Sat, 20th Dec, 2014 Lower Liffey Reserve to Lake Ada (near Great Lake)

Woke at 5.30am and saw the amazing colours in the sky as the sun rose. It was 12.5 degrees in the van.

By 8.30 the clouds had moved in again so it felt colder than the 14 degrees. Packed up and the clouds started to part so enjoyed the sun’s warmth. We have to go back up the narrow dirt road past the turn off to the top car park so we can get back on the Lake Highway and head down to the Great Lake area.

Climbed up to 700m and onto the main road. Luckily we didn’t meet any cars on the dirt. Looking at Drys Bluff and the timber plantations.

Now we climb up through the Great Western Tiers to a pull off area with a great view (1050m). Decided to have a cuppa and reply to messages that came when we got back into range. Erica had called so I rang her back. It wasn’t important but she said that the thieves had also stolen the green glass from Millaa house that Erica’s friend had cut for Mum & Dad. Little “!!!” She also said there had been a terrible murder in Manoora, a mother killing her 7 children and a niece. I then rang Mum but she wasn’t home. Text from Craig & Kathryn too, they are just behind us in Deloraine – we might catch up for Christmas. The birds were having a lovely sing here – it sounded like a whoof whistle too which was cute.

Amazing mountains around here. Trying to work out where we are from the map and am now confused if this is Liffey Bluff or the other side of Drys Bluff (1298m).

Looking down into the valley.

Ahead was another set of mountains but it is all mountains here. They look great too and would look amazing covered in snow.

I do know this one is Projection Bluff (1100m). We had driven a bit further up the road and there was an official scenic lookout and a sign about the 2hr return hike up Projection Bluff escarpment.

I jumped out and walked through the scrub to a lookout platform. Great view, zoomed down to the valley.

Amazing where people will go to the toilet – couldn’t they do a better job hiding their toilet paper though!! Passed a few more good pull off area – would be great for an overnight stay.

Up onto the Central Plateau Conservation Area (1200m).  This is all World Heritage Area since 1982. Just passed a sign that said “Highest Point 1210m”.

Then we see Pine Lake. It is a short boardwalk through the open area and Tasmanian’s rarest trees – the Pencil Pine (only found in Tassie highlands).

Info boards along the way to teach us about the plants, animals and how they survive in this harsh environment etc.

Cushion plant.

Pencil Pine

Lots of rocks here called ‘Block Streams”. They were formed during the past ice ages in areas that were not covered by glaciers. Water seeped into the cracks and joints in the dolerite rock and at night froze and expanded. This enlarged the joints and eventually broke off large blocks of rock which slowly migrated downhill. In high exposed areas, such as the Central Plateau, this process is still going on.

View across to the Great Western Tiers.

Good stand of pines beside the creek.

The board said to sit and rest for a while if weather permits – it didn’t – the wind was freezing!!!

The rocks are all so neatly around the lake it looks man made.

Heading downwards a little as we descend to Great Lake which is 25km long.

Pulled over and I got a nice photo.

Then stopped at the Info Hut.

Not that we are going to fish but it is interesting to know. We think the ones we saw at Liffey Falls were Brown Trout. They were introduced to Tasmanian in 1864 from England.

It is a massive lake and there are so many other ones around this area, called the Highland Lakes. When full the Great Lake as the capacity to cover 17,610 hectares and hold 3,178 million cubic meters of water. In 1922 as part of the hydro electricity development at Great Lake, a multiple arch dam was completed to replace the first dam wall built in 1911. This wall of 27 arches was the first built outside USA, was the longest in the world and is still recognised as a world-class engineering feat. To further increase storage potential the height of the dam was further increased in 1967 and 1982.

Interesting though we now go onto a dirt road down to the lake.

Past lots of shacks on Crown Land – presumably on leases.  Lots of shacks further on and a lot for sale too. No power or water here though.

Stopped to drop off some rubbish in the big bins here so rang Mum. All good there. They had heard lots of noise with helicopters etc about lunch time on Thursday.

Certainly looks lovely though the only entertainment is trout fishing as nobody would be swimming!!!

Continued around the edge of the lake till Reynolds Neck then headed inland to Liawenee. It is the coldest place in Tasmania so hopefully December will be a good temperature!! Alan from Burnie had said there was good free camping here and to turn onto Boundary Bay Road at the Liawenee canal. One road lead to the Information place and the other went done beside a fence line. We drove on for a bit but decided to turn around and try the fence line one. It wasn’t very good and it looked like it just went out into the plains ahead. Crossed the canal again and saw the Info Board so stopped and found out that the camp area is further on past Lake Augusta to Lake Ada. We decided what the heck we will go as the motorhome in front of us headed in that direction. Grabbed this brochure and map.

Left the canal and now going through flat low shrubs that go for miles to the edge of some hills. Looking on the map we are heading for the other side of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. There is also the Ouse River in there somewhere but hard to see as it is all so level.

Found our own Walls!!!  Looks like they are falling down. They were fenced off too.

