Sat, 14th Mar, 2015 Northeast Park, Scottsdale (Mt Barrow & Cataract Gorge sightseeing)

Colder night, 14.7 degrees at 8am. Leanne & Rick rang from Sydney. They will be boarding their cruise ship around lunch time. They were heading to Noumea etc so hope it will be ok since Cyclone Pam is still floating around that area after wiping out Vanuatu.

Decided to head into Launceston to do the gas exchange, fuel etc and visit Cataract Gorge.

As we head through Springfield (amazing there isn’t a big Homer Simpson here) we stopped to check out another chainsaw carving. No info sign about it but it must represent the pioneers of this area.

Overcast morning with clouds heavy on the mountains. The view from Sideling Lookout though was still good even though it was hazy.

Looking up at Mount Barrow.

Decided to go up to check it out, hoping the clouds will lift by the time we get there. At 1,413 metres Mount Barrow is one of the tallest of the mountains that form the northeast highlands. It is close to Launceston so is popular with hikers, rock-climbers and hang-gliding. The Mount Barrow State Reserve covers an area of 459 ha and was proclaimed in 1940. Due to its height and proximity to Launceston it is an important site for communication towers and facilities vital for public safety which belong to the Dept of Civil Aviation and the Ambulance Service.

A resistant cap of dolerite formed about 200 million years ago is responsible for the spectacular mountain landscape. It has been sculptured over the years by ice which also produces the freeze-thaw conditions necessary for the development of scree slopes which we saw as we headed up the narrow road (910m).

A bit unnerving having such big boulders just sitting above us as we wind our way up (1150m).

Looking up to the road as it turns back again in the zig zag climb.

I wasn’t too keen on the view straight over the edge!! A lot like the range at Queenstown – I much prefer trees to cover up the view of the sharp drop below, but I trust Steve’s driving.

Though without any trees there are spectacular views. We will have to come back again when it is a clear day.

The clouds are moving quickly so it will be very windy up top. Should have brought more clothes!!

As the clouds clear we can see the top again.

Then over they come again.

At 1300m looking at the top.

At last at the top, bit open area with a cairn in the middle but no plaque. 

Great view across to Ben Lomond National Park area with its mountains soaring up to 1500 metres before the clouds came across again.

The Summit walk leads from the DCA radar station up a bitumen track to the flying fox. Then a stone pathway and steps up to the DCA tower and from there you follow the signs across the boulders to the summit which is marked by a trig station - will do that next time.

Walked out to the stone emergency shelter and peered down over the road we came up. The wind was howling up the mountainside and straight into the open windows – should have brought the thermometer.

We jumped back into the truck to warm up. Steve saw something appear in the cloud.

It was another tower – we waited for the clouds to pass over and there were two towers.

As we left the clouds covered up the DCA tower again.

Heading slowly back down the road, we saw a car coming up so found a wider bit to pull over to let him pass. Looking down on a dam and forestry plantations way below.

More shots of the road, rocks etc as we head down.

Stopped at the Reserve’s picnic area (920m) to have a cuppa. There was a little nature trail to follow with some plant information.

Haven’t seen this one before. These are the trees we were walking through at Ralphs Falls.

The little creek coming out of the ground.

As we head back to the main road we look across to Mt Arthur (1187m). 

Sent a text to Sandra for her birthday today. Back on the main road we turned off at Nunamura to check out the Mt Barrow Discovery Trail, Forestry Dept. Passed the well signed entrance and drove the 2km up a forestry dirt road to the ‘STOP for Info’ sign but there was no information anywhere. Should have upgraded the sign to see ‘no info ahead’!!

Great view over Launceston as we head into Newstead where we had seen the Coles Express. They still have the extra 10c off discount if we spent $20 so we exchanged our gas bottle and got the discount on top of the 4c voucher. Makes a difference when we have an empty fuel tank.

Drove through town to Cataract Gorge, though ‘girlie’ didn’t quite get her instructions right and we headed up north. Eventually found the main carpark. Made some lunch. Steve spotted some owls in the tree branch. One woke up so I got some great photos and then lots of people stopped to have a look too.

Walked down to the entrance where the Basin Chairlift departs from. It is the longest single chairlift span in the world, total length 457m, centre span 308m. It was a official carrier of the Year 2000 Olympic Flame.

Lovely old Elm tree planted by William and Sarah Bowen to commemorate the birth of their triplet daughters, Sarah Faith, Louisa Hope and Grace Charity in 1905. What lovely names.

Lots of peacocks wandering around. 

We decided to walk over the suspension bridge and to do the walk down to Kings Bridge and back.

Great view back over the pool and picnic area.

Looking towards the suspension bridge.

The section of water is called the First Basin which is part of the South Esk River.

