Ferndene to Dial Range Saddle or Mt Dial itself

We will meet at the Ferndene Carpark at 12 noon.  It is a glorious walk through ever-changing terrain.  The initial part of the walk is through a beautiful forest of tree ferns and moss with a babbling brook to add to the atmosphere.  Once leaving the Ferndene area we enter some uphill open bush which continues until once again we enter more rainforest type vegetation. Depending on the group once the saddle is reached, we may take a short walk up to Mt Dial. This walk consists of lots of ups and then lots of downs on our return journey. Please bring a rain jacket, water and food as we will be away for several hours.

This is another walk which doesn't seem to have been on the program for a while. 2018 as far as I can tell. This Abel is in the Walls of Jerusalem on the escarpment looking west over Lake Rowallan. It's a walk of about 11 to 12 klicks and up to about 8 hours. The climb up to the escarpment is in the order of 800m or so. Great views up there as you'd expect. All off track but hopefully following a taped/cairned route. There will be a boulder field in the mix. 

A nice asy ride from Devonport to Ulverstone with lunch.

This is an out and back coastal walk which meanders in and out of coastal vegetation and across scenic high points. The trail has opportunities for bird spotting, beach walking and a swim. The overall distance is reasonably long (17 k) which is probably why it is a grade 3 than 2. There is a total of 366 metres of vertical change. The track itself is clear and well made. There is a possibility of seeing snakes as there is fresh water nearby, so gaiters and boots are recommended. 

Relaxing paddle on Lake Rowallan to the top end of the lake camping overnight near Old House Creek Falls.

Meet Gutteridge Gardens Wynyard 9am.  Commence on the pathway past the old cemetery and following the Inglis River to the Flowerdale Bridge.  We will stop for morning tea on the way.  Crossing over the bridge and continuing on the other side of the river back to Table Cape Bridge and following the pathway out to the lookout above Fossil Bluff before heading down to the beach for lunch. Return to our cars and drive to Bruce's Cafe for afternoon tea.  Join in for an old favourite.

An easy stroll visiting Dick Lowe's historic bridge and then a walk to Redwater Creek Falls for lunch 

Long Tarns is a beautiful area with plenty to explore. On Saturday we will climb Mersey Crag and Turrana Bluff. Both these walks will be offtrack through low alpine vegetation.

With summer and longer days it is a nice time to explore the PCT and see what damage repair is needed. Come along for a pleasant day in the bush …. or maybe even a mountain view.

Special General Meeting (the Club is updating our Constitution – more details to come via a bulk email). Reviews, extended / favourite trip or members images. Counter Meal.

Advance notice: The plan for this trip will be to focus on the Eastern Side of the Lake over 5-6 days, with at least a half-day climb for a great view. Keep the day before-hand free in case of a better weather window and perhaps two days after- i.e. we need some flexibility. The plan is to drive down to Scotts Peak Dam area and camp in the PWS site, then commence paddling the next morning. I have a rough flexible plan, probably going as far as mid-lake and looking at a few places many of us haven’t seen.

Numbers limited, experienced paddlers only; any conditions can be expected.

We will head up the Walls track to Trappers Hut, turn off and go on the track past George Howes Lake, down to Golden Gate and through to the Valley of Hinom where will set up camp at an unnamed tarn under Mt Jerusalem. We then have the option to climb Mt Jerusalem or take in the scenery around the campsite. The following day the plan is to climb Solomons Throne or The Temple or both.

We will then walk back to the car park via the main track. 

Circling Mt Duncan

We will meet at the Gnomon Carpark at 12 noon.  From there we walk the road up to and past the Mt Duncan track sign, continuing down the road until we met a track off to our left which will eventually bring us back to the road at the Mt Duncan track sign.  From here it is just another 30 minutes back to the cars.  All in all, it is about 2.5 hours of walking not including any breaks.  What you can expect from the tracks in the Mighty Dial, is up and down, just so you are prepared.  The usual applies - good walking boots, rain jacket, hat, warm clothes, lunch and snacks plus water.

This is a fairly easy Abel. It is 1107m. There is a track all the way to the summit. It is steep in places and the last part of the walk is very open so it could be windy across the top but with good views.  It should be about a 5hr return walk.

Information day for club members with prospective status.

The morning will start at Apex House, Ulverstone, and after lunch we will move outdoors, probably to the Dial Range, for a short walk. Please bring a pack suitable for a day walk as this will be useful when we talk about equipment. The day will focus on an introduction to bushwalking in Tasmania and the club. There will also be opportunities to talk about topics of interest to more experienced walkers. Participants should be club members before they attend. 

More details will be sent to registered club members before the event.

