October 2025 - Growling Swallet

This month's plan was an attempt on Mt Wedge, but enthusiasm waned as the date grew closer and we realised the extent of the challenge. In the end our leader Maryanne opted for the more popular nearby alternative of Growling Swallet. It has been years since we last did this delightful walk - - see this story in 2012. Today's walkers were Maryanne, Michael, Di, David, Angie and Dorothy. We were lucky with the weather - mostly fine - and we got in and out before the afternoon showers came along.

Dorothy had stayed the night before at Mt Field NP, and had tried to catch the glow worms on the Russell Falls track, with no luck sadly. We met up at the visitors centre's Waterfall Cafe for coffee at 10am. The coffee was good and the gift shop quite a trap for nature loving visitors. Maryanne had booked the key to the entrance gate some weeks beforehand, lodging a deposit, so she picked the key up. Also offered was a small pamphlet with information about the walk. We loaded into two vehicles which had all wheel drive, ready for the promised poor quality track.

We headed off along Gordon River Road toward Florentine Rd as instructed by the Parks pamphlet, but where we had thought the turnoff would be there was only a sign to the Giant Tree and the Styx Valley - no actual Florentine Rd sign. We weren't sure if this was actually Florentine Rd, so we kept moving. At this point we found that each of us had forgotten to pack their actual hard copy map of the area, and also that the internet/GPS was useless in this locality, oh boy. After driving on for a few more kilometres we finally agreed that we had gone too far, and returned to try the first road. If only we'd read Melanie Ball's excellent description of the walk.... For reference, this is the spot where Florentine Rd turns off from Gordon River Road: 42°45'56.3"S 146°35'36.4"E. Of course, 50 metres after turning in here we saw a road sign confirming that we were indeed on Florentine Rd!

We then drove 16km on this gravel forestry road to locate a road on the right named F8 East, where a locked gate barred the way. Maryanne wrangled the lock and our two vehicles proceeded through. This track was lumpy, potholed, muddy and slippery even after several days of fine weather. At 2km further in, the parking area is small and would not hold many vehicles.

Sorting out our gaiters and double checking that we all had our keys etc, we set off into the bush at about midday.

The track is easy walking, despite a few slushy bits. The photos show how lovely the rainforest is.

After about 50 minutes of quiet walking, as the sound of the rushing water gradually became louder, we passed a grassed campsite on the left and descended to the right down the side of the cliff to witness the fabulous Growling Swallet. Here we stopped for a bite to eat and to take in the sights and the sounds of the rushing river disappearing into a crevice and into the vast karst limestone caverns of this area. A magic spot. The 18,500 hectare Junee-Florentine karst system has the deepest two caves in Australia.

Then we walked back along the trail.

The total distance walked was 3.9km. Reaching our vehicles at 1.35pm, we did a quick leech check (nothing reported). We made it back to the gate without getting bogged, and turned back towards Maydena.

Here we visited Junee Cave, where the Junee River emerges from the Junee-Florentine Karst limestone system. Its blue-green colour indicates the presence of limestone. According to the signs, the Junee River would normally have flowed into the Florentine River, but it has been "pirated" underground by the cave system to appear on the other side of the divide to flow into the Tyenna River near Maydena.

Di, David and Angie stayed on overnight at nearby Giant's Table and Cottages (this had been booked when we thought we were doing Mt Wedge). Dinner was at Maydena Eats, the only place open for dinner here. As Angie noted, the two good things we can say about the meal are that we didn't have to cook it and wash up, haha. And it was interesting watching the clientele, a mixture of locals, mountain bikers and tourists.

The following day in now perfect weather we saw many vehicles loaded with MTBs heading into Maydena and the MTB park looking for a weekend of excitement on the trails. We had morning coffee at Waterfall Cafe and walked to the ever picturesque Russell Falls. Di offered some constructive feedback to the Parks officer about the directions contained in the GS pamphlet.

Finally, to round off our very pleasant visit to the country we took a scenic route to visit a couple of places opened to the public through Open House Midlands 2025. We were lucky to wander through Wolkenstein, a stunning house high on the hill above Mangalore. Can I mention our very Tasmanian experience in which each of us ran into someone we knew as the Open House visitors wended their way up and down the hill?

September 2025 - Two Islands Bay

We had an excellent turnout for this month's walk (probably because we had missed our monthly catchup last month due to nasty weather). Anyhow, Kat organised this outing to the Tasman Peninsula and eleven of us gathered at the end of White Beach Road, White Beach: Kat, Philip, Prem, Fin, Summa, Di, Angie, Maryanne, Janet, Gerwyn, Wayne.

It was about a two hours' drive from the city to get there, including a stop to pick up coffee. The weather was pretty changeable, with wind, sun and possible showers threatening, so we took a few layers of clothing to choose from.

The walking trail quickly took us away from the White Beach holiday shacks and we wandered along the shore line of the bay through pretty grasslands - dry bushland, groves of sheoak, and tussocky grasslands.

The views over the bay were spectacular, we could see kunanyi in the distance and what looked like Fort Direction in between.

The path became less defined, and we picked our way through the tussocks, but it would be hard to get lost here. The trail passes through some private property and so we had to negotiate a couple of gates - at one fence we had to just step over it. Kat had previously checked with the farmer landowner that it would be ok for us to walk through today, that it would not be a bad time for the farm or unduly disturb the sheep. We were pleased to discover that the land is protected by a series of conservation covenants, such a good thing because this area is definitely worth protecting.

