Today is Australia Day and we're just north of Woodbridge at Coningham, only a ten minute drive for me. The weather is overcast but very pleasant for walking.
We meet at the car park next to Coningham Beach. A reasonable number of walkers have turned up. Two who haven't walked with us for a while and one guest. Tas is leading us.
We head west along the beach and up onto the track along the foreshore which gives us a view over the bay.
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| East towards Bruny Island |
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| North towards Tinderbox |
Tas evidently had instructions from Bob, as we soon turn south and begin to climb. Bob's not here today, he was running at New Norfolk.
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| Uphill towards the entry gate. Doesn't seem too bad |
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| I was surprised there was this much water in this dam |
We continue on a track we haven't walked before which leads up to Sheppards Hill.
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| Up we go! |
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| Looking back |
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| You can barely see Mt. Wellington |
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| Past North West Bay and up the D'entrecasteaux Channel |
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| A few of these smiles appear to be decidedly forced |
If you keep your eyes on the track at your feet - easy if it's steep enough - you never know what you might find. In this case it put me in profit for the walk.
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| Probably dropped by a colonial trader. Just joking, it's a 1977 five cent coin |
We continue on, stopping to admire the view every so often, until we reach signs of civilization. We often come across these constructions in our walks.
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| Main house with teenagers room just beyond |
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| This must be the nursery |
We keep moving. The track begins to level out and we look for a spot for Morning Tea.
We find a large log with room for all.
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| Morning Tea |
I see an old plastic strip tied to a tree and look around for another in case it marks a track. I didn't find one, but I did find this example of native vegetation regenerating.
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| You can't keep a good native down |
Tea finished, we continue across and down Sheppards Hill.
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| Pointing back up the hill |
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| Where we're going |
We come to a gravel road that used to be open to the public but is walking only now and continue down towards the water.
On the way I see the group ahead looking at something in the bush. It was the only animal we saw all day (not counting dogs on the beach) and didn't look all that pleased.
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| Is it a bird? Is it a plane? |
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| No, just a disgruntled wallaby |
As we're walking, Tas asked me if I had seen the metal steps along the coast to the south. I couldn't remember, but it did jar a brain cell so we decided to have a look. We found the track I remembered as coming from Peartree Bay and turned off. Some of us turned off I should say as the others weren't as interested in metal steps as we were.
It's only a little way down some rough steps and up a gully then across a large fallen gum to our destination, where we found a gentleman walker onsite.
I remember the steps now and we all passed theories on what they were for.
I should say that just off shore is a fish farm with cages extending for a good distance.
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| Remains of older wooden steps and landing |
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| The bottom platform to the concrete blocks is rusted away |
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| Part of the Salmon farm |
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| There appears to be recent repairs to the stair mounts |
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| Little cove next to the steps |
Still wondering what the steps were for, we return to the others waiting on the road.
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| Going back |
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| We're back! Not that Irene and Sandra are interested |
If you want to know about something, ask a local. Julie and Richard live in Coningham and tell us the steps were a safety measure in case anything happened at the fish farm.
As this part of the coast line is all cliff, the steps provide a way for someone to climb from the water to a track that leads to Coningham. Problem solved.
We walk on, diverting to the caves then looking for a lunch spot.
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| This sign is 45 minutes away from the parking lot at Coningham. As you have to walk to get to this sign, why would you want to return to this spot? |
Not the first dodgy signage here. You'll notice the sign at the beginning of this blog with the map, doesn't have any 'You are Here' markings. Not helpful.
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| Caves |
Returning to the Clifftop track, we continue on.
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| Looking back |
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| Passing through the she-oaks |
Along the way we come across some Red Jewel-bugs having a good time.
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| Red Jewel-bug or Cheoeocoris paganus |
We arrive at Legacy Beach and settle for lunch here.
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| West |
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| Towards Bruny Island |
As it's Australia Day, there's a family just up the beach enjoying the holiday.
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| Mt. Wellington and Sleeping Beauty, still overcast |
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| Closer look at Sleeping Beauty |
I'm not sure who named Sleeping Beauty, but I'm willing to bet they just spent a year or two in a sailing ship.
Lunch finished, we walk on towards Coningham Beach and the cars.
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| Gum leaf on Legacy Beach. I've not had an art shot for some time |
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| Coningham Beach. Not exactly crowded out for Australia Day |
There was a family that had quite a nice setup for the day, you can just see their blue shelter in the distance. As we passed the sun started to come out for a bit.
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| Beach Huts |
We had 11 walkers and covered 8km in 3:42hrs. Just over 2.5km of that was uphill. Perfect day for walking.
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