get the 7:50 ferry to Bruny so we can start walking by about 9:00.  Much of this walk is on a route that is only faintly marked and quite rough under foot, hence the Medium-Hard grading.

We start at the south end of Adventure Bay and walk south along the Slide Track (former timber tramway) before turning east towards the coast.  After a brief pause at Bev's Lookout for entrée we move onto to Cape Connella for the main course of coastal views.  There are many more lookout points to snack on as we head north along the clifline to Fluted Cape where we join the tourist track to return to Adventure Bay.

Pandani Bushwalking Club Photography Competition 2024

Entries Close Sunday 4th August 2024.

Seven Categories

* Water Scene.

* Bush and Mountain Scene.

* Snow and Ice Scene.

* Flora.

* Fauna.

* Mushroom, Fungi, Lichen or Moss.

* Pandani People

One entry, in JPEG format per Category, per Financial Member. Photograph to have been taken by the Member, on a Pandani Bushwalking Club activity, during the calendar year 2023 or 2024. Photograph to have undergone minimal digital manipulation. Entries to be emailed to pandaniphotographycompetition@gmail.com, in JPEG format, noting entry title and category, prior to 10:00pm on Sunday 4th August.

We will take various tracks through dry schlerophyll forest, keeping an eye out for “Freek” art,  to Rocky Tom. Total ascent is 389 m. NB Some track parts will be a bit rocky & slippery (& probably muddy!) 

We will meet at the Kingston Playground, just off the highway heading into Kingston.  Turn left at the roundabout.   We will then head along the Whitewater Creek Track, which is a ‘there and back’ track on concrete paths.  When back at the paths we will have morning tea before heading under the road into the wetlands.  After wandering around there it’s back to car before heading into Kingston for lunch, either at the Salty Dog or Robbie Brown’s, yet to be decided.

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

- potentially walk to: Fraser Falls (4-5 hrs rtn); Fraser Falls/ Montezuma Falls circuit (7-8 hours rtn); Moores Pimple (4-5 hours rtn); all weather dependent.  

The hut is located approx. 13 km east of Zeehan, in the foothills behind the historical mining town of Dundas.  From where the vehicles are parked, 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 in poor condition.  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.

You will need to bring the usual multi day bushwalking requirements, minus a tent, crockery and cutlery.  A butane gas cooker is available but you would need to carry in the gas.  A variety of billies 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!

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

Travel arrangements and more detail about the hut will be provided once attendees are known.

Marie is now not available for this event. Margeret Brocklehurst will lead the walk. Mobile number 0455 328 277 

We will meet at the entrance to the Senior Citizen Hall on Lambert Ave. The walk will take us through to Churchill Ave and up the Mt Nelson track to the top of the bends on Mt Nelson Road. A short road walk until we join the reserve again to Mt Nelson lookout for lunch and back to our cars. There a quite a few steep steps coming back down which can be very slippery when wet

This is a relatively short walk on established fire trails but with an off-track section to actually reach the summit.  Some scrub but does not seem difficult. 

This is not a walk I have done before, but should be quite straightforward.  The mountain (really, a hill) is on State forest land, with access through an old quarry and adjacent road.  The plan is to circumnavigate the mountain, bagging the summit on the way.

If there is time, and the group is interested, we might try to bag Mt Ponsonby as well, which is a bit to the northwest.  That is on private land, and I will try and find out about gaining access over the next few weeks. 

Cathedral Rock via Betts Hill Track (private land access)

We will head off from Anderson Road via approved access, thanks to Chris’ contacts, and slowly make our way up from behind the rock through lichen covered hills till we meet the usual trail connection at the bottom of the last push to the top.

This access avoids the north west bay river and the evil switchbacks. There is still the final scramble to the top of the peak, which pushes this walk into the medium range. This will not be a fast walk for those long legged speedsters, as we aim to wander up together and enjoy the lichen rich environment together.

Return back the same way to Anderson Road. If time, we might partake in pastries from the legendary bush bakery.

