Tues, 20th Jan, 2015 Geeveston RSL Memorial Park (forest walks)

Clear cold morning 10 degrees in van at 8am. (7.7 outside).Texted Wendy Blue to wish her a happy birthday.

Steve climbed up (using caretaker’s bigger ladder) to reseal the join over the door where we think the water got in the other day as they are forecasting rain again.

I wandered over to say bye to Pete and Penny as they are heading off to Bruny Island for a few days. Penny said it was 4 degrees overnight – I can believe it. Nice and warm where they are camped (where we were the first night). Note to self – think about sun angle when parking. We chose here because we wanted the fireplace and creek edge and as it was overcast didn’t think about morning sun!!!

Jon rang, poor Bandit got a bad tick and is having a day at the vets. Hope he gets better.

Headed down towards Shipwrights Point to dump the toilet canisters but missed the turn off as we were peering at the Huon Salmon boat which sucks the salmon out of the pens.

Kept going up to Franklin. The camp area looks a bit drier compared to the last time we drove in.

The funny islands in the middle of the Huon River.

The tavern looks old worldly.

Zoomed in on Mr Pig and noticed the history board there. Will have to dig out my Franklin history brochure and come follow the trail.

Interesting place with waterwheel.

Someone had mentioned that there was another free camp up one of the roads here so we went for a drive. Didn’t find the camp but found unusual houses up the hill slopes and lovely views.

So modern it doesn’t quite fit in with the rural setting.

Looking back down the Huon River.

Stopped at a fruit stall outside a house (with video camera) and bought $5 worth of big plump cherries – yum yum.

Back to the entrance to Geeveston. Stopped to get a photo of the huge poles with the banners hanging on them. Geeveston is known as ‘The Forest Town’.

Heading out of town towards the Tahune Airwalk area. Passed apparently the best pie makers and their cute ute on the roof.

Lovely old car in the driveway.

Stopped at the Forestry Tasmanian information about the tree farm etc.

Good play on words “Blue Poles”, that was that very expensive “artwork” the government bought years ago!!! Again, it is sad nobody cleans the boards though.

Following along Arve Road we stopped at the Look-In Lookout. Just a short walk around some old mill equipment etc.

And of course some lovely big old trees.

 Looks funny how the bark just peels off the top half and then hangs there like it has been peeled.

Amazing how they managed to cut down the big old trees. Just chopping the firewood is enough for us.

Stopped at Arve River Picnic area. The old river crossing.

Looking upstream.

Steve was making a cuppa while I went to the toilets and the old bloke in the hut came over trying to bum a cigarette. “Interesting”. The toilets have the new type of graffiti too – done with chalk – at least that is easier to clean off. A few march flies tried to annoy us. Big tree trunk.

Information board explained about the forestry clearing and the different areas. It mentioned Leatherwood trees and bees. We passed a pile of bee hives tucked into the bush as we were arriving here.

The Arve River Streamside Reserve Forest Walk sign said “10 min round trip” so we headed off. Lovely walk for a bit along the river.

Then up the stairs – this is the view looking back down them.

They led us up to some huge trees – dead and fallen over. What a waste!!

When that tree fell it took so many more with it. The trees are all crossed up over each other and rotting away. My photos don’t get the mess it looks though.

Down the stairs through some more big trees that have been cut through.

This one went for ages but the camera doesn’t show the length well.

Steve said “looks like the ferns and fungus probably kill the trees too.”

Keep forgetting to put that wet rag in to clean these boards.

Looking at the colouring of the trees I can see where they got the khaki camouflage colours from.

The old guy has driven off – for cigarettes I suppose – and left his fire burning and his possessions in the little hut.

Turned off into Hartz Road heading for the Hartz Mountains National Park. “A Working Forest since 1850” the sign read. Dirt road used by logging trucks too – all the logging areas are marked the area name and spur, eg Hartz Spur 1. Some have gates and some are open. Stopped at Waratah Lookout (780m elevation) where there is a good map showing the area and an old hut with modern gas BBQ etc but you have to climb up the hill to get to it!!!

The local community of Geeveston has a special bond with the area. Town founders, the Geeves family, cut the first track to the area and explored much of the south-west. One of the earliest tourism ventures was by local storekeeper, Richard Geeves, who organised tours in the early 1900’s. Trips took 3-4 days and parties stayed at a ‘chalet’, complete with housekeeper and guide.

Found out the skink we have been seeing is the Southern Snow Skink.

As we headed off we read about the Waratah – not in bloom now but we saw them in Cradle Mountain.

