Today we're walking near Margate, starting on the Nierinna Creek Track off Burnaby Drive.
It was pouring with rain at home and it looked a bit iffy as to whether we walk or not, but true to Tassie everything changed and we had a dry walk with some sunshine.
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| Overcast but dry |
I gave the group a democratic choice at the beginning. Would they like to do the little loop around the Nierinna Creek Reserve at the start or at the finish? At the start was the preferred option.
It's only a short walk along the creek and around a dam. There are seats and tables available so it's a good place if you just want to take someone who can't do the full walk.
Just look out for the Tasmanian Bear such as the one we saw.
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| At least it looked like a bear |
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| There's another dam about the same size, but on private property |
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| Very rural |
We walk around the dam and end up back at the cars, ready for the real start.
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| Start of the Nierinna Track. That looks promising |
It's not that bad. Initially we follow the creek along a grassy track.
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| An old weir. There is more water here than New Town Falls last week |
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| Nierinna Creek |
I had conveniently forgotten about the long uphill climb in the middle of the walk. Never mind.
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| True to form, Peter spotted the first orchid... |
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| ...and this honey dew, which is tiny |
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| I spotted this... |
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| ...and this |
It's a pretty time to walk in the bush.
There was some discussion along the way about where we would have Morning Tea. I mentioned the spot we used a couple of years ago, lots of ferns and moss and the trickling creek. Unfortunately, I also mentioned I gained the attention of a leech on that occasion. See Nierinna Creek Tramway Hill Margate Rivulet 2015 for proof.
This time I was catching up after taking the above photos just in time to see the group fly through this area without stopping. I shouted out they had just missed the best part, but no one cared. They continued up away from the rivulet and found a leech free area in the sun, where I joined them for Morning Tea.
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| This and the photos below are what they missed |
It's actually more atmospheric than the camera lets on. The Tramway Hill Landcare Group have also put a seat here which can be reached by a short walk from Lawless Road.
Everyone found a spot in which to settle, but it wasn't long before someone discovered an orchid.
Once you got your eye in it wasn't difficult to see that they occupied a fairly large area.
Break finished, we walked up Lawless Road to Nierinna Road, turning right and heading for Tabors Road where we bear left.
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| Goodbye to Nierinna Creek |
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| Lawless Road. We have a bit of road walking before picking up the next track which is the Margate Rivulet Track |
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| That's o.k. they're mainly quiet country roads |
Along the way, we pass some pretty country properties with views behind.
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| Roberts Bluff in the distance |
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| Picturesque stock feeder |
It's not long before we reach the turn off onto the Margate Rivulet Track.
There's a shelter there, and I planned to have lunch as we've done in the past. Now, we didn't leave Kingston any earlier then usual, so I can only assume we are walking faster because we were at our lunch spot 40 minutes early.
Bob and I tried to lead the group in ever decreasing circles to use up some of the time, but there was a general disregard as everyone ignored the shelter and made for a fallen log a little way off.
I went over to have a look at Shelia's Shed, as it's called and found some information and a map about the old Tramway.
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| These are the people we have to thank for looking after and extending the tracks |
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| This shows the original Tramway track |
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| Lunch |
Off we go after lunch, making our way towards Van Morey Road.
The above is a narrow space between properties, leading to Tramway Crescent and Chandlers Road.
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| Some locals were going about their business, but noticed us |
Chandlers Road leads us a short distance to Van Morey where we turn left. More traffic now, so we have to keep our eyes open.
After a while we turn off onto Brook Lane, heading for the start of the next track.
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| Van Morey Road, heading towards Margate |
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| Looking towards Margate |
Shortly after gaining the track, we come upon a gentleman taking his EXTREMELY large steer, billy goat and two other goats for a walk. They were friendly, which is just as well as it was a tight squeeze at that point of the track.
On we go, back to the cars.
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| The tramways destination |
We had 11 walkers and covered 10.87km in about 4.5hrs (lost the time setting in my gps tracker)
Click here to download GPX file