Arrived at Lake Augusta where the canal starts from. All the waters, except for Augusta Dam, in the Western Lakes region are natural, formed by glacial activity during the last ice age. Apparently due to the altitude of 1150m it is very common for extreme weather and snow and poor visibility can occur at any time of the year. Last Christmas they had snow here. The sky is clear so hopefully we will be ok.

There is a very large building but it says no entry and a few cars beside the canal that look like they could be canoeists. No signs about though.

Drove across the dam wall – water level low but there was a lot of water flowing down the canal.

Further on is a second lower dam wall.

Further on is an intersection where you can head up a 4WD road to lots of little lakes which are just east of the Walls of Jerusalem. I remember someone saying that they have hiked into the Walls from this side as it is flat, 1100m to 1250m elevation whereas from the other side you start at 680m and it is a hard climb up.  Passed the second half of Lake Augusta there is a rocky dry section between the two halves.  It looks like we are in the desert with the sand dunes.

On the map there were only two camp areas but it seems you can do what you like if you are a local!! Saw someone in a boat fishing. Another road heads off to two other lakes, they certainly have their choice of where to catch trout here.

Arrived at Lake Ada and set up in the car park with the motorhome. A chap from Noosa. There are three other little cars here but no one about. Quite windy and cold – we have two long sleeve shirts on and a coat!! Lunch in the van but the view out our window is lovely.

The map to show where we have been and how close we are but it is still a long walk in so we won’t be doing it.

A shot of our camp for the night.

The boat ramp is just near us so checked out the water temperature – a bit nippy!! The water is lovely and clear.

Decided to walk the 1km into Ada Lagoon and might do the 5km drive tomorrow to other area as it is 4WD only. One car came, drove in and then back out again while we were having lunch.

As we walked along I saw this poo which is full of hair. We were told Tasmanian Devils eat all the remains of dead animals, hair and all, so you can tell if they are around by the poos left behind!!!

Feel like David Attenborough – look here there must be a wombat around, here is his poo!!

Climbed onto a small outcrop of rocks for a look around.

This is Ada Lagoon and there is a shack here too.

Zoomed across to the mountains in the distance that I am assuming is the edge of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.

This is intersection to continue onto the other 4WD track. Need to cross this creek that flows out of the lagoon but Steve said it is very boggy and someone else has left some sump oil there!!!

There is a footbridge over it that I am standing on to photograph the creek.

Little little flowers on the ground.

Round to the shack which looks like it is well used. The only tall tree around. "Lagoon Lodge" on the door.

And there toilet facilities!! Bit cold on the old rear end.

The water is very choppy.

Further down is a bridge over the canal joining the lagoon to Lake Ada.

The whole lake edge is lined with these rocks.

Headed back to the van for a drink.

There was another shack as we came in that had the road blocked off so we went to check it out too. Looking back to the carpark.

As we got closer to the shack there was a wombat waddling in the water near the shack.

Snuck up on a wallaby but he soon bounded off when he heard us coming.

Lovely little bay near the shack though it is very shallow and rocky.

Climbed over the shrubbery to get a closer look at the wombat. Got a few photos before he heard me fall into a hole and then he waddled off into the shrub and hid. He certainly has some lovely grass to eat.

The only pretty flower I found.

The remains – we heard devils ate it all but maybe not – there was a hind leg of a wallaby too.

The shack is old but has been fixed up and locked up. The road was closed by the Parks & Wildlife Service so will have to ask when we stop at the Info centre on our way out. Read a bit more and found out it has lots of info, gardens, displays of taxidermy and historical photos.

The dunny was in good nick too. Much better than the other shack.

Decided to short cut back through the dunes.

Found the wombats homes. Easy digging for them.

Another wallaby happy to pose for a photo.

Made it back after waddling through the clumps of grass etc. Like walking on trampoline but then it would collapse and you will fall into a little track underneath.

Enjoyed a drink looking over the lake but the warmth is disappearing from the sun (5.30pm).

Into the van to warm up, it has kept its warmth as we didn’t open any windows etc. At 8pm it is 10.7 degrees and sunny outside, we are enjoying our stew and hot cup of tea. The van is 18 degrees. I think tomorrow is the summer solstice – the longest day of the year.

A little chap was happy by the boat ramp till we turned up.

The wind has dropped and there are heaps of bugs flying around. The other chap likes fly fishing so he is going out for a bit later.

Zoomed in on a couple of swans floating further up the lake.

Back in the van to watch the sun go down and duck out and take the temperature. 8pm and it is still very light.

Between 8.30 and 8.45 the sun starts disappearing. I think it is better watching the colour in the east rather than the sun setting. We have the sun setting out the kitchen window and all the lovely colours over the lake out the dining room window. Can’t get any better than that.

Got the bugs flying around.

Played a few games of Rummiking. It is now 5 degrees outside at 10pm but we are warmer in the van at 14 degrees as we hadn’t opened any windows or vents.