All Over Australia

Mount Michael, Blue Tier

Jun 28, 2019 | Post

June 23, 2019

Sunday was forecast as another of those clear, fine, cool Tasmanian Winter days so we figured a walk at higher altitude was probably worthwhile.  We had previously driven up to the Blue Tier Reserve and did the very short Goblin Forest Walk.

This time we chose one of the three 2 Hour walks, the walk to the summit of Mount Michael.  This takes you from a starting point at around 620m to the summit at just over 800m, most of the climbing is done in the last half. 

Temp when we left “home” was about 6 or 7 degrees, so I guess up here it was a touch cooler at 620m, witnessed by ice on all the puddles of water and frost on the path!

Having said that about the temperature it makes for good walking weather, especially when you are going up around 200 metres.  In the first part of the path you cross two small creeks over old timber bridges left over from the extensive Tin mining that took place right through this area, some of it until the mid 1990s.

Walking on from here remains flat for a while and produces some interestingly different vegetation; these White ground covers are abundant through the areas of less shade and the colouring adds to the Wintry effect.

There are a few other sights along the way, like the old miners water race, always dug by hand of course, and often over long distances.  A few obstacles get in the way occasionally as well, such as water crossings (plans provided!) and the odd fallen tree.

Still on the flat you eventually arrive at a split in the path where the other way is a 10km each way walk along the Three Notch Track, just a bit beyond our comfort level!  On the way are other interesting growths.

From here on the climbing starts and gradually gets steeper until you reach the open area close to the summit and the views begin!  There are a lot of fungus growths here considering the time of year as traditionally they are more commonly found in Autumn.

The summit at last!… and what a view 360 degrees!

The view below has a bend in the road visible at the centre and the other image is the view of Mount Michael from that location which is the end of the walking track.

Eddystone Point and Lighthouse

Jun 23, 2019 | Post

June 20, 2019

After Policemans Point we had a brief drive in and out of Ansons Bay which is basically a holiday shack centre with no real public facilities other than a part time store in the Summer season.  We then completed our journey to Eddystone Point and it’s lighthouse.  First switched on in 1889 full historical information can be found HERE

We were last here sometime in the 90s when we lived in Tassie and were holidaying at St Helens.  Nothing much has changed and the three old Lighthouse Keepers Cottages have been carefully preserved being the oldest surviving in Tasmania, even if long out of use.

The location these days is shared with a boat ramp adjacent to the other of the old buildings, this one built as a storehouse for the jetty which was frequently destroyed by the weather but the only access before road access was provided.

At the time of our visit there were a couple of communications technicians working on site, installing a new alarm radio for the light, and one of them kindly took our camera to the top and captured these images from the gantry for us.  From left to right is the view to the North with Flinders Island in the distance at centre; then Eddystone Point itself to the South East, finally the view down the coast Southwards past Ansons Bay and along the Bay of Fires coastline.

The Spiral Staircase..

…Looking up to the top

One of the “outset” windows

Looking down the steps

The Pink Granite Eddystone Point Lighthouse

The Auxiliary Light is no longer in use but the main beam runs 24/7 as can be seen here

Adjacent to the boatramp is a short walking path which leads to a view Northwards and to Larc Beach:

Policemans Point, Ansons Bay

Jun 23, 2019 | Post

June 20, 2019

Our mid week “outing” this week was to take advantage of the perfectly clear weather on Thursday and drive to Eddystone Point Lighthouse and back “home” via Gladstone and Weldborough. On the way to the Lighthouse we turned off along the Southern side of Ansons Bay to have a look at Policemans Point.

Road to Policemans Point

Policemans Point is the Southern tip of Ansons Bay and has at the end of the road a Campground managed by Tas Parks but with no camping fees. We may well bring the van here before we leave Tassie next year; it has separate camping spots among the vegetation and a small toilet block in the centre.  You can walk along the coastline South from here as this is the Northern end of the Bay of Fires Coastal Walk which can be taken as a  day guided walk and takes you down to Binalong Bay, just North of St Helens.

The campground is to the left of the access road here with campspots right alongside where we are parked, and scattered throughout the fenced area.

Views below of the Sandbar:

St Helens Point and Beerbarrel Beach Walk

Jun 16, 2019 | Post

June 15, 2019
Saturday turned out one of those fine clear sky mornings often typical of Tasmanian Winter in some parts of the State. No wind and almost no cloud (until mid pm) made it a great day for another walk.  So we decided that, as we had to go to town for bread etc., we would drive out to St Helens Point and do the 3km loop walk.  In fact it checks out on Google Maps as 2.7km for the loop but with side detours to the various vantage points we actually covered 3.5km by the time we returned to the car.

Burns Bay

We drove to the Burns Bay Boat Ramp and after being confronted by a car park full of boat trailers, set off along the path to walk via the Point to Beerbarrel Beach.  Here you emerge into another car park and follow the gravel roads back to Burns Bay.

Along the way area few vantage points to small beaches and inlets and very different environment to the Tasmanian Rainforest walks.

You reach St Helens Point after about 15 minutes and get a magnificaent view out to sea to the East.

Now turning  more Southward you pass another rocky section and then reach Beerbarrel Beach and a short walk down to the smaller of the two beach areas here.  Beyond this is a view over the larger beach and Southward down the coast.

After returning to the car a short drive back towards the Southern side leads to the lookout over Mouruard

St. Marys Car and Bike Show 2019

Jun 11, 2019 | Post

June 09, 2019

The small town of St Marys, 35km from St Helens and at the top of the ranges, holds this show every year on the Sunday of the  June long weekend.  This year the weather was kind and much better than the forecast, in fact it was a better day up here than in St Helens as we drove through.  Apparently the number of entries was a little down on last year but the crowd turnout was good and there was a good selection of classic and modern vehicles, and a small selection of bikes for all tastes.  Pictured at right are two wonderful examples of engineering, each of these is 5/8ths original size and the Land Rover has a 400cc engine with all components hand made.   Below is a small selection of other exhibits.

The Anchor Stamper Walk, Blue Tier

Jun 8, 2019 | Post

June 7, 2019

Returning from the Goblin Forest Walk we took in the Anchor Stamper walk, about a 30 minute return along a very well constructed walkway to  what has been preserved of the old Stampers from the Anchor Mine. The car park is just off Anchor Road and only a few kms from the Tasman Highway at Pyengana.  The history of the mine is well documented on a large information board and these are a couple of extracts which summarise the beginnings and the timeline.

The walk itself takes you gradually downhill through the typical Tasmanian vegetation of this area on a formed path with a couple of sections of steps and past the odd reminder of the mining days. The pictures tell the story of the walk.

There are two of the different types of Stampers preserved here, first is the Thompson, brought over from Castlemaine in Victoria:

and the second is the Salisbury, manufactured in Launceston: