June 2026 - Calvert's Lagoon

It was a beautiful sunny cold winter day and 13 folk showed up for this walk, organised this month by Angie with thanks to Warren for some helpful local knowledge. Participants were: Angie, Gerwyn, Wayne, Warren, Caroline, Fin and friend Jane, Prem, Philip, Bob, Gary, Summa and Graham. The plan basically followed walk #14 as described in Hobart’s Best Bush, Coast and City Walks.

We met up at 10.30 at the Goat Beach car park at the end of Calverts Lagoon Road. After some initial back-tracking, we found the track and set off anti-clockwise around the Lagoon.

Expansive views, samphire underfoot, wallaby and devil poo, and distant birds to admire.

Gary and Bob decided to take a short-cut across the Lagoon, but unfortunately they missed the track to the Beach.

The track led us through some delightful scrub with banksias and other flowering bushes, and crossed the Calverts Lagoon Road on the way to the Beach, where we stopped for a group photo.

We stopped for morning snacks at the south end of Calverts Beach below the Goat Bluff cliffs. And watched the surfers ride the incoming waves.

Fin, Jane, Prem and Graham decided to climb Goat Bluff and enjoyed the views.

While the rest of us walked back along Calverts and Goat Beach to the carpark, where we met up with Bob just before 1pm.

Then off to Angie Sues restaurant in Lauderdale for a smashing lunch.

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.

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.

March 2025 - Fluted Cape, Bruny Island

The March 2025 walk was the Fluted Cape track on Bruny Island. Thanks to Wayne for organising the walks and then putting together this report.

There ended up being seven walkers on the day after several walkers withdrew at the last minute. Get well soon Kat, we missed you!!

Four walkers, being Bob, Caroline, Gary and Angie day tripped over on the ferry on Friday morning. Summa, Gerwyn and Wayne came over on Thursday and camped at the Neck Campground on Thursday and Friday nights.

The walk was scheduled for 11:00am to enable the day trippers to get to the ferry and down to Adventure Bay. After the obligatory coffees were procured on the way, the walk commenced just after 11:00am. It was a marvelous day for a walk with sunshine, no rain and a mild breeze coming off the sea.

At a track junction part way to Grass Point, the walkers split up, with Caroline, Gary, Summa, Gerwyn and Angie heading anti-clockwise to Fluted Cape, while Bob and Wayne headed clockwise to Grass Point. When they reached Grass Point, Bob and Wayne had a small rest and chat, to prepare for the steeper part of the trail ahead. Bob had only planned to complete part of the Fluted Cape climb, as part of his rehab from recent health issues, so we started the upward slog, utilising every good vantage point to enjoy the scenery, have a rest and gather our breath.

Part way up the climb Bob decided it was time to turn around, go back to the Pennicott cafe for a coffee, then find a good place to read a book while waiting for the rest of us to reappear.

Wayne continued the climb, having lots of rest stops, sorry scenery stops along the way. The scenery on the water consisted of Pennicott boats, with some seabirds on the wing and on the water, plus numerous swallows darting all around. We met up on Saturday with some people from a Friday Pennicott cruise who had spotted a whale on their cruise. Lucky buggers!!

Wayne met the other walkers towards the end of the Fluted Cape climb. After a chat, most of them continued down the path toward Grass Point, however Gerwyn joined Wayne and continued the climb to the top of the track.

While enjoying the scenery we met up with a Japanese tourist who was cycling around the state and we had a chat. The others had previously met the tourist near the top of the track. He was taking his time to appreciate the great scenery, which we often take for granted.

After reaching the top we headed inland and gradually meandered our way down the track towards the junction at the bottom, then headed back towards the Pennicott cafe to meet the others. The cafe was preparing to close, when we arrived, however we were able to get a Valhalla Choc Top, which Wayne thought was a much better option than a tea, coffee, hot or iced chocolate etc.

After we finished at the cafe, Bob and the daytrippers headed back to catch the ferry to mainland Tasmania. Summa, Gerwyn and little old Wayne headed back to our camp at the Neck Campground, where we indulged ourselves in a lovely dip to rest the sore leg muscles in the water after our long walk. Surprisingly, the water was very pleasant, probably something to do with the amount of warm water heading down the east coast of Australia from the tropics. Personally, Wayne will be glad when the East Australian Current reaches Cockle Creek, because even in summer, the water in the sea can be freezing there.

After our dip we retreated back to camp, lit the firepot to enjoy the rest of the afternoon, while we plotted a less energetic walk for the following morning before we headed back to the ferry and home.

We had decided on the Cape Queen Elizabeth track, for convenience, but didn't want to climb the hill to get over to the arch. With the tide too high to walk around Mars Bluff to Moorina Bay and the arch, we settled for the shorter walk past Big Lagoon to Neck Beach. No swimming there, as it was a colder day with a shower or two. Still it was a nice walk that didn't stress the tired legs and muscles from Fluted Cape too much.

The oystercatchers were also enjoying a quiet day at the beach.

After the walk we climbed in our vans and prepared to head to the ferry and farewell Bruny Island. All in all, a successful time on Bruny Island for the walkers and campers.