Fri, 6th Mar, 2015 Forth Recreation Ground (exploring Leven Canyon & Wilmot)

Lovely clear blue sky but wind still blowing at 40 knots. Gale warnings across Tassie. 19 degrees in van but it feels a lot colder because of the wind. Texted Yanneke for her birthday. Packed up lunch and off to explore Leven Canyon.

Up onto the hinterland behind Forth (160m) through lots of poppy farms then sheep and cattle. Mt Roland (1231m) stands out in the distance. We were camped under it at O’Neills Creek back in early December. Seems an eternity ago.

Slowly climbing the hills (360m) into forestry plantations then up some more to 570m.  

Down through Nietta (500m). They have great road works lights – it gives a countdown till we get a green.

The roads are strewn with leaves and sticks and a few bigger branches after all the wind overnight.

Turned off into Leven Canyon carpark (540m) for a cuppa and to read the info boards. Glad we had three layers on as it is now 10 degrees and the wind is still blowing hard.

Nice walk so far.

Lots of information. It is Tassie’s deepest limestone gulch.

We just accept the stairs and platforms put in but it must have been a big job setting up all these lookouts etc. Especially the ones done in the early days.

The others checking out the canyon. Leanne was putting her walking stick on hard ground has she nearly lost it through the holes in the platform. Cruickshanks Lookout was named after George Cruickshank who was instrumental in founding the Leven Canyon Reserve and this lookout.

Amazing views to Black Bluff (1339m) with the top hidden in a cloud.

Noticed a white bit near the top and zoomed in – it was snow – how exciting. It is the first peak each winter to have a covering of snow, due to its exposure to the prevailing westerlies.

Zoomed in on the waterfall too. There is a walk up to the summit of Black Bluff past this waterfall but it is 7 hours so will have to give it a miss!!!

Looking down 275 metres to the Leven River below. Enough water runs through the Canyon every day to satisfy the thirst of a major city. About 45,000 to 70,000 kilolitres of water flush through the Canyon daily.

It winds its way out to the Bass Strait near Ulverstone.

Spectacular cliff face.

Clouds lifting off Black Bluff.

Now for the 697 steps down to the next lookout.

Didn’t bother counting them. They had these seats to let you know how far you had gone.

Looking back up the steps and the long tree lying beside them.

Across a little bridge.

Turned off to the Edge Lookout (sign said 5 minutes), no stairs but steep slope down.

Another info board.

Great lookouts over the canyon.

Looking up to Cruickshank Lookout above us. Someone walked out so gave them a wave.

More views over the River, just a lot closer.

Across from us was a cleared area that Steve said would be great to ski down - WHAT!!

Below us was a three tiered waterfall. We had noticed before that the water had dropped from the top section to the lower section so figured there was a waterfall somewhere.

Had a choice – up the 697 steps or along the Fern Walk to the carpark. Chose the walk!!! Another seat as we head back to the carpark.

Though it was uphill it was still better than going up stairs.

Oops thought we might have to go back up the stairs but Steve cleared the way.

Glad someone had cleared this tree away though I had to big obstacles to get past!!

There were heaps of ferns on the Fern Walk.

One kilometre down the road we parked to do the walk down onto the Canyon Floor. Looking back to Black Bluff where the timber had been cleared.

Our snow is still there.

Info board as we head down the wide track.

As we head down looking across to a rocky outcrop over the river.

We could have driven down as it was wide enough but it was covered in debris from the trees. Rick found himself another walking stick. 

Rick was impressed with this tree growing out of the rocks.

Then some more steps. Will have to count these ones on the way up. Must have been down by the “Stephen” too as it is the same rope.

Down onto the bridge.  It was made locally and components lifted in by helicopter.

Looking through the floor of the bridge to the river below.

Looking up the river.

Then down the river.

Rock formations are interesting too.

The water has carved out a cave.

Across the bridge to find the walk to Devil’s Elbow which was 1 ½ hours. By the looks of it though no one does the walk. There were two signs for two walks. 

