Tues, 3rd Mar, 2015 Smithton East Esplanade to Rocky Cape Tavern campground (Rocky Cape and Dip Falls sightseeing)

Bad night coughing and it was 10 degrees at 3am. Had to wrap up in the blanket and sit up in the lounge chair. Going to get some more cough medicine.

Got up to a nice day, sunny with a few clouds. Got some medicine and had a dose. Packed up and headed east. Past Peg’s Beach Conservation Area where people can camp for a fee.

Got a photo of the long wharf at Port Latta.

Crossed over Crayfish Creek where the water was the most beautiful clear water which is strange after all the tannin stained rivers. When we came through here before it was pouring with rain so it all looks much nicer today. Another beautiful river, Detention River – should have taken photos.

Pulled into the free camp behind the Rocky Cape Tavern. Plenty of room.

Had lunch then headed off to find Dip Falls.  First we turned off to check out Rocky Cape National Park. There are heaps of houses that the National Park goes around. Sign says no dogs, guns etc so don’t know what happens for the housing area.

Lovely view over turquoise water to the east.

Big rugged hill.

Further round to the boat ramp.

Climbed up the hill to check out an aboriginal cave called the South Cave.

No drawings or anything.

Looking straight up.

They say these are midden piles left by the aborigines.

Info board.

Fabulous view.

Back down the road and around to the other side to check out the lighthouse.

Another info board about aborigines and messaging.

Top view to the west from the lighthouse.

Looking back across to the Nut at Stanley.

 Zoomed in on the Nut.

Steve perched on a rock looking to the east and Table Cape at Wynyard.

 Across the shrubs was another cave called the North Cave.

Looking east to Table Cape.

Another info board. Getting our cultural experience here.

As we headed over to the cave the black cockatoos started squawking overhead.

Not a well used track.

Got to the platform to look at the North Cave.

Zoomed in on the cave, similar to the South Cave but much larger.

Looking back to the lighthouse.

Interesting story on the dreamtime creation of the three prominent outcrops on the coast. The Nut, Rocky Cape and Table Cape.

Looking back over the beach area of from Detention Point to Crayfish Point.

Oops someone didn’t check the spelling when the National Parks did their signs.

Back on the main road again. Santa is running late on his big motorbike.

Down a narrow road then onto a forestry road to Dip Falls. Passed lots of forestry plantations and farms as we climb into the hinterland off the coast (200m).

The info sign was not maintained and had bullet holes in it. This area was once part of Circular Head’s thriving timber industry. Logging was at its peak at Dip River during the 1920s. Timber cutters lived here, cutting blackwood which was sawn at a small sawmill. Now, a large area of State Forest surrounding Dip River, has been reserved. The waterfall and a nearby stand of large old eucalypts are managed for visitors.

The falls flow over basalt, a fine grained volcanic rock. The hexagonal columns were formed many thousands of years ago, during the cooling of molten basalt. The erosive power of the water has further defined these unusual rocks.

Walked down to the bridge, looking over to the top of the falls.

And back up the river – some Germans yesterday had a great time photographing a platypus here.

Up the river a bit is the remains of the old sawmill. Shame the signs are not maintained. This photo is the same one used at Maydena where we looked at an old steam hauler.

All that remains is the old boiler. Stamped on one bit said “Governor – The Pickering. Portland, Conn. USA.

As we start to descend the 152 steep steps down to the river below we look across the top of the waterfall to the viewing platform on the other side.

 Down we go, the first lot of steps were angled down and wide. The next lot were very narrow. Then they seemed to have worked it out and had even spaced steps.

Down to the bottom of the falls. Looks like stacked up bricks.

Walked across the rocks to the other side of the river to get the view of the whole falls as it is in two parts.

The rocks are more angled on the top half of the falls.

Amazing rock formations.

Close up of the water cascading over the rocks.

Another shot with the viewing platform overhead.

Back up the stairs again.

Halfway up, another great photo.

And up some more stairs.

Drove around to the viewing platform. Gives a different perspective. Looking at the top part of the falls.

Then down to the top of the next part of the falls.

Looks like someone has stamped the concrete.

Zoomed in on the rocks. Looks like one has been removed or has it been washed out of the middle of this group.

Looking down to the very bottom of the falls.

Back out to the truck and there are lots of old tree trunks with the slots from the timber cutters “shoes”.

Drove down the road one kilometre to the area of another ‘Big Tree’.  Lovely walk through the ferns and tall trees. Not as much undergrowth here.

Definitely a big tree – in width (16m around) rather than the height (62m).

Gnarly old base which would be why it was not cut down.

Unfortunately it is slowly rotting away.

Another platform was built over this one that had fallen down and goes along way.

Another tall tree with a very branchy top.

Back through Mawbanna then down the range to the next plateau at 80m with more open pastures. Dropped down back onto the coast at Black River. Turned into Pegs Beach Conservation Area to check out the camp sites.  $13 per night or $125 for 30 days. Nice enough sites but they are not near anything. The closest ones though as to the river. When we crossed it this morning there was heaps of clear water. Now there is nothing.

Further down the road we pulled into another section that has access to the beach. The camps here had tarps around them so must be here for a while. Onto the beach and the wind is freezing from the west.

Looking across to The Nut.

Then the other way to Port Latta jetty.

Zoomed in on the end of the jetty.

And the piles of ore and where they turn the slurry into pellets.

There was another big rock on the beach so it looked like a little Nut.

Drove into Port Latta. There was a monument about Savage River.

The open pit mine and ore concentrating complex are at Savage River. A complete town was established near the mine site for employees and their families. Established 1968.

This plaque recognises the efforts of all associated with Australian bulk minerals recommenced operations at Savage River Mine and Port Latta. Dec 1997.

Pipeline – A unique 53 mile long steel pipeline was built through Tasmania’s roughest terrain to connect the ore concentrating mill at Savage River with the pellet plant at Port Latta. It is the world’s first pipeline for the pumping of iron ore concentrate over a long distance.

Port Latta – Production of Savage River Mines iron ore pellets at Port Latta began in 1967. The pellet plant and ship-loading facilities are located here. The initial operations ceased in early 1997.

Dirty building.

Back on the road and over Crayfish Creek – no water. Must have been the sea water coming in making it seem so clean and clear.

A bit more water in Detention River and it is tannin stained so it must have been the sea water pushing up here too to make it so lovely and clear.

Back to the van for a drink outside by the van. Our NSW neighbours joined us. They had been to the Speedway and knew people that Steve did. Nice arvo chatting.

Quiet night inside catching up on my blog etc. Steve can only get a couple of channels so that stopped his channel surfing!!!