Wind and Waves

Today was excessively windy. Stanley has a number of lookouts with views of The Nut dotted around the town. This is one of them.

Once you get to the top, you have spectacular views around the coast. Unfortunately, there was too much wind to really enjoy the walk. The chairlift to the top closed soon after it opened because of the wind.

We continued on to the west coast, and visited the beach at Marrawah. There were several surfers here, and the waves looked large. Of course, this is the land of the Roaring Forties, and in winter the waves are about five times the size.

We reached Arthur River, where we’re staying, and visited The Edge of the World. The waves seemed even bigger. And it seemed even windier.

We walked to the mouth of Arthur River and saw enormous logs that had been brought downstream during the winter floods.

Mining and Waterfalls

Before we left Strahan, we visited the People’s Park and walked to the Hogarth Falls. Although this is in the town, it is a natural rainforest gully, full of tree ferns, myrtle, sassafras and Blackwood. Unfortunately, there was a lot of soap in the water.

We took the road to Zeehan and Rosebery, which were mining towns with extensive open cut mines.

At Rosebery, we visited the Stitt Falls. You can only view these from the top, but they are an impressive waterfall.

The Montezuma falls are also near Rosebery, but although they are one of the highest falls in Tasmania, we decided that the walk to the falls would make our day too long, so we didn’t go there. We continued on and saw Lake Rosebery near Tullah.

We sidetracked to visit the Murchison dam and the associated power station. The mountains on this road were spectacular.

We continued towards Stanley, and before we left the forest, we visited Hellyer Gorge rainforest walk.

We took the western route, hoping to be next to national park most of the way. Instead, we passed timber operations - timber plantations and clear felled areas. Then we came to farmland and the north coast. Our accommodation at Stanley had a picture postcard view of The Nut and the town. You can see the zigzag track we decided to walk up tomorrow to go to the top of The Nut.

Mining and Waterfalls

Before we left Strahan, we visited the People’s Park and walked to the Hogarth Falls. Although this is in the town, it is a natural rainforest gully, full of tree ferns, myrtle, sassafras and Blackwood. Unfortunately, there was a lot of soap in the water.

We took the road to Zeehan and Rosebery, which were mining towns with extensive open cut mines.

At Rosebery, we visited the Stitt Falls. You can only view these from the top, but they are an impressive waterfall.

The Montezuma falls are also near Rosebery, but although they are one of the highest falls in Tasmania, we decided that the walk to the falls would make our day too long, so we didn’t go there. We continued on and saw Lake Rosebery near Tullah.

We sidetracked to visit the Murchison dam and the associated power station. The mountains on this road were spectacular.

We continued towards Stanley, and before we left the forest, we visited Hellyer Gorge rainforest walk.

We took the western route, hoping to be next to national park most of the way. Instead, we passed timber operations - timber plantations and clear felled areas. Then we came to farmland and the north coast. Our accommodation at Stanley had a picture postcard view of The Nut and the town. You can see the zigzag track we decided to walk up tomorrow to go to the top of The Nut.

Water and Moss

We drove from Hobart to Strahan in rain today, through Tasmanian wilderness. It was beautiful.

On the way, we stopped at Lake St. Clair, but it was too wet to walk to the lake. However, our next stop was outstanding. The Franklin River Wilderness walk may only be 20 minutes or 1 km, but it is impressive. 

You see the Franklin River.

And the Surprise River.

And an enormous amount of moss.

And tall trees.

And fungus.

Then we stopped at the Nelson Falls. This was another short but beautiful walk.

After that, it rained quite hard, and we were running late, so we didn’t stop again.