Woodvine Nature Reserve - Mother Browns Bonnet - 30 May 2023

 Today's walk is Mother Brown's Bonnet via Woodvine Nature Reserve in the hills behind Forcett.

Woodvine Nature Reserve was an old farm that was given to the Crown by Mr Herbert Ernest “Ernie” Shaw in 1998. Mr Shaw died in 2005. Woodvine was declared a reserve in 2001.

The farm has 377 hectares or about 932 acres and protects native species of plants & animals that have been driven out of nearby cleared areas. Although left to Parks & Wildlife, it is looked after by the Friends of Woodvine Reserve who keep out invasive introduced plants, and maintain the buildings. The farm was original settled by Mr. Shaw's ancestors in 1861. (Thanks to Jack from his original blog in 2012).

This magnificent Eucalypt sits opposite the gate to Woodvine Nature Reserve on the farm across the road. It gives one an idea of what some of the forest may have been like when the property was first settled.

The group is ready to go.

The entrance overlooking the old farmhouse.

This part of the property has a number of really large Tasmanian Blackwood trees.

Setting off on the track through the Reserve.

The old boot cleaning station which has been relocated to just outside the main gate since our last visit.

 

 

 

A view through the local undergrowth.

An example of our group members maintaining proper Covid distancing when having morning tea.

The track through the Reserve is well maintained.

A very bright fungi.

After leaving the main Reserve Track we start the climb up to Mother Brown's Bonnet.

Which results in the odd stop to catch one's breath and occassional fallen tree to cross.

One of a myriad of the local fauna (leeches) that we removed during the walk.

Nearing the top.

The view from our lunch spot across towards Dunalley. This spot was a short distance from Mother Brown's Bonnet.

Following lunch we proceeded onto our objective.

 

Walking past what we believe to be the Cairn marking Mother Brown's Bonnet.

 

 

Returning to pick up our packs and start the return journey.

And then we had a view across to Hobart and Mount Wellington.

At last back on the track back to the Reserve.

The property has a collection of old farm machinery and a number of buildings to investigate.

Possibly the bakery oven for the property. I think it predates our interest in pizza's.

Inside one of the sheds.

Another view of the old house.

More old buildings and machinery.

An even older and smaller house.

The exterior and interior of the old shearing shed.

Including a wooden wool press.

And stalls for the sheep prior to shearing.

 This was a pleasant walk with a little of extra effort in the climb. We had 21 walkers today who covered the 7.8kms in just under 4 hours.

Sabre Place to Goat's Beach 23 May 2023

Today's walk we have done a few times over the years but it is a good long walk without  too much climbing.

The forecast is good with a cloudy morning and to clear in the afternoon and no rain predicted.

The walk starts from the corner of Sabre Place and Gellibrand Drive at Sandford.

Interesting cloud formations towards the South West.

Our mornings view of Mount Wellington.

Looking towards Speaks Bay and the ismuth to South Arm.

After walking down to the beach for morning tea as the tide was relatively low we decided to walk the next part of the walk not on the track but by following the waters edge.

Interesting rock formation.

Lots of very small shells accumulated in sheltered places among the rocks.

Looks like fossilised worms or something similar in the rock.

Some of the walkers decided on an even shorter way to the next beach.

 

 

Note the supermarket bag being carried, we managed to fill about three of them with plastic rubbish on the beach just walking this part of the bay.

Then one of the highlights of the day was these two sea eagles occupying a couple trees near the waters edge.

More shells underfoot.

 

Rose coloured samphire in the foreground.

The view from Goat Bluff.

Lunch under Goat Bluff watching the local surfers enjoying the waves.

Betsey Island.

Looking down on Goat's Beach.

Looking back at Goat Bluff once we were walking along the beach.

Off the beach and on our way to Calvert's Lagoon.

Emerging from the track onto Calvert's Lagoon

Climbing back to Gellibrand Drive.

The 15 walkers today covered 11.6 km in 4 hours 20 mins for an enjoyable day's walking.