Three Bridges Walk

A perfect day for this walk, warm with clear skies. The walk was led by Carol.

We parked at the Botanical Gardens, then marched through the gardens, scattering tourists to take the foreshore path to the entry to the bridge.

Views were terrific, or would have been without that extra rail on top of the original ones. We only encountered 2 cyclists and one walker on the way over and one walker on the way back.

The day was full of new experiences for me at least, crossing the Tasman Bridge, and then the pedestrian bridge at Rose Bay High school and finally the third one shown in Carol's photo below, on the East Derwent Highway.

Gordons Hill it's self was an interesting walk and perfect for the weather. It was very dry and I wouldn't want to be around if it ever catches fire. That said, I see it's on the list for a fuel reduction burn later in the year.

The track was deceiving as it appeared to be straight so that when David spotted water, we couldn't place the location right away, but quickly worked out it was Lindisfarne Bay, on the other side from where we started. After our third bridge we crossed back on the other side of the Tasman and took a slightly modified walk back to the Botanical.

Lunch was had there in pleasant surroundings, with some people opting to sit in the Gazebo, leaving the poor people to sit on the wall and feed starving Sea Gulls. Back to the cars via the front entrance, admiring the 'clever art' work on the way.

Thanks to Carol for several photos of the walk, and thanks to Tas for sending them on to me.

Starting out through the Gardens

Looking back at Hobart from the bridge

Government House & Queens Domain

Morning tea in the dry grass

Finally, a photo from the front!

View looking north over river & Lindisfarne Bay

Dry bush

Tasman Bridge & Mt. Wellington

Lunch at the Botanical Gardens

Posing on the third bridge - photo by Carol

Walking back - photo by Carol

Walking back to Gardens - photo by Carol

Report

Distance was 10.2km
Time was just over 3 hours
I forget to count the walkers, but looking at the photos there were 12 of us.

Click here to download GPX file

As the editor of this Blog, it's only right I indulge in a little nepotism. Our daughter, Alison, paints pets - portraits I should say, not a respray of your old dog. Anyone who might be interested can see her work and contact her at the web address I've put into the links list just to your right. It's Art by Alison Croft

Jack

Mt. Connection

Yesterday we walked to Mt. Connection from Big Bend on Mt. Wellington. It was a beautiful, warm day and several stops were taken to remove excess clothing.

The track starts out on an old fire trail that was a delight to walk both going and coming. I say that with tongue well and truly in cheek as it is loose rubble and gets steep in places. It starts to flatten near the bottom and that's where we turn off on the marked Mt. Connection & Collins Bonnet track.

Ready for the off

Here come some more

Fire Trail

Turn off to Mt. Connection

track

This track passes through Snowgums and has some rocks but not as many as the Thark Ridge track. We leave the trees behind and cross a valley to the bottom of Mt. Connection on duckboard to a pretty little clearing where morning tea was had.

From there we went up Mt. Connection, not a steep climb but becomes very rocky at the top. Lunch was had on a rock outcrop complete with Jack jumper ants, who were not happy campers. These little beauties have a very powerful venom and can cause serious problems to someone who's allergic. According to what I've read they kill someone roughly every 4 years.

After lunch we made our way back while admiring the views behind us. At least that's the excuse I used for frequent stopping on the way back up that fire trail.

Across valley

Looking around

Morning tea

Derwent River North of Hobart

Start of big rocks

Where to now?

Rock hopping

We made it.

Typical bush

Banksia marginata

Report

We walked 8.3km and took 3.5 hours.

16 People took part. 

Click here to download GPX file

Thark Ridge on Mt. Wellington

Yesterday we did the track along Thark Ridge, and if you want exercise for your legs, forget Stair Stepper machines as this is much cheaper. I doubt if there was more then a metre without stepping up/down on a rock.

However, it is a beautiful alpine walk and I'll try to identify photos of plants with more then my usual information of being green, brown, green & brown and green & brown with coloured bits. Seems I need to get a book on the vegetation, as little is available on the web. Anyone that can identify my photos, let me know and I'll update the blog.

Entry is behind main carpark on Mt. Wellington and the track is narrow through the bush and over scree, through Snow gum forests with many ghostly remains of the 1967 bush fires. This eventually takes us to the Municipal Carn which marks the spot where the corners of Kingborough, Glenorchy and Hobart Councils come together. Obviously not built by the said councils as they'd still be arguing about planning permission.

We had a small party on our morning tea break to celebrate Gordon's 82nd birthday. Gordon was our walk leader for the day and spent the day well in front of us mere mortals.

The weather remained dry, but there was low cloud in the distance that dissipated by the time we walked back, and turned into sunshine.

Next week we also leave from the same carpark and I think we are going into Mt. Connection. I know some were worried about the conditions of the walk and if it would require the same amount of rock walking as today. The following link provides a description and should set your mind at rest. It's a moderate walk.

http://www.sharemyroutes.com/routes/Australia/Ferntree-Tasmania/Mount-Connection/details.aspx

Up to the Ridge

Morning Tea is a serious business!

Happy Birthday to Gordon

Now that they're on the Web, everyone's a showman.

Snow Gum

Grows in clumps and will tear you to pieces.

Lunch at the Municipal Cairn

Google Earth

Thark Ridge. Notice Mt. Connection at top left

Report

14 walkers.
7.15km and just over 4 hours.