April 2022 - Day 2 - Mount Farrell and Lake Herbert

Our second walking day on this West Coast getaway was a bit more challenging - to climb Mount Farrell and visit Lake Herbert. Some in our group took the option of kayaking on the Lake instead, and had a great day on the water.

The walkers set out at 9.15am along the lakeside trail towards the start of the track, which is just on the north side of the village. We gathered at the trailhead at about 9.45am and we were off. This record shows the climb up Mt Farrell (this climber not quite reaching the top), then a slight drop down to the Lake Herbert track, a visit to Lake Herbert and then a return around the mountain at the lower level.

The start of the trail leads up through light bush at a fairly steep slope.

Before long we were on a buttongrass plateau, with great views back over Tullah and towards rugged Mt Murchison.

There was a confusing little junction where we could choose between three tracks. The guidebook was suggesting that we to go to Lake Herbert first, and advised us to take the middle of the three options.

However the right hand trail was strongly indicated with two large stone arrows (where Summa is standing in the photo below) and the other two were clearly blocked with branches (shown by Warren and Wayne in the photo). Members of our group arrived at the intersection at different times and all followed the lead of the arrows.

Then there was more "up" and we reached the junction with the shortcut down to the Lake Herbert track.

Most of us continued up Mount Farrell for a while, reaching different points before turning back. The views were fabulous on such a clear day.

Here you can just spot Lake Herbert, a natural tarn, over on the right.

Fin actually made it all the way to the trig station at the summit,

and took this photo of Lake Herbert from there:

Most of us moved on to the Lake Herbert track, a beautiful and level trail which wound around the flank of the mountain.

Then we found Lake Herbert, just breathtaking. Ancient and pristine, its serenity was only accentuated by the violent tumble of glacial boulders around it. It would have been lovely to have spent more time here.

We reluctantly headed back to civilisation, winding back down the hill, and checking in with others in the group to make sure we were all getting down safe and sound. Interestingly, at the junction of three tracks we found that we had come back along the leftmost one. The last section, the steep downhill through the bush, was a little rough on the knees.

From back at the Lodge, this is a view of Mount Farrell from the Tullah village. The saddle that we climbed up is on the left.

What a great day in such a beautiful and peaceful place. We were so lucky with the weather and being able to spend the day with our friends, talking about anything and everything, what can be better? We had another nice chatty evening (chess, drinks, snacks, dinner...), and next morning we headed off our separate ways.

Di, Lyn, Angie, Fin and Summa had a touristy trip back. We saw the morning mist over Anthony Road:

We visited the old Imperial Hotel in Queenstown:

This staircase is listed by the National Trust. The locally cut blackwood was sent to England to be turned and crafted. The parts were shipped back and assembled in situ in 1904.

Di, Lyn and Angie ticked off another Great Short Walk on the way to Derwent Bridge - the Franklin Nature Trail.

Thanks to everyone for your company and for your contributions to making this West Coast getaway a fabulous experience for us all. We lift each other up in so many ways.