April 2024 - ZigZag Track, kunanyi

The Zig Zag Track has recently been refurbished by the City of Hobart's excellent trackworkers, so we went to check out the good work. Bob organised our day, which involved a start at The Springs, heading upwards on the Pinnacle Track, further upwards on the Zig Zag Track, picnic lunch at the pinnacle, then down again, along the Organ Pipes Track, down the Sawmill Track to Sphinx Rock and back to The Springs via the Lenah Valley Track.

Our eager group of nine was Bob, Kat, new walker Maryanne, Di, Fin, Angie, Wayne, Gerwyn and Lyn. We gathered at the upper Springs carpark and set off about 10.15am on a beaut sunny, cold and clear day.

It was upwards from the very start, here we are on the Pinnacle Track.

Occasionally through the trees we would catch breath-taking views over the Derwent.

We stopped for a breather at the T junction where the Zig Zag track commences. Then it was onwards and upwards.

It was definitely time for a snack at an excellent little rest area about three quarters of the way up. Some broad stone seats offered our circle of friends a great lookout. Fruit leathers and chocolate were much appreciated! We admired Angie's brand new folding phone and offered technological assistance, haha.

It was great to reach the top, and we all felt good to have made it.

The views were amazing. There was quite a buzz of visitors at the top, but we found a perfect quiet spot just for us. It had a terrific view over the city, and was sheltered from the wind by some big granite boulders. The chats and story telling continued as we munched.

After about an hour we set off downwards again. It was a pleasant return down the well-formed ZigZag Track, not too hard on the knees. Some of us collected fresh mountain water at a stream crossing the track. At the T junction we turned left onto the Organpipes Track, which is a nice easy walk.

We turned right at the Sawmill Track and this turned out to be a steep descent down a rocky uneven track. The going was a bit more difficult here, but on the other hand it had more of a sense of being in the wilds of kunanyi.

On reaching the road, we crossed over onto the Lower Sawmill Track, which continued the steep descent, although a bit less uneven. Before long we reached the Lenah Valley Track and visited the Sphinx Rock, with its excellent view over Hobart town. Then our walk finished with a stroll along a smooth, well beaten trail through the pretty mountain bushland. We arrived back at The Springs after walking 8.5 km and climbing 574m in 5.5 hours. What a great walk, on beautiful still-wild kunanyi, enjoying excellent company. We were all physically tired but mentally refreshed.