Out onto the platform. The Arve River falls over the cliff face near us. Usually I suppose you wouldn’t see it but as we have had all this rain it has made it more noticeable. The Arve Falls are further on up the track.

Fabulous view overlooking the Huon Valley forests to the Wellington Range. Old Myrtle forests grow immediately below the lookout. It looks like a heap of echidnas with all the dead white trees sticking out of the green growth.

Areas of trees have been cleared in the distance. The wind was howling up the valley so when you leant over the lookout you got a blast but step back and all is calm again.

Back to the truck and onto flat open area to walk down to the official Arve Falls (780m). The mountains tower up beside us all bear on top from when they are covered in snow.

Info boards along the path.  The little streams throughout the shrubbery are flowing well.

The Tassie Snow Gum has the button looking seeds. On the ground they look like big buttons off a coat.

Lots to read along the way.

I zoomed in on a plant as I saw some red and thought it was a late blooming Waratah but when I looked on the computer it was just new shoots on a plant.

The water is flowing well – even saw a little trout.

More info about Banksia, even though I have read them before in other areas.

The River is either fed by two streams or it split further up as there are two lots of water coming in at the top of this photo.

Crossed over the River (on a bridge). Would be a nice spot for a dip!!!

At top of falls before walking down to the platform.

Lovely falls in the top bit with so much more water coming over them.

Then they just disappear below us.

A couple of selfies – one with falls behind and the other the mountain view.

The echidna looking mountains.

Did some “exercise” – quick short sprints up the stairs to get the heart pumping (that is what “they” say to do).

Further along the narrow winding road – only single lane really but lots of pull over areas along the way. At the end is a big hut and toilets – a lot of money spent here. Info, walker sign in and tables and chairs (860m elevation).  It is only for day use!!! Seems a bit extravagant as most people come, do the walk and go.

A topographical map to show where we are and where the hikes go.

The walks info. We might come back and do the Lake Osbourne one as we are running out of time now.

Great shot of snow on Hartz Peak.

Hartz Mountain National Parks history.

Story of the two Geeves boys when they perished on the mountain. There is a memorial up the track which we will check out.

Outside another Info board to read.

As we head in we have to do the foot cleaning process because it is World Heritage Area.

Started off on a muddy track but it quickly changed to a boardwalk which was nice. Mr Wombat used it too – he left his calling card.

The plaque is mounted on the large rocks.

Great view from here.

A Southern Snow Skink.

A cute little waterfall on the way back.

Headed back down the road. As we passed the Waratah Lookout again a wallaby sat beside the road and seemed to be looking to the other side expectantly.

Her joey was on the other side.

On the way we had noticed a sign hidden in the bush about a stump/butt and Steve had seen a steel rail up the hill. Slowly we headed back down looking, looking and looking!! Eventually we found it (340m elevation). While Steve parked the truck I headed up the track. Bit muddy and had to climb over a log but I found the huge buttress of the tree. Decided to a “Butt” shot!! Hope my butt is smaller.

Climbed up higher to the other side. A plant growing out of the top of it now.

We couldn’t find where it would have come from but we think that it was growing on the road and when it was felled it landed here and the stump would have been removed to put the road through.

A pretty blue feather.

Steve climbing over the obstacles – obviously these old ‘tourist’ attractions don’t get any attention any more though someone had walked up before us.

Steve’s turn for the “butt” shot.

On the way back we passed a sign “Rehabilitation area after sever wind damage in November 2002”.

Looking over Geeveston as we head back down Arve Road.

Love this tree.

The river level has dropped a lot – might get to see the platypus yet. He was out yesterday having a swim!!

What a change from last night. When we got back it was so balmy that I had to change out of jeans and put a lighter top on and just my thongs on my feet (just in case you thought of some other thong!!!) It was so nice not to be cold. At 6pm it was 26.7 degrees in the van so I had to open some windows. Had dinner beside the river, not needing to huddle around the fire either.

Rang John and Joc to see when they arrive in Hobart so we can all catch up with “cousin” Cathy and her daughter Darcie as they arrive on Friday for a couple of days. Rang Cathy to arrange meeting up with them on Saturday. Went over to chat with a group having a drink, Queenslanders – discussion “how to vote”.

Back to the van for a cuppa and turned on the TV but no signal – the booster isn’t working. That was where Steve was redoing rusty screws as he was fixing the water leak. The speakers for the radio don’t work either!! Another job for tomorrow. Quiet night then reading and blogging.

At 10pm it was 26.7 degrees in the van so we opened some windows!!! It was so nice not to be cold.

Mum and Dad at Bicheno.