Mt Field National Park | This Adventurous Age

August 20, 2017
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2000 Travels January 25

TUESDAY 25 JANUARY HOBART

We all slept in, so it was another slightly late start. John and I drove to Glenorchy for the mail and some odds and ends, while R was getting ready. I bought a BBQ chook that R said she wanted for lunch. Refuelled Truck – back to 78cpl.

We visited the Plenty Salmon Ponds first. I paid for us to go in. R enjoyed this place – she likes fish. I enjoyed visiting there again, too. John stayed in Truck, having done it before.

R said categorically that she did not want to do any bushwalking. However, since we were out this way, we thought we could at least drive into Mt Field as it is a pretty drive, and have our picnic lunch there. We did that, in the picnic area near the campground. John and R demolished the chook I’d bought; I’d made sandwiches for myself.

After that, R said she would be interested in the drive up to the Lake Dobson carpark, so we went up there. Then R wanted to do the Pandani Walk, which we did, then the also shortish Lyrebird Walk, ditto. She then said she’d have liked to do the Tarn Shelf walk, which is a big one, which we had actually thought about doing with her, at one stage, before she’d said she didn’t want to do any walking.

We drove back down to the day use and campground area and R and I walked to Russell Falls. John and R had not been getting on well and he opted to remain in Truck. She would have liked to go on to Horseshoe Falls and Lady Barron Falls but I did not feel like doing that and leaving John by himself for that long, and she did not want to go alone.

Russell Falls

We returned to Hobart via the Collins Gap Road – John was trying to provide another varied experience, this a dirt road one. The scenery was spectacular. Drove 173kms today.

Tea was fettucine and tomato sauce, followed by cherries.

Fairly early night for all of us.

August 16, 2017
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2000 Travels January 13

THURSDAY 13 JANUARY HOBART

It was actually a hot day!

We left mid-morning to go to Mt Field for the day – probably a bit later than we should have left. That was due to a combination of sleeping in a bit, and then just being slow to get organized.

We went through the National Park area – headquarters and campground – that we’d previously visited and continued on the 13km road up to the road’s end at the Lake Dobson car park. This was a very attractive drive, with the vegetation changing with altitude. There is a track beyond the carpark, that goes up to the ski lodges, but it was closed off.

We had lunch in the carpark – not as bad as it sounds because the surrounding scenery was pretty good.

Then we set off to do the short Pandani Grove walk, that goes around Lake Dobson. This was absolutely beautiful – like walking in a Peter Dombrovkis calendar!

Pandanus at Lake Dobson

That circuit was not going to take long, so at the far end of Lake Dobson, we continued on to Lake Seal, on a track that went steadily downhill and was quite rocky. There were duckboards on some marshy areas.

Lake Dobson

It was great to be walking in typical Tasmanian high country again – a profusion of vegetation types, lakes and tarns – big and small, little creeks, surrounding hills and peaks. It is hard to describe the Tasmanian alpine environment, but it is instantly recognisable to anyone who has experienced it.

A tarn on the Lake Webster (Seal Lake) track

It became very hot, which we were not used to, here.

We had to return the way we had come. I found the walk back uphill quite hard, and actually felt rather sick in the later stages. Due to the heat, I guess. Normally, I would have managed the uphill sections much better than I did. I was really tired by the time we reached the carpark again. We walked 7.5kms.

Pencil Pines near Lake Dobson

It was a great relief to sit in Truck with the air-con going.

Despite the heat and its effects, it was a great day out.

It was 7pm when we reached Hobart again, so we bought tea from Pizza Hut.

Heard that the temperature up that way was about 35 degrees, so we did not choose the best day for a hike!

We drove 173kms.

August 14, 2017
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2000 Travels January 6

THURSDAY 6 JANUARY HOBART

John said he was feeling better and that we could tackle something a little more ambitious today. So I packed a picnic lunch and we headed off driving up the Derwent Valley, on the highway, through New Norfolk.

