ICY WINTER

Bushwalking on Mount Wellington a few weeks back provided me with these wonderful images of how cold it had been for the past few days. I haven't ever really seen anything like this before but it was breathtaking. Standing amongst the 'frozen forest' all I could hear was the ice melting and hitting the ground.

Andrew and I completed a nice short walk called the Sphynx Rock track, which took about 45 minutes, and provided us with a breathtaking view of Hobart.

CATARACT GORGE - LAUNCESTON

The Cataract Gorge Reserve is one of Launceston and northern Tasmania's premier tourist attractions.

The chairlift crossing the Gorge is the longest single span chairlift in the world, with the longest span being 308 m (924 ft). The chairlift, built in 1972, has a total span of 457 m.

It broke down in 2001, and several sightseers were stranded 30 metres above the Gorge for several hours, but since then it has been thoroughly overhauled and is still in use today.

The First Basin on the southern side features a swimming pool, and an open area surrounded by bushland. A gravel walking track leads to the Alexandra Suspension Bridge, a swinging pedestrian bridge built in 1895.

The shady northern side named the Cliff Grounds, is a Victorian garden where wilderness is complemented with ferns and exotic plants.

MOUNT FIELD NATIONAL PARK

Mount Field is a national park an hour (64 km) northwest of Hobart. The landscape ranges from eucalyptus forest to alpine moorland, rising to 1,434 metres (4,705ft) at the summit of Mount Field West.

Mount Field was founded in 1916, making it, along with Freycinet National Park, Tasmania's oldest national parks. The last known wild thylacine was captured in the region in 1933.

There is camping, powered and unpowered sites, as well as the Lake Dobson cabins.

Beside the Visitor center there are Picnic and barbeque facilities as well as a playground and public toilets.

Mt Field is one of the most popular national parks in Tasmania as there is a vast variety of things to see and do.


* Russell Falls (10 min - EASY)


One of the most popular scenic attraction in Tasmania, Russell Falls is an easy 10 minute stroll down concrete and boardwalks.

* Tall Trees Walk (30 min - EASY)


* There are many other walks including to Mt Fields and around the tarn shelf.

Many of these begin from Lake Dobson. From the car park, you can do an easy half hour walk around the lake. For the more enthusiastic, walks can be done to the alpine ski fields and beyond.

A great view of Seal Lake can be had about 10mins from the lodge area. The walk to the lookout from the car park takes around 2-3 hours as there is a steep climb to the top

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Russell Falls

Lake Dobson cabins


Eagle Tarn

Fungi on Lyrebird Track walk


Wombat Moor


Spiderweb - Lyrebird Track walk