Handsome Caves 2018

Today we're off to visit Handsome Caves at Magra near New Norfolk. It's been three years since we last walked here and I planned to see a bit more of the area this time.

We park at the end of the real Handsome Caves Road (not the fake one on the map) and head uphill. 

The road isn't much better than three years ago

It continues up becoming smaller all the while.

First glimpse of our destination

Looking back down the valley

I suppose this was an old logging road as this area has been logged many times in the past. Indeed, it's the site of forestry operations still today.

We stop at a place with enough seating for Morning Tea before continuing on.

It's amazing how much work went into building this road in the past. If you stop and have a look over the edge you can see retaining walls constructed from the local stone. They're still standing, so they did a great job.

The bush to our left becomes rocky outcrops dwarfing us as we pass by.

It doesn't take long to gain some altitude

Looking up

A large gum growing on a rocky outcrop

A mini cave

Soon we're in sight of some of the caves. They're in sandstone which explains the number and variety in this area, all due to water erosion.

Water leaches the sandstone creating wonderful patterns

At the same time it creates spaces for nests of the Striated Pardalote, a small bird also known as the pickwick, wittachew and chip-chip.

Peter watches while Lyn scrambles up...

...then finds a comfortable seat that resembles a throne

The last time, I think we had lunch here, but not today. I want to see more so Bob does some exploring and we find a way up to the next level.

The next level is on a very old track on top of the caves, but there is another level behind, so up we go again.

It's not bad climbing, but you have to be careful as the soil is very dry and loose causing slippage.

Soon we come to a forestry road I knew was above us. Bob said it's been some time since he's been up here and there was no road then.

Forestry Road

More rocks above us

We make our way down to the top of 'our' caves and have a look over the edge. Remembering this is crumbly sandstone, we keep our distance. 

The track we came up is out of view down there somewhere

We return to the road and continue on for a short distance, branching off to have lunch with a view.

Views everywhere

I think that brown/green area in the distance, just below that obvious peak, is the way into Platform Peak

Lunch

Ron and Peter have found comfortable spots

Rocky outcrops we walked under on the way into the caves

Lunch finished, we return along the road, looking for the small cairn Bob constructed marking our way down. Finding it, he decides to walk ahead just to see and finds a larger cairn marking a well used way down which we take.

The way down

It's slippery as mentioned before and causes some exciting moments

This is a shorter way down and brings us out onto the remains of an old logging road where we turn towards the caves.

Lots of young growth here. The old stumps from years ago were quite large

Reaching the old track, I look right and recognize this natural bridge to a large treeless area from a number of years ago

Turning back I hurry to catch up with the others.

Looking down

I catch up with Janine who points out an example of why Mother Nature is a hard lady to keep down.

A small grotto. What are we looking at? 

Nature at her most determined

Growing out of the sand at the centre of the opening and looking healthy.

We reach the track leading back and turn away from Handsome Caves.

Last look

On the way back, Peter and I find several spots that appear to give a view of our lunch spot.

Lunch spot

 We had 10 walkers and covered 7.57km in 3:39hrs. Not a long walk, but some good climbing and bush bashing. A very interesting area, but there is almost nothing about the history on the Internet.

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