Utilising a car shuffle, the plan will be to ascend via the relatively gradual route then give the brakes a workout on the descent.  We'll start from O'Neills Road carpark and climb gradually through the nice forested slopes to the open plateau where we can immediately enjoy the extensive 360° views.  We then head north and after about an hour's easy walking we should be lunching on the 1234m summit.  From here we continue further east along the plateau before reaching the top of the face track; a steep and badly eroded gully that delivers us to Kings Road carpark.

Committee Meeting

We will start the walk at the Ranger Station car park and head south to Ronny Creek on the Cradle Valley boardwalk for 5.6 km (1.5 hrs, easy walking).  We'll enjoy a break at Mount Kate Hut before walking up to the cairn on Mount Kate where we will have lunch and take in the sights of Cradle Mountain.  After lunch we will take a short stroll over to the summit of Mount Kate before returning to Ronny Creek (6.8 km, 4hrs) where we will catch a bus back to the cars.

Come and join me for an enjoyable walk in the lovely Cradle Valley!

(P.S: A valid Parks Pass will be required)

 Although a relatively short walk, this delightful circuit in the Meander Forest Reserve is one of my favourites.   It offers a smorgasbord of fascinating features to discover including The Arch, the Rabbit Warren and Holey Rock.  If you like rainforest, waterfalls, sandstone caves and perhaps some of the best sandstone overhangs in Tasmania, then this is the trip for you.  It's a bit of a grunt for the first hour but after that the gradient is far more agreeable although there are a couple of steepish downs. 

The Penguin Cradle Trail has been in existence for 45 years. It has been traversed by many thousands of bush walkers who have enjoyed its variety and challenges. So what is the PCT all about … well come along and find out.

Meet at Marrawah Inn (formerly Pub) at 11.30am in time for Lunch at noon.  After lunch drive down Green Point Rd and commence walk towards Mt Cameron West (Preminghana) as far as comfortable. I haven't done it before. Retrace and have a bit of a look around the area before driving the back gravel Harcus River Road for 23kms back onto the Montagu Rd at the Woolnorth Gates and opposite Robbins Is Rd.  From here on the bitumen it's a short 8kms to the Montagu Campground.  We are booked in for the night only - 10 persons $20 for 2 - payable to caretaker by cash or eftpos when we arrive. Campers and Tents under trees with only a toilet available so bring everything!  Settle in or have a fish before a relaxing evening.  If the weather is good and the fish are biting we might even stop another night!! Drive to Smithton 11kms on the way home and have a look at Duck River Pavilion V.C.  Come for a relaxing time at the mighty West Coast area.  LIMIT 10.

A walk that is rewarded with 360 degree panoramic views across the Great Western Tiers, as far as Launceston and Devonport on a clear day. There are some steep sections with rock scrambling. We will lunch on the plateau and enjoy the views.

The basic plan will be to paddle from Coles Bay to Schouten Island where we’ll spend two nights.  Possible campsites on the peninsula include Hazards, Cooks, Bryans and Passage Beaches.  On Schouten Island possible walks (for those who are energetic) include Bear Hill, Mounts Story and Daedalus or just easy coastal wanders.  As with any kayaking trip, what we actually do will be entirely dependent on the weather.  If the forecast for the east coast is unfavourable, we could end up on Lake St Clair or the Pieman!

Mt Lorymer is the most southerly mountain in the Dial Range and I haven’t led a walk to this part of the Dial before so it's time I did.

Mt Lorymer’s summit is interesting in so much as I don’t really know where it is.  It isn’t like Mt Duncan or the others with a distinct summit, but it is still a worthy mountain and not to be taken lightly.

The plan is to drive to Fabers Road Riana.  There is a parking area of sorts which will allow for a few cars so it might be a good idea to carpool. 

We basically follow the fire trail up then take a side fire trail to access the PCT around Adit Creek.  From here we enjoy a climb through quite a lovely rainforest.  We eventually end back on the original fire trail just further along.   We then follow this fire trail back to the cars.

Please call me if you aren’t certain about attending this walk – there is a reasonable amount of up, followed by the corresponding down, which may not be what you are looking for.  As always wear good shoes/boots, bring a rain jacket, water, lunch and snacks.  

With summer and longer days it is a nice time to explore the PCT and see what damage repair is needed. Come along for a pleasant day in the bush …. or maybe even a mountain view.

Note of date change after the programme and Walker went to print.

Cradle mountain summit , Cloud and wind deterred us from proceeding past Kitchen Hut in late November.

A couple of members have reminded me that I advised, yes we will try again another day.

Obviously I wish to have a calm fine day so  we can enjoy our walk and the views.

Plenty of water as well as all the usual mountain walking clothing will be a definite necessity.