We will start our walk from Estuary Drive, Blackmans Bay.  From here we will traverse the ridge line to Tinderbox Nature Reserve and drop down into Magazine Gully.  The track in and out of Magazine Gully is quite steep and rough so poles would be useful.  We will return out of Magazine Gully via the fenceline and lunch at the top of the hill. There is no track along the fence line and is instead somewhat of a scramble which should take about 10 minutes.  We traverse another ridge line back to the nature reserve and return  to cars at Estuary Drive. 

On this walk Chris Wilson will be mentoring Faith Handley. 

The Carbon Circuit is an intriguing ramble through beautiful old growth eucalyptus forest and was created by the Wilderness Society as part of their Carbon Accounting Citizen Science program. There will be plenty of time to navigate tree roots and possibly slippery leaves underfoot while observing the various sign posted points of interest and soaking up the magical atmosphere. Access to the circuit is via an old logging road that passes over the Styx River, through a pretty fern glade and upward through new growth forest. Return by this same track.

Carpool organised by Chris at Tynwald Park will meet up with Faith at Maydena. Approximately an hour and a half drive from Tynwald to the start of the walk at Jubilee Road, Styx Valley.

I've not climbed Esperance Peak before, but the aim will be to utilise Forestry Roads to drive as close as we can then use these roads and an old pad to access the Peak. Anticipate a 650m climb to a height of 1056m, through forest, scrub, scree and rock. Given the time of year maybe even a dusting of snow or ice covered rocks.

The circuit will begin from Lindisfarne, proceed to Rosny Hill, then cross through Charles Hand Park and the old Golf Course near Eastlands. It is hoped construction work will not have commenced in the latter areas for the new stadiums approved by Clarence Council, allowing us to see the parks as they currently are. Return to the cars is via Gordon's Hill. Cafe at Spencers, Lindisfarne, for those who wish.

This is a circuit walk on  good walking tracks through light bushland and coastal foreshore.

We start from Sandford and head towards Storm Bay passing an emu farm, then a gentle climb to gain great ocean views of Storm Bay, including a distant Wedge Island.

We stop for a great close up view of Blackjack Reef and Betsey Is,  then the track follows the road for a short distance before we join the foreshore trail around Ralphs Bay to Mortimer Bay, our start point..

A coffee on the way home at TCM for those interested.

Organisers Get Together August 21 The Black Buffalo

 The official time for the start of the evening is 7:00pm but you may want to come earlier and have a meal and/or a drink before we start.

The club would not function as well as it does without our wonderful organisers and mentors, and this will be a chance for us to meet and chat about the year ahead and how our program has gone so far this year. 

The aim of the evening is for as many Pandani walk organisers or any club member interested in becoming an organiser to get together and talk about our program. We will have a quick look at the resources that we already have on our website, some new resources being developed and new navigation apps etc.  I will also bring along the Pandani Library from which you can borrow books and some maps etc.

Not long after this meeting we will need to finalise our walks and activities ready for the spring/summer program and we will also talk about the year ahead.

From Fern Tree we walk towards the picturesque O’Grady’s falls for Morning tea. Afterwards we continue up the beautiful Betts Vale track then down the Rocky Wheel’n shared track to  a sheltered cave for lunch. After  we descend the mountain towards Silver Falls. Along the way we will visit a few waterfalls taking time to photograph fungi and orchards. 
Afternoon  drinks at the Fern Tree Tavern. 

We will meet at the Priscilla Park Carkpark (southern end of Gorringe Beach) and follow the coastal trail to the South Arm Conservation Area, returning through bush land. 

This short walk is mostly along the Sawback Track which leaves the Gordon River Road just past the Scotts Peak Road junction. There's a pad from this Track to the top of Ibsens Peak. The Peak is only about 500 metres from the Track and 100 metres higher. It should be a very pleasant walk in good weather.

