Meehan Range - Flagstaff Hill - 14 Apr 2026

 This walk is within the Meehan Range Nature  Recreation Area and mainly follows fire trails and multiple use tracks.

 The forecast is for a mainly fine but winding day with possible rain later.

The group setting off from the car park on Belbins Road.

The climb  to Flagstaff Hill commencing soon after the walk starts.

The area was previously used for quarrying and has numerous tracks crisscrossing it now.

And is host to a number of a mountain bike tracks with varying grades of difficulty.

The group makes use of one of the mountain bike zigzag tracks.

Our first view looking towards Sandy Bay and Bruny Island.

Morning tea on the sheltered side of the hill away from the wind.

Obvously some serious discussion going on here.

Climbing the last steep section towards Flagstaff Hill.

Alongside the main track there is cycle track heading to the left.

We walk through some quite tall trees.

A small fungi on a log.

Looking up the Derwent Valley.

Looking to Midway Point and beyond.

Across the airport to Seven Mile Beach.

Geilston Bay and the northern suburbs of Hobart.

The Domain and Mount Wellington.

Finally reaching the pinnacle cairn of Flagstaff Hill at 379 meters.

Obviously the view was interesting.

 

 

A ship being piloted under the Tasman Bridge.

Lunch finished and everyone is getting ready to move on.

A different view of Midway Point.

Looking down across Cambridge.

We had 16 walkers who covered 10.8 kms and climbed and descended 334 meters in 4.25 hours.

Thanks to Mendelt for the photos.
 

Echo Sugarloaf - Mickey's Beach - 31 Mar 2026

 We travelled to Randalls Bay to combine two short walks in a pleasant day walk.

After parking on Randalls Bay beachfront we walked east along the beach and set about climbing Echo Sugarloaf Reserve. 

Heading along the beach with Echo Sugarloaf at the end of the beach. 

 

 

 A bunch of happy walkers.

This helicopter appeared with some sort of frame hanging from it. Much discussion ensued about its purpose from a Salmon Farm frame to survey monitoring equipment?

Then it continued on a straight course directly overhead.

Heading up the Zig-Zag towards the top.

 

 

The view of Randalls Bay from our lunch spot on the first knob of the Sugarloaf. 

If you look closely you will see most of the group having morning tea.

Then its down the dip and climbing back up to the top of Echo Sugarloaf.

At the top is signage for the Reserve.

The view from the top of Echo Sugarloaf with Adamson's Peak on one side of the foreground tree and Hartz Mountain on the other side with Mount Picton at the edge of the photo.

Now we start the descent back to Randalls Bay.

A seat built around a tree alongside the track with more signage about the history of the previous owners who donated the land for a reserve.

Heading further down the hill.

The forest on the way is quite stunning.

A stop by the pond was spent trying to identfy the different frogs.

A lonely little Echidna moving across the open paddock seeking food.

Back on the beach.

Where a shady spot in front of the cars made a perfect lunch spot.

Looking down on Randalls Bay from the lookout at the start of the Mickeys Beach walk.

Looking around the coast towards Mickeys Beach with the hills on the other side of the Huon Road in the background.

A stunning cloud formation looking towards the mouth of the Huon River and the bottom of Bruny Island.

Heading towards Mickeys Beach.

Banksia Marginata.

The signage with the history of Mickeys Beach.

Mickeys Beach.

Some of the group managed a swim and then we headed back towards the cars.

Acacia Terminalis.

Heading  back to Randalls Bay and the cars.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

We had 15 walkers who walked 8.3 kms and climbed and descended 200 m in just under 4 hours.

The weather was magic a balmy late March 27C and everyone enjoyed the day out.

Thanks to Mendelt for his photos.