Manuka Hills Kettering 2017

Today we're walking around the Manuka Hills at Kettering. As Kettering is the next village north from me, I'm walking up to Trail Bay to meet the rest of the group.

Spring time has just started in Tasmania, just last week we had a couple of days of 20C and everyone was out enjoying the sunshine. Today is different. Snow in the hills during the night and a light rain when I set off towards Trail Bay.

There was also a cold wind, but the weather improved quite quickly and It wasn't bad when I arrived at the meeting place.

Woodbridge Hill with dusting of snow and low cloud and rain

Trail Bay

The rain and wind had stopped and there was blue sky around. I was there first and was very glad I walked up as the first thing I spotted was a 50c piece!

I passed the time watching men trim the overhead branches along the Channel Highway. Nothing more relaxing than watching someone else work.

It wasn't long before the rest of the group arrived and we got ready to go.

Looking towards south Bruny Island. Completely different weather now

We take the track around Kettering Point

We make a quick stop then continue towards the ferry terminal, following the road around the bay.

Little Oyster Cove bay

As we walk, we pass a sight that seems a tad out of place with all the yachts around us. Unless you call it a land yacht.

 A customized Cadillac Coupe DeVille around 1967

 We'd only need one car if we used this. Most of us would fit inside and the overflow in the boot. In 1967 I was driving a red Triumph TR4. It would fit in the boot also.

Leaving memories behind, we continue on around the bay.

Some locals

Black Cockatoos

We're heading for Manuka Road and the turn off onto Wilsons Road for our first hill. It's getting close to Morning Tea time so we begin to look for a sunny spot.

Wilsons Road

Looking south

Morning Tea spot

Tas found a nice bank overlooking this garden for our break. Afterwards we make our way the short distance to the beginning of the track.

On track

Looking at North Bruny Island in the distance

It's quite a pleasant track to walk and has a couple of different places you can enter it by.

Another hill, another oxygen stop

The end of the track at Manuka Road

This brings you out overlooking Kettering to the south.

Looking south

There's a bit of weather in the distance

We turn left up the road, heading for the D'Meure track which is one constructed by the locals and heads downhill towards the water. Tas checked this out the other day because at the bottom we're heading right along the foreshore and the tide is up at present.

The council seems to have taken responsibility for the track down, but not the side tracks

I don't know what's being pointed at

But, judging from the elevation of the arm, I suspect it's a bird. 

We're on a track parallel to the foreshore now

We continue along until Peter's sharp eyes spot some orchids just off track. Yes, it's getting to be that time of year again. Knowing how much he loves fungus and orchids, we couldn't wait to tell Bob.

Thanks to both Peter and Tas for identifying these for me.

Thanks to Tas & Peter, I can tell you this is the Corybas diemenicus or Stately Helmeted Orchid

Photo by Peter, camera by Jack

While Alex, Peter and I were admiring the orchids, the others must have taken off at a dead run. We saw very little of our surroundings as we rushed to catchup with them! Finally, we found them in a clear space putting on rain gear before heading along the shore. The weather seemed to be turning again.

We didn't have time to enjoy this bench

Down to the shore line

Even with the tide up, there was plenty of room to walk with dry feet

If you look carefully, you can make out a horizontal rainbow between the trees and water

We made our way back around to the oval where we settled in for lunch under cover. The sun was back out by then.

Lunch

After lunch we took the quick way south back to Trial Bay and the cars. I walked home from there and apart from a short mild shower at the beginning, I had an easy walk.

We had 14 walkers and covered 10.26km in 3:38hrs. Thanks to Tas for scouting out the track and leading us around the shore.

Oh, you can add about 9.5km and 90 minutes to my total.


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