From our meeting point in Sorell we will take two vehicles to the start point just west of Buckland, about 40 minutes drive away.  The 11km anti-clockwise loop walk initially descends into the floor of the narrow sandstone gorge, crosses the river and climbs to the top of the opposite side passing numerous sandstone cliffs and several caves.  After traversing the cliff tops the track descends into the gorge floor once more, crosses the river again and climbs to the opposite ridge top passing more sandstone cliffs before returning to the vehicles.  There are obvious scenic spots for tea and lunch breaks along the way.  If there has been recent rain there is a possibility of wet feet on the short second river crossing.  Overall it is a glorious scenic loop walk!

A short easy walk in my local neighbourhood starting from the Gould's Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary. We will meet at the carpark at the lagoon which is accessed off the main road and then Hestercombe Drive. A gentle walk from the lagoon to Whitestone Point including some walking on a disused train track, urban paths, Crown land and the reserve. We will retrace our steps back to the car. BYO lunch is optional to have at the end of the walk.

This is a favourite walk of many club members starting from the Fortescue Bay camp ground. We start the walk along Fortescue beach carefully negotiating around the lagoon entrance which can be tricky depending on the tide. We pick up the main track at the end of the beach which passes through lovely forested areas along the cliff top stopping at Canoe Bay for our morning break after which we continue on to Bivouac Bay. This part of the track has a couple of steep sections but not arduous and we can take it slowly as needed to suit the group and the leaders!! After a relaxing lunch stop at Bivouac Bay we retrace our steps back to the cars. We hope to have time for a coffee stop along the way back to Sorell.

Entries close on Sunday 4th August.

During August formal, 'blind' judging will take place and all entries will be mounted on black card.

During the Exhibition evening, it's a chance to catch up with other Members, chat about the photographs and the walks that the photographs were taken on. Cast your vote in the 'Peoples Choice' in each of the seven categories. The evening will culminate in the reveal of the 'Formal Judging' results and the 'Peoples Choice' results. While there is a serious aspect to the Annual Photographic Exhibition, it has proven to be a great social event. The Committee look forward to seeing you at the Pandani Bushwalking Club Photographic Exhibition Evening.

The walk will start from Lesley's house in Murdunna and follow a gravel road (Jackson road) for 3km, then turn off to begin the climb of Mt Forestier, it will follow a pad, but some walking in light bush. We then reach the summit after a 300m climb. There are excellent views of Mt Wellington, Dunalley and Marion Bay, if the weather is good. We then return via the same route. 

Drive to Huonville and launch into the Huon River from the public boat ramp. Paddle downstream, weaving through Egg Islands using the natural channel and the manmade canal. Pull out at Franklin for a snack and utilise the Public Toilets. With luck the 'Fish'n'Chips' shop will be open for a warming snack. Paddle back to Huonville, and maybe as far upstream as Ranelagh if time and interest allows. This activity is weather dependent.

We'll drive down to Lime Bay, park the cars and set off on the circuit round Green Head, named after the colour of the surrounding waters rather than lush vegetation. Unlike most walks in this area, the track is fairly faint, and we'll follow it round the low sandstone clifftops of Green Head until we descend to some pretty beaches and continue the walk round to Lagoon Beach. The south eastern end of the beach is marked by Lobster Point, a low headland jutting out into Frederick Henry Bay, and covered with casuarina trees. We'll have lunch either here or on the beach, before returning via Slopen Lagoons to our cars. The Lagoons are ephemeral and may not have any water in them. Great views of South Arm and the Carlton area from the start of the walk.

We will meet at the carpark at the end of the canal at Lauderdale and car pool to the start of the walk at the end of Forest Hill Road.  From there we will to the Cremorne to Lauderdale track and head back to our cars.  We will then drive and pick up the cars at Forest Hill Road before heading to the South Arm RSL for lunch.  
As they will be opening just for us I will need a minimum of 15 people otherwise the lunch spot will have to change.

We will walk from 499 through the old quarry around to the community hall, down to the Marina and up through the Oyster Cove Inn to the Channel Highway, unfortunately there is a little road walking.  We make our way down to Trial Bay and from there around to Kettering Point for morning tea.  From there there is a little more road walking, through the Marina, around the oval and back to the quarry.  We will car sharefrom there to the top of Doughboy Drive and walk across Manuka Hills to Balleny Drive and hence down to Oyster Cove Point for lunch.  After lunch we make our way round the coast above Little Oyster Cove to 499 where there will be afternoon tea for those who wish to partake.  Drivers will be taken back to their cars in Doughboy Drive.