We approached Wedge Island and at a rocky point near the island we stopped for first snack (or second breakfast). If you look closely you will see a neat rock fort that some locals have built for the kids!

We were egged onwards, over a small hill and around a small bay, to eventually look over the cliffs to Two Island Bay.

This is where we stopped for proper lunch.

Some of the more adventurous rockhopped down onto the beach to investigate it more closely.

There was a bit of weather approaching, so we soon headed back on much the same way we had come, but taking a couple of short cuts so the return felt a deal quicker than the trip out.

We said our goodbyes and headed off, feeling exercised and mellow. The walk had been over a distance of 10km and had taken us about 2.5 hours, including our two stops. There were some EV shenanigans on the way back. Both Kat and Di were planning to recharge a bit while enjoying coffee and snacks at The Cannery at Dunalley. Unfortunately a couple of tourists had just pulled in and needed a large charge for a trip to Launceston. Di, whose need was greater, continued on with her passengers to charge at Sorell - the afternoon tea options were not as attractive here, it must be said.

July 2025 - Knocksofty Track on Knocklofty

Fin organised this little jaunt on Knocklofty hill which is a familiar green presence for Hobart residents, providing a buffer between the city and kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Some new trails have recently been completed by the Council, connecting Knocklofty to kunanyi. We wanted to check out the new Knocksofty Track and also to make some sense of the maps that had been published. So on another lovely sunny but cool winter's day we gathered at the first picnic table near the carpark at the top of Forest Road. We were twelve: Fin, Lyn, Angie, Wayne, Gerwyn, Janet, Philip, Maryanne (and Bronte), Bob, Di, Peter and Catherine. For the first part of the walk we also enjoyed the company of new friend Annie who is an avid bird photographer.

We avoided the more challenging heights of Knocklofty summit by making a circle around the lower regions. First we meandered along the Sandy Spit track, and then moved up a little along the Mt Stuart Track which overlooks, you guessed it, the suburb of Mt Stuart, and which heads towards the Mt Stuart Lookout.

This is a very pleasant trail through open bushland, with occasional wallabies to be seen (Bronte got quite excited). Then we turned around the hill onto Woodman's Track. At the intersection with the North Slope Fire Trail we identified the connection to the new Knocksofty track. [We didn't find the signage very helpful].

Following our noses a bit, we found the junction of Knocksofty Track, designed as a gradual uphill climb for MTBs, and Yellow Hippo Track, designed as a fast downhill track for MTBs.

We took the Knocksofty Track on the left, and found it a long and steady (extreme zig zag) walk down the hill.

Bike riders were enjoying the tracks too, we passed quite a few rolling slowly up the zig zags or steaming along the downhills. Still following our noses through some intersections with fire trails, we found a large open area at Noah's Saddle, perfect for a lunch stop. This distance of about 5.5km had taken us about two hours.

Gerwyn, Fin and Angie came upon some industrial history, a sawpit, just near Noah's Saddle:

The new trail continues from here to complete the connection into Wellington Park, but we were happy to turn around and return along the same track. To shorten the trip back, we turned right at the Forest Road Fire Trail, which runs along the west flank of Knocklofty, skirting the McRobies Gully tip. This trail was another new experience for us and it was interesting to see the tip from a new perspective.

It was also quick, as we found it only took about an hour to get back to the top of Forest Road and the carpark. So this walk, including lunch and debates about directions, took us a total of about 3.5 hours.

June 2025 - Coningham Nature Recreation Area

We were favoured with excellent weather for our June walk - cool but sunny, with almost no wind. Nine of us gathered at David's house for a 10am start - David, Di, Kat, Philip, Lyn, Bob, Janet, Angie, David's neighbour John, and we also had David's dog Maya as our friendly companion for the morning.

We entered Coningham Nature Recreation Area at the top of Hopwood St, where David showed us our path for the day on the interpretation map.

After our favourite photo opp, the group shot (and thanks to Kat for most of these fab photos), we headed up into the reserve. The going was up and up, through dry scrubby bush which is well loved by walkers, dog walkers and mountain bikers. Some efforts have been made to minimise the encroach of Spanish Heath and there has been some hazard reduction burning around the fire trails.

The views were good, this from a spot about halfway up Sheppards' Hill.

The day was warming, and so were we. Layers were coming off as we proceeded upwards.

Near the top we found a couple of teepees made from branches, and a good log for resting on. Then it was onwards again and soon the track was levelling out.

We stopped for snacks where the track meets the extension of Coningham Rd (this is gated further back towards Coningham Beach). A few large rocks provided seating, and the chats continued over muesli bars, choc coated hazelnuts and drinks.Then we turned downhill to go to the end of the road where we entered the Snug Point Track. This pretty track skirts along the shore of North West Bay, with Bruny Island seemingly very close to the east and Tinderbox Hills (where we walked last month) just over the water to the northeast.

Legacy Beach feels like an isolated retreat, having no public access for vehicles.

We continued along the meandering clifftop path, loving the views.

Back at Coningham Beach we paused to capture a snapshot of the team.

Compare this to a similar scene on a previous occasion (July 2013):

Saying goodbye to John at the beach carpark, we returned to the clifftop trail for the very short leg back to David's place. We found that that this walk had taken us three hours. Now we enjoyed our picnic lunches and drinks in sunshine and comfortable chairs, before finally tearing ourselves away to return to our busy lives.