Steve spotted some ‘native’ art – hand prints on the rocks.

Steve checked out the suspension bridge’s supports before he will go on it.

Great view up the gorge.

It wasn’t as bad as the Montezuma one but it still wobbled. He thought it had to be safe since thousands walk over it every day.

Looking back over the pool and chairlift area. The house up the top would have a great view.

Across the other side where the river travels down the gorge to join the North Esk River to become the Tamar.

Alexandra Bridge was opened by Lady Edeline Strickland, 29^th Nov, 1904.

Further along we climbed up some steps to a lookout above the bridge. Interesting information and photos.

Looking down on the bridge and the weir.

Another view over the basin.

On the other side there is a walking track that follows the river upstream to the site of the Duck Reach power station. We will do that one another day.

Very dry plants here, like these casuarinas.

Back on the track around the Basin. Nice hut with concrete posts that look like trees.

On the other side is the Gorge Restaurant.

More peacocks wandering around the lovely garden.

Looking down the gorge from the restaurant’s deck area.

 Zoomed in to the end of the gorge where I could make out the clock tower of the old Post Office.

Lots of very big old trees. This one had this plaque below it.

Mummy and bubby peacock.

As we head down the Cataract Gorge walk following the river downstream, one last view of over the Basin to the pool area.

Another info board.

This photo was taken of the First Basin in 1880.

Looking down the Gorge and the walkways which were installed in the 1890s when the area was developed into a resort for the citizens of Launceston, in true Victorian style.

Split Rock.

Not sure about how they supported the walk platforms.

Great views.

 Some rocks need a bit of extra support so they don’t end up on the walkway.

Big boil holes where the smaller rocks are tumbled around in a hollow.

Below some big tall rocks which we think they do rock climbing on. At the base was some ‘art’ called Sounding Silence by Richard Tipping 1998 on Ben Lomond granite. ???

Looking upstream then downstream.

Zoomed in on the bridge in the distance.

Big crack in the wall on the other side, with a cave at the top.

Lovely old Kings Bridge, built in 1863. The single lane bridge was made in England and sent here. In 1867 it was assembled here and erected. In 1904 a second lane was constructed in Launceston and positioned next to the original one.

The old entrance ‘Toll House’ to the Gorge.

Looking back up the Gorge.

Crossed over the bridge to Penny Royal World which has a variety of historical exhibits from the 19^th century but I think it is undergoing a makeover.

Unfortunately we didn’t find out about the walks and now we find out the Zig Zag walk goes up and over the top of the hill on the other side of the Gorge. Oh well, what’s a few more stairs.

And a few more.

Climbing up high – zoomed in on the walkers on the other side. You can hardly see them.

Some more stairs, made back in the 1890s and they must have had long legs as the gap between steps was quite wide.

Looking down to the old entrance and the old caretaker’s cottage. 

The South Esk River meets the North Esk River and become the Tamar.

Zoomed in on the clock tower again.

The Cataract Walk on the other side.

We reach to top and look back over the Tamar as it heads north to the Bass Strait.

Phew, down we go. Got a sweat up so off with the jumpers.

Looking upstream over the First Basin and the top part of the Gorge.

Walked out onto a platform for this great shot up the Gorge, over the First Basin and the Suspension Bridge then further up the Gorge.

Steve spotted a couple below us getting ready for a swim or something!!

The Cataract walk was much easier than the Zig Zag one!!

Nearly down.

Looking over the pool area.

Walked down to the water’s edge and across the causeway, looking across to the suspension bridge.

The water going downstream.

The swans and ducks paddle quickly to keep them from going downstream.

The water flowing downstream with the chairlift going overhead.

We wandered back up the other side to find ‘Fairy Dell’ and another lookout. There was a wedding about to start. Information in the rotunda where the guests were gathering. We will come back again as we have to do the Duck Reach walk still and it is starting to rain. Poor things, what a shame.

Back across the suspension bridge and we saw someone having a swim. He called out to ask the time. We said he must be from the North Pole – he laughed as he said he was from just south of there.

Uphill walk to the carpark on tired legs. Made a cuppa and chatted with a couple from Bundaberg. Steve found another bird to feed.

Mick rang after I texted him to see how is mum was. We are going to meet up on Monday and try prospecting at Lefroy where the fire went through the State Forest.

I decided to navigate home rather than use ‘girlie’, unfortunately my way went straight up steep hills with give ways at the top and it is raining more. Glad we didn’t have the van on.

Back over the Sideling Range through the clouds.

Lots of vans and motorhomes in the park again. We watched the end of Qualifying for the Grand Prix in Melbourne. I put some photos on Facebook and Lou messaged to say he has to go to Lizard Island and rescue one of his marques that got damaged from the cyclone.

The rain stopped about 9pm. 20 degrees.