Join us for a wander around the Lagoon of Islands, a restored wet land area and wonderful wildlife habitat near the Steppes on the southern Central Plateau. The lagoon is almost circular and its banks are a former Hydro easement so we can access it without difficulty. It hosts a mass of waterbirds, especially swans and Eurasian coots and we may get the opportunity to see or hear other rarer species, such as the Australian bittern.  Its banks provide habitat for wombats, devils, quolls, wallabies and pademelons, as well as the introduced fallow deer, sadly present in plague proportions. There is also evidence of First Nations occupation on its shores. The walk round the lagoon is basically paddock walking, but be prepared for wet feet and some creek crossings if it has been wet.

These 2 short walks are in the Central Highlands, west of Tunbridge. Allow at least 90 minutes drive time each way (approx 240 kms return). Leaving the Midlands Highway, we turnoff at Tunbridge & drive along Tunbridge Tier Road. Firstly, we will walk to a lookout in the Tunbridge Tier Conservation Area. The walk is about 1.5 km return, off track, rocky & scrubby. It will be slow going. After that we continue along the gravel road to the start of the Mt Franklin walk. The last 7kms of road is a bit rough, but I have driven it in a 2WD. We will park the cars at the bottom of a 4WD track & walk up it for 1.3 kms. Then we go cross country (no track)  to the Mt Franklin summit. (Between 4-6 kms). This terrain is littered with logs & branches & is rocky & scrubby. A few boulders will need to be negotiated. Progress will be slow. We will be keeping an eye out for the wedge tailed eagle’s nest that is somewhere on the slopes. Also for my lost hat & Frank’s water bottle, 

Tba

Wellington Falls is the most impressive of the many falls on Kunyani / Mt Wellington. Access to the falls for this walk will be via the Nieka Trailhead and along the Pipeline Track. The walk will take us through the rainforest and then a zigzag around the southern side of the mountain with some glimpses of the Kingborough area. The trail is fairly flat and follows a well-maintained trail. Over the last kilometer the track climbs to the falls quite steeply however the good condition of the track lessens the effort required. Morning Tea will be along the trail and lunch in the general area of the falls. The return trip will follow the trail that we walked in on.

 We will meet at the car park as listed in Sorell before driving to Primrose Sands.  Parking the cars at Frogmouth Lane we will head down to the Carlton River and head off in an anticlockwise direction to walk around the bluff. This walk is tracked to begin with, but we will need to make our own way along the shoreline and cliffs to get back around to Primrose Sands beach to the cars. Expect some uneven ground, a little bit of rock hopping and some negotiating through some scrub and Causarina forest. If it is low tide, we may scramble down to the rocky beach as we approach the end of our walk. 

I've been past Mt Chapman a few times but have never climbed it. West Picton Road will be closed prior to West Picton Spur 1 due to partial road collapse so we will initially be walking on Forest Roads for about 4km. Then onto an old cut track through forest, before climbing above the trees and onto a wet, muddy, rutted track through low dense scrub. We will slowly gain height passing Square Tarn to Abrotanella Rise 1023m, before following a scrubby ridge to Mt Chapman 1086m. If conditions are favourable we should get good views of Hartz Peak, Mt Picton and maybe even the Eastern Arthurs. We will retrace our route back to the car(s).

Come along and share a wander around and about New Norfolk via the River Derwent and the Lachlan River walking trails.

We will start at the Millbrook boat ramp and pass various heritage buildings, followed by some great views of the river. This walk has a few up and downs mainly on gravel, before our walk takes us up over the sandstone cliffs then down some steep steps (handrails in place) back to the River Derwent onwards to the bridge. A short trip up via the old council chambers, past the asylum and rum distillery before enjoying the queen jubilee garden. Heading back via the Lachlan river you’ll have the chance to enjoy some of the local wetlands birds.