The first stop was at Plenty, at the Salmon Ponds. Despite the name, this is principally a trout hatchery. Dating from the 1860’s, it is the oldest trout hatchery in the southern hemisphere, having its origins in the nostalgia of settlers for the familiar flora and fauna of Britain. There, salmon fishing was a popular pastime, so there was a wish to stock the colonial streams.

In the 1860’s some live salmon and a few trout eggs were successfully transported and the Plenty Salmon Ponds date from then. It was expected that the salmon hatched here would migrate as usual, to sea, then return to the place of their hatching, as is normal. But they had other ideas, so that experiment did not work. However, the few trout eggs hatched and the offspring established themselves very successfully in Tasmanian waterways, so the place became a trout hatchery, eventually supplying trout for stocking of streams over much of Australia and New Zealand.

Grand gardens were established, in the English style, around the trout ponds.

Old World gardens and one of the trout ponds

It cost us $5 and $3.75 for entry. John got an “older person’s” discount! Since he was not yet 60, he wasn’t sure whether to be pleased or insulted!

The visit here was absolutely fascinating and worth every cent. We each bought a 20cent container of fish food, from a dispensing machine. This provided us with great entertainment for over an hour!

01-06-2000 Plenty salmon ponds buying fish food.jpg

Buying a container of pellets to feed the trout

We were able to walk the paths alongside the ponds and feed huge trout, both rainbow and brown, albino trout – easy to see – and salmon. They do hatch some of the latter now too. These really jumped ferociously out of the water to take the food.

Albino trout

01-06-2000 Plenty salmon ponds salmon.jpg

Spent some time browsing in the excellent trout fishing museum, housed in what was the house of the first superintendent of the Ponds, built in 1865.

We drove on further west, to Mt Field National Park. On the way, John had an empty log truck sit right behind us, partially pulled out and just about touching our back corner, trying to push John over so he could pass. It was a two lane road, but the lanes were not all that wide. It was not a pleasant experience – our first encounter with the notorious Tasmanian timber jinker drivers!

There is quite a little settlement at what is called National Park, at the base of the range, where the National Parks headquarters are. It is a popular place, being the start point for the fairly short walk to the iconic Russell Falls.

We ate lunch in the car park there, then set out for a walk. Our first goal was Russell Falls, then we went on to Horseshoe Falls. This first part of the track was quite busy with other day trippers. We are not really used to sharing our walks with numbers of other people!

Russell Falls

Horseshoe Falls

We continued on the medium grade, two hour circuit track to Lady Barron Falls and then back around to the car park. This section really sorted out the walkers and was much quieter! It was very pleasant walking through the forest, with lots of man ferns beside the track, which followed a creek for much of the way.

01-06-2000 track to Lady Barron Falls Mt Field NP.jpg

By the Lady Barron Falls circuit track

All three sets of falls were beautiful, with a reasonable amount of water flowing.

Lady Barron Falls

Massive swamp gum by the track

On the way back to the car park where we’d left Truck, we took a detour through the campground. It looked a very pleasant area. It was very busy, but should be less crowded by the time we can come here, so hope we will be able to find a site then.

Drove back to Hobart, the way we’d come. Drove 149kms today.

We got back just too late to catch the Post Office before closing.

We had a phone message from a man from Tourism Tasmania – a researcher – and phoned him back. He wanted to come and see John tomorrow, because he was interested in talking to experienced caravanners! Us? This is in response to the letter John sent about our reactions to Tasmanian facilities for nomads like us. Or rather, lack thereof.

There was also a message from John’s nephew I – he and family are on a trip over here.

Tea was an omelette and potato slices.

Phoned K who assured John the mail had been sent, as asked. We had a pleasant chat.

This was an enjoyable day. Really enjoyed the forest walking.

This Adventurous Age

Adventures travelling and working around Australia.

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