Billy Brown Falls - 22 Jul 2025

Today's walk is one we have done a number of times over the years but is always a good exercise with the 4 kms climb to the track into the Falls..

To make the walk worthwhile we start at where Judds Creek Road first crosses Judds Creek. 

With a good FWD you can drive to the track start  and undertake an hour and half walk return walk to the Falls.

The forecast for today is for strong winds with rain due about lunchtime.

Looking up Judds Creek from the cross-over.

Looking downstream from the cross-over.

Today's very small group heading up the hill.

The second crossing of Judds Creek.

Why a good FWD is required.

Looking into the re-growth forest.

Fungi.

Ron checking out the size of a tree stump left from previous logging operations.

Morning tea by the roadside looking for a dry spot to sit.

More fungi.

Finally to marked Track into Billy Brown Falls.

An interesting start to the walk up the hill.

Occasionally there is a supersized tree still standing.

Starting the descent into the rainforest down to the Falls.

Another large Eucalypt with a very small Lynn visible under the ManFern Fond.

Lynn checking out the lichen next.

Still heading down.

And it gets steeper.

A break in the rainforest enables a long distance view of snow on Hartz Mountain?

At last we arrive at Billy Brown Falls with plenty of water coming over them.

The next drop of the falls out of sight.

Stretching our legs on the return journey.

 

We have 5 hardy walkers who covered the 10.4 kms return walk in 4 hours climbing and descending 570 meters.

An enjoyable walk and we returned to the cars in just on 4 hours.
 

Knocklofty - 15 July 2025

Today Jenny will lead the walk on Knocklofty Reserve and she promises to take us on the newly opened mountain bike trail.  The weather forecast is again ideal - around 13, no clouds and little wind.

This link takes you to a brochure put out by the Hobart City Council which provides information about the Reserve.

 

We park in the main carpark and prepare for the walk

 

Soon after we reach the lookout above Hobart and Jenny who once lived in the area gives us some of its history

 We head off down the Main Fire Trail passing the point where Glover painted one of his iconic views of early Hobart

 

The first climb of the day

 We take the route to Mt Stuart

 

Our first glimpse of Mt Wellington and it looks cold and wet on the top - different conditions to where we are (this picture doesn't show it but there was snow on the summit)

 

We're at the start of the new track -"Yellow Hippo Track"

 Down we go

 

This old specimen has seen some hard times and a few bushfires

 

 

 

 And it's lunch time .. near the junction where 7 tracks meet

What a neat and tidy group - did someone measure the distances to ensure that everyone was allocated their own space

 

After lunch we start by retracing our steps along the Yellow Hippo Track

 

The cleared area at the bottom of the hill is the Hobart Waste Management site (tip)

 This photo gives an indication of the slope as Sue powers up hill

 We're not confused - we are back on the bike track and on one of the hairpin bends

 Making a decision about which path to take

 

Almost back to the cars

Today 13 walkers covered 12kms in perfect hiking weather

 

Click this link to download GPX file