This is a short slow walk that is chock full of historical stories from us and signage along the way. A coffee afterwards could be an option for those interested in making a full social day of it or even a distillery tour. 

Plenty of parking and toilets available at Millbrook boat ramp. It’s that dirt turn off to the right from the highway before heading up the hill to new norfolk. 

A pleasant coastal walk around the beaches and headlands of Dodges Ferry. Meeting at 154 Bally Park Road Dodges Ferry we walk down to Blue Lagoon Beach. Heading north along the beach we walk around Tiger Head which gives panoramic views across Frederick Henry Bay to seven Mile beach and further to kunyani/Mt. Wellington.   Walking through the wetlands back onto Blue Lagoon beach then along to Red Ochre beach past the large red ochre deposit and up to Park Beach Bluff.  Morning tea will be on top of the bluff on top of the cliffs at the whale lookout or overlooking Park Beach.  We then stroll along the length of Park Beach to the mouth of the Carlton River.  We walk around past Steele’s Island the site of a huge aboriginal midden.  The tidal information is not yet put for this date but I'm hoping that the timing should be right for low tide so that we can have lunch in the lee of the Island overlooking the river and native oyster beds to Primrose Sands.  After lunch we go past the nearby wetlands before retracing our steps along the beach and up the track to my shack for a well-earned afternoon tea. Bring your bathers in case the spring weather allows a swim before we head up the track.

Distance 11km. Approximately  4-5 hours depending on length of stops and exploring some areas on the bluff and along the walk. s

 A couple of very gentle uphill sections.  

There is plenty of room to park at my shack and that is why I’m suggesting meeting here rather than 10 minutes up the road at Sorell.

After meeting at Anzac Park, we will walk around the foreshore to Simmons Park before crossing East Derwent Highway and heading up hill on suburban foot paths to Lockley Terrace. We will then head along a Tas Water easement to Lowanna Rd, back over the highway on the overpass to Natone Hill, before walking back to Anzac Park around the foreshore. There are a few steep sections that will be taken slowly and great views from the elevated areas.

I've put this on the program five times before. It was cancelled earlier this year when all but one registered walker changed their minds. Other attempts proceeded without quite reaching our goals. Sixth time lucky? You'll need to be prepared to pay your ferry fares in advance ($110 by 14/09/2024) and share vehicle costs. The best-case scenario would be to catch the first ferry up the lake on Saturday at 9 o’clock and head up towards the Labyrinth through Pine Valley. In favourable weather we would follow the Lake Elysia track then the ridge line to the Minotaur and camp in the saddle between the Minotaur and Mount Gould at about 1290 metres..Otherwise we may camp at Pine Valley. We’ll explore the Guardians next day and spend a second night in the saddle if the weather’s okay.  In favourable weather on day three, competent peak baggers could climb Mount Gould (1485 metres) before we pack up and head back to Narcissus for the night. We'll get the first ferry back to Cynthia Bay on Tuesday.  The total distance is not great but some of the walking is challenging and off-track.  All up it’s about 14 kilometres each way along this route from Narcissus to the Guardians.  The climb from the start to the Guardians summit is about 650 metres.

This walk will only proceed if there are suitable on-ground conditions and a favourable weather window.

The walk will start at Waterfall Bay Car park. We will proceed to Camp Falls and then to Waterfall Bay Lookout where we have morning tea and enjoy the coastal view towards Cape Hauy, and looking up at Clemes Peak. We will return to Camp Falls and then take the track towards Tatnells Hill and Fortescue Bay.

The track ascends up a fairly steep and rocky path beside the creek, crossing it in several locations. After approx 45 minutes the track to Clemes Peak goes off to the left and we will follow it out to the summit. Some climbing over fallen trees is required. After a short stop to admire the sweeping views from Clemes Peak, we will retrace our steps back to the main path and continue the ascent to Tatnells Hill where we will have lunch. If the weather is clear there are views towards Cape Pillar and the top of Cape Raoul. The beautiful and varying vegetation make this a very interesting walk.