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Meet York St Latrobe 8am.  A new 9km walking track around the perimeter of Four Springs Lake 20 kms north of Hagley is now available.  Not only to Anglers, but Walkers and  Birdwatchers.  We will have morning tea when we arrive before we set off walking.  The access has been made available between IFS Inland Fisheries and Forico and others.  So we will head for Hagley, then turn LEFT towards Selbourne.  Fishermen can also have a fish when we return should they wish to!  We will find a nice spot to have our lunch next to the lake.  Come for a good days outing.  A coffee on the way home somewhere should finish off our day!

Mt Montgomery – Mt Dial return

Mt Montgomery is the most northerly mountain in the Dial Range.  We will ascend a less used (steep) track to the summit then return by the conventional track to the PCT.  From here we will continue along the PCT to Keddies Creek where we will leave the PCT and climb up to Mt Dial.  Our return will be on the PCT along the beautiful banks of the Myrtle Creek.  It is a delightful walk through varying landscapes and well worth the effort, well that is what I think.  I do love the Mighty Dial.  The usual applies – rain jacket, sturdy footwear, water, lunch and snacks.

Make the most of your Cradle Mt bus pass where your $15 ticket covers 3 consecutive days and we will go hunting for Fagus.

Probable walks include the Twisted Lakes Circuit (via Hansons Peak with perhaps a short check down the Lake Roadway track), Crater Lake (with a circuit up to Marions and back via whatever), Suttons Tarn (past Kitchen Hut – this one is a bit scrubby with Fagus overgrowing the almost abandoned track), even Hownslow Heath circuit. What walks, where and when will depend on where the Fagus is likely to be best, the weather and the group. We will be searching for photographic opportunities, not aiming for maximum distance and long days.

My “base camp” will be at the Discovery Parks caravan park at Cradle Mt. While expensive, it does offer a wide range of sites and cabins, including bunk rooms plus good facilities and “camp kitchens”. I will be staying on an unpowered site in my campervan. Book your own accommodation and arrange with others to share a cabin, (if that’s what you want). Or you can stay anywhere else or drive up each day.

Each day we will meet at the Visitor Centre bus stop at 8.45 with tickets in hand. On the first day, those staying at Discovery Parks can book in after returning from the walk.

You can come for any of the 3 days, with an 8.45 meeting time at the bus stop each day, but what walks we do each day will be unknown in advance. Let me know which day(s) if you do not want to do all 3.

During Autumn and early Winter, the days are cooling a little but still plenty of daylight, so why not join us for a pleasant outing in the bush somewhere. Where we go will as always depend on any critical areas of concern and the weather at the time. A good chance to explore parts of the PCT at a slower pace and be close to nature … very close in fact as you will be picking it up after clearing works.

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Meet 9am at the Vietnam War Memorial Park, 46 Victoria Pde Devonport toilets.  We will follow the Devonport cycle & walking track beside the Mersey River to the Harbour Master Cafe for a quick coffee on the way past.  We'll then continue under the Bass Highway on the Riverside track towards Horsehead Creek and Saleyard Rd at Quoiba.  A new connector bridge is getting built nearby and if finished we may continue to Maidstone Park at Spreyton before returning to the Elimatta Hotel at 15 Victoria Parade for lunch.  We will then walk the short distance back to our cars.  Come and explore Devonport!  We should walk about 12kms return or a bit less depending how far we venture.  It is a mainly flat walk.

Mt Gnomon to Mt Dial and return

It is always a delightful day in the Mighty Dial and this walk will have all the elements that allow for some challenge, views and lots of fresh air.  We will meet at the Mt Gnomon Carpark at 12pm. The track up to Mt Gnomon is steepish however the views from the top are breathtaking.  After a bite to eat, we will continue along the saddle to Mt Dial.  Even though it is a return trip, there is always more to see and experience.  I expect that walking time will be around 3 hours of up and down.  The usual applies - good walking boots, hat, rain jacket, food, water and a smile.

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During Autumn and early Winter, the days are cooling a little but still plenty of daylight, so why not join us for a pleasant outing in the bush somewhere. Where we go will as always depend on any critical areas of concern and the weather at the time. A good chance to explore parts of the PCT at a slower pace and be close to nature … very close in fact as you will be picking it up after clearing works.

Mt Duncan returning to our cars via the Hales Spur

We will meet at the Mt Gnomon Carpark at 12 noon.  From the carpark we walk up the road to the Mt Duncan sign then follow this track up Mt Duncan.  From the top of Mt Duncan we connect to the Hales Spur Track and descend a different way off Mt Duncan.  I have allowed 5 hours return however it has never taken that long.  As always bring a good quality rain jacket, good hiking boots, a warm top or thermals, water and snacks. Probably a good idea to have some food before we start walking. 

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