The other one goes north along the river to Gunns Plains. There should be a track here to Devil’s Elbow which is also part of the Penguin-Cradle Trail. Both marked for experienced walkers only or mad ones!!!

From the other side of the bridge looking up the river.

Started back up the steps – counting 50 at a time then a big stop to breathe!!! Actually formed steps was 272 one way so that made another 544 to the 697 before!! Plus all the flat area too. That should work off something!!

Down to the flat plain by the river where the cows were very restful and full of lovely green grass – lowly moos as we drove past.

Over the bridge and across the Leven River (360m). Good place for fishing too. Looking upstream.

Upstream with Black Bluff in the background.

Then downstream.

On my GPS it said this was Loongana though Rick said it was another 5kms. What a fabulous place for a house – top view – would be great in winter when it is covered in snow.

Kept driving following the river upstream. My map had the road finishing at Loongana but it must keep going to somewhere. Around a few fallen trees. The Council had been out and cleared the road to the Canyon carpark as Steve could see the cut off logs etc. Obviously they haven’t gotten this far.

Kept ambling along till we stopped at a crossroad where a Council car was. He was waiting for the crew to arrive to clear the road ahead. This chap has been cutting up the fallen limbs for his firewood I suppose.

Turned around and headed back – forgot to ask the Council man where the road got to. Looking back to where the river cuts its way through the mountains as we head down to cross the bridge again. Passed a sign about the Penguin Cradle walk – we saw the other end of that at Bluff Range when we were heading to Cradle Mountain (takes 5-7 days).

Back to the Canyon carpark to have lunch in the picnic area. It was packed now but we found a spot up in the camping area.

Along the road I got a great shot of Mt Roland.

Back on road to Upper Castra (410m) where there was a sign warning “Very steep descent, 15% for next 2 km – Not suitable for caravans, motorhomes, trucks etc”. Steve put the truck in a lower gear in readiness but it wasn’t that bad. The one down to the Forth River crossing near Moina we did was far worse.

Down the bottom (96m) and across the Wilmot River. Not much water in it.

The ascent was actually worse as it was a long straight uphill pull.

Wilmot has a the letterbox trail so this must be the start of it. Cute airplane (made out of a barrel) and the one next door just has a boot on it. They had to make them out of recycled material.

Onto the main road to Wilmot and we stopped at the Lookout for Mt Roland. Now clear of clouds. Just amazing. The fields have browned off a lot from when we first arrived.

Drove into Wilmot and we couldn’t find any letterboxes. The poles have been painted though.

Stopped at the Museum to ask what happened to the letterboxes. It was built in 1897 as a school and church.

They had a letterbox – Ned Kelly.

As I walked in the mannequins at the entrance started talking. “Drop a coin in the donation box and we will tell you all about the history.” I took a photo then went inside to find someone. (Noticed a sign then saying “no photos” – oops). The lady was a bit vague and said the letterboxes were around.

Across the road was the original General Store that was built by G.J. Coles. Unfortunately a local arsonist decided to burn it down – what a shame. They have put up a tin shed and are still operating from it.

Drove down to Lake Barrington. We could see a ski jump across the lake. At last the wind has settled down.

The campground is high up on the hill. Would be a good exercise walk down to the lake. There is only room to drop off the boat down at the boat ramp though there are a lot of pontoons. Not the skiing atmosphere we are used to.

Headed back to Wilmot to head back home still looking for the letterboxes. Nearly missed this one – a plough,

 and a Tassie Tiger.

Stopped at the lookout – Wilmot is the Valley of Views – that bit they have gotten right. Magnificent views over Lake Barrington to Mt Roland.

We could just make out Cradle Mountain in the distance.

Further along as we head into Lower Wilmot (400m) we found a lot more letterboxes.

Headed down a long windy range to the hinterland to run along the Forth River into Forth. Back to the van for a cuppa then into happy hour. So nice to be able to sit outside for a change. Rick got out his guitar and we had a great arvo chatting with a few other Queenslanders. Put a roast on so we even were able to have dinner outside till it started to get too cool, about 7.30pm.