Join me for two shortish walks at either end of Eaglehawk Neck. We'll park at the Tasman Arch carpark and walk out to the end of Waterfall Bluff. This is an easy walk on an excellent track, with wonderful views of sea cliffs and wave washed platforms. I hope that at this time of year there will also be plenty of wild flowers for us to look at. The walk itself is about 8 k return. We'll have morning tea somewhere en route, driven by our internal clocks! Lunch will probably be on the beach at the end of the walk. After lunch we'll visit the Tessellated Pavement and Clyde's Island. If the tide permits we can attempt to visit Clyde's Island itself, otherwise we can just admire it from afar.

This walk is for those of you who want to get away from the football grand final madness. I did this walk in May and it was well received and I have been asked to put it on again.

This is a pleasant walk along an old mining trail through superb myrtle forest and button grass plains to a landmark which flanks the Saw Back Range. From Granton, we travel for 1.5 hours to just past Frodsham's Pass and park beside the road. We start along the old road to Adamsfield which ambles along flatly for around two kms before going uphill through the beautiful myrtle forest. The track emerges into more open countryside a short distance to the west of Ibsen's Peak. The trail crosses a saddle and climbs gently to Welcome Rock. This is a conglomerate outcrop 25m off the track which can be climbed for views of the Southwest. We have lunch here and return the same way.

Launching from Dover Beach Coastal Reserve, paddle across Port Esperance around the three islands Charity, Faith and Hope. Then paddle inland to Rabbit Island and through the Esperance Narrows into the Esperance River. Paddle up-river as far as we can before returning to the car(s). This activity is weather dependent.

Ridgeway Park is situated above the Waterworks and particularly around the Ridgeway Reservoir. It is reasonably hilly with a walk elevation gain of around 300m and a similar descent. The walk is mainly on tracks and trails but may include short amounts of off-track walking. If the Ridgeway Nursery is open and we go in that will add about 30 min to the walk. The walk is classified as Medium but is not particularly difficult. Drinks at Fern Tree Tavern for those who wish after the walk. 

The walk will start at the Cartwright Reserve, Taroona. It will involve some road walking, beaches, quite a few steep steps through to the Shot Tower. Morning tea and lunch will be somewhere on the track before returning the same way. Those of you who wish, coffee will be at The Beach House Cafe, Lower Sandy Bay

Still working on permissions. Will put in description when I can

We will meet at Tynwald Park and car pool to The Salmon Ponds.  We will have time to wander the beautiful gardens looking at the all of the trout ponds.  The hatchlings should also be available to be viewed.  We’ll then have lunch before heading home.

This trip is aimed squarely at the southern King Williams, with Slatters Peak also on the menu.  There are two main options to get to the range: walk from Harbacks Rd, or kayak.  If you are interested in coming please get in touch asap, and let me know whether kayaking is an option for you or not.  My (marginal) preference is to walk it, as this means we are less weather dependent in terms of getting in, and more particularly, getting home.

I have deliberately opted for a five day trip - Show Day Thursday to Monday the 28th to give us a chance of getting down to King William III.  While most of the walking will be off-track and in places very scrubby, the southern part of the range is reputed to be delightful.  

The weather at this time of year can be particularly cruel - if it is shaping up that way I will reconsider and most likely change to something not quite as exposed, or more tailored to whatever good weather window is available.

If you are interested, please get in touch.  I will need to know you are capable for this walk, as success depends on everyone being able to make it.  There are no easy 'outs' from the southern KWs. 

This walk starts approximately 9.5 km up Lake Dobson Road (Park Pass necessary). It is a short walk about 4.5 km with an initial steepish climb. There is a side track to Beatties Tarn followed by a walk on a glacial morain ridge to Lake Nicholls. Time permitting we may follow later with a walk to Russell and Horseshoe Falls.

A four hut alpine lake adventure!

This could be fun or it could be awful, but lets give it a go. We will be walking in on the 4WD Pillans Lake track so expect slightly boring but easy going track. Lots of mud, lots of boulders and a few river crossings.

