February 2019 - South Arm

Lyn organised our February walk, which was a long deferred circuit of the Gellibrand Point Nature Recreation Area (just a bit north of Opossum Bay), the peninsula of South Arm.  Six of us enjoyed splendid weather on the day - Lyn, Sophie, Erin, Angie, Di and Robert.  The walking was easy, and everyone caught up on each other's news.

The Arm End Circuit is an easy 6km, 2 hour, walk from the end of South Arm at Opossum Bay. Following the perimeter of the coast, the walk offers constant views of the Derwent estuary including Hobart, the Tasman Bridge and Bruny Island.

We met at the boom gate at the end of Spitfarm Road at a bit after 10am.  There is a map here of the controversial proposed gold course development:

We took the anti-clockwise option, following the trail to the right to meet the vehicle track near Shelly Beach. We continued around the eastern side of the peninsula, passing by the Split, a small outcrop and home to a number of breeding birds.

From Gellibrand Point at the northern tip, views north include Hobart and the Tasman Bridge.

Returning along the western coast, there were constant views of Kingston and down the river. We stopped at Gellibrand Vault, the burial site of original South Arm grantee William Gellibrand and a couple of his descendants. Sadly this is looking a bit neglected these days.


We took an almost hidden path to the right to find Mary Ann Bay, the nicest beach of the walk and popular with boaties and swimmers. It was time for quick snack.

Next we chose the track that headed up the next hill, then turned left on the ridge top trail. When this reaches the utilities cabin on the clifftop, the trail then heads left, still keeping to the ridge top.  We got back to Spitfarm Road a little after midday, almost talked out!

Arm End Circuit map, thanks to TasTrails:
https://tastrails.com/arm-end-circuit/