First hut is the old shepards hut, Allisons Hut, which I expect might be our lunch spot. The current custodians of this hut are the Mountain Cattlemans Association. We will then continue on to Kerrisons Hut which will be our base camp.

On Saturday we will wander around to the Lake Field and Pillans Lake Huts.

Kerrisons Hut was a summer renovation project of the Mountain Huts Preservation Society and I know the roof wont leak as Stuie and I have re-lined it! There is also a woodheater currently being installed BUT… you must bring a tent and be prepared to sleep in it.

There are no toilet facilities so bring a spade.

Tba

Ryton Hills are part of a Tasmanian Land Conservancy reserve on the eastern bank of the Prosser River near Orford, and in Spring should have a particularly impressive array of wild flowers. Meet Chris at Sorell and 45 mins later, Bob, at the start of Brockley Rd, 3k outside Buckland. So, let's amble, ramble, loiter and sojourn in grassy woodland and share information knowledge and experiences in the Biota and landscape that we like to walk. Chris will bring some botanical guides.

Expect an elevation gain of perhaps 200 meters, sticks, rocks, grass seeds, leeches, so bring your gaiters. A walk of perhaps 8 kilometers and let's share our learning experience after, with a gathering with some refreshments, feel free to contribute as you wish.

Tba

After meeting at Station St Sorell at 8.30 we will car pool to start of walk, probably re-grouping at Orford.(unless the road from Copping is greatly improved). About 70km with 15km of gravel.

We will walk from the remnants of the old timber town, Weilangta (Weilangta="tall trees") where there is a grave of a young 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 rain forest and ferns and climbs to more open forest near the Sandspit Reserve Picnic area where we will have morning tea or lunch, depending on the time.  There may be a creek crossing. (easy) We will return to cars via the same route. There is an optional short walk through a delightful fern forest near the picnic area.

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

Coffee at Earlham? Or Orford?

We will meet on Friday 8th November, setting up basecamp at Darwin Dam campsite (or choose an option in nearby Queenstown if you prefer some additional comforts). Those that live close by may wish to drive up Saturday morning to meet the rest of the group though it will be an early start.

There will be an early start on Saturday to climb Mt Jukes (an Abel) as well as several high points along the Jukes Traverse including Proprietary Peak, West Jukes and Pyramid Peak as time allows. This is a steep climb but the views on a clear day will be stunning. This is a mentored walk, led by Kym with Simon as mentor.

Day 2 will be a hike up Mt Huxley led by Simon (with Kym as Walk assistant) ,expect 6-7 plus hours of hiking and 24km before we drive back to our home bases.

Both Simon and Kym have climbed Jukes and Proprietary Peak before, and Kym has stayed at Darwin Dam campsite.

Becca's blog here also has some information on the peaks: https://rockmonkeyadventures.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/proprietary-jukes-pyramid-west-jukes-owen-31-may-1-june-2014/

The Sentinel Range is an amazingly impressive mountain range guarding Lake Pedder, and looms over the highway on your way to Strathgordon.

I have climbed this twice now, but come short of the final peak after reaching the ridge, mainly as I'm slow, it's all up hill, and pushed myself too hard.

Sooooooo. this is for those who always wanted to climb it, but snail paced, with breaks, time to enjoy the views, and possibly climb a few other peaks up there. It's for the photographers as the Blanidordia should be out and for those like myself who need a little extra time to make those summits. If wet we will cancel, but if a great day, you can see on and on and on.

So if you're fit, but short legged and quite puffy going up hill, then never fear, you can do this mountain. It is hard, you'll need gloves to climb the pinkish sharp granite and a river crossing just as we start. But it's pretty straight forward, just need good balance for steep downhill return, and to be okay with a slight airy patch like all mountains.

Are you faster than me? Not suggested for those medium/hard walkers who climb mountains like spiders,  this is a group walk, and I would prefer the whole group to climb together for safety. So if you’re fast, this isn’t for you sorry.

So come along and join SJ in crawling up the range