Sun, 10th May, 2015 Mayfield Bay Campground (waterfall walks)

7am and the kookaburras laugh to welcome in the day. Mothers Day and how great it is to be free to do what I like, though I miss my boys a lot, I am happy they are confident young men. They both make me so proud.

It is 15 degrees, overcast and the sea is calm except for the occasional crash of a bigger swell. Still got a nice picture though.

Rang Mum and Erica to wish them happy Mothers Day too. Jon rang to wish me a great day. Said that we are going into the hills to look at waterfalls – he was impressed!! He is off to golf – glad he has found a new interest after BMX. We had a cuppa in the sunshine as the clouds have moved out to sea.  Chatted with the National Parks ranger. I said we were heading to Maria Island and he said to check the ferry as it closes down this time of year. I rang and yes they have except they are taking a group over on the afternoon of the 13^th and picking them up again the next morning. As we don’t want to overnight will have to skip it. I tried the tour companies and they all closed at the beginning of the month.

Packed our lunch and headed off to explore some waterfalls in the hills inland of Swansea. Stopped first at Swansea to dump the toilet and rubbish and fill up with water and fuel.

North through Swansea then Cranbrook and then up the Old Coach Road past sheep pastures. The dirt road was reopened by residents in 1959. We are following the Swan River upstream then we headed into natural scrub and started climbing up hill to 380m elevation into the East Coast Forests. At the cross road we turned north east onto McKays Road to find Hardings Falls. There were lots of branches on the road from the recent wind. Then a big tree blocked our path so Steve got out his new Snatchem strap to move it out of the way. We can keep the strap now as it has been used!! (440m elevation)

A bit further on another tree was down but there was room to drive around it. Turned off along very rocky road to the picnic area above the falls where there was a drop toilet, picnic table and fireplace. Put on my gloves and Bathurst coat as it is a lot colder up here and the wind has picked up (320m elevation).  20 min return to the lookout and 60 min to base of the falls and the Swan River so off we headed.

Another tree to get around or over.

Going down hill we came out onto a point looking over a waterhole.

We walked out to the point and looked down into the gorge and the flat rock that the falls fall down from.

As the river went around the corner there was another waterhole we could see between the trees.

It is very rocky here and is mostly broken shale. The path lead down the side of the hill so we slowly picked our way down, very glad we had a strong walking sticks with us. Stopped for a photo of the path, looking up then down the next bit.

Down and around some more.

Eventually we made it to the bottom. Not the most spectacular but lovely all the same. Took one photo then walked further towards to falls.Certainly would be spectacular with more water coming over.

The cliffs around us are imposing.

Downstream was the other pool we saw. Then the water dropped over another ledge.

Looking back up the ‘path’.

Climbed back up using the tree stairs.

There was another path leading off further downstream so we followed it to overlook a bigger pool where the water cascaded down the big rock face.

Zoomed in further downstream. This makes up for the Aspley Gorge walk we didn’t do.

Back up and along our rocky path.

Yes there is a path up through that.

Glad to be back at the car as I am now stripping off the layers as the hike up the hill has certainly warmed me up!! Just opened the car door when the phone rang – it was Dan to wish me a happy Mothers Day. Told him what we just did!! He is going to see a band ‘Beard’ for his birthday so he is growing a beard too. Toasted some sandwiches and had our lunch at the picnic table.

Back to the cross-section and we continued down this road to find Meetus Falls. We were looking out for firewood too and had found some bits and pieces along the road. There was a bit tree that had fallen and had been chopped up so Steve got out the axe and chopped it some more so we could put the pieces in the truck. Then a bit further down the road, just as it started to sprinkle with rain we came across another cut up tree (550m elevation). These pieces would have been perfect but we already had the back loaded. Decided on a few good pieces and put them on the trays on the roof.

Down a steep descent to 320m to cross the other river that feeds into the Swan River. Climbed back up to 710m and turned off to Meetus Falls. ‘Girlie’ knows all the logging tracks but these ones to waterfalls she doesn’t know so we just fall off the road on her map!! Nice camp area with a big stone shelter and two toilets. A chap from NSW had set himself up in the shelter for a couple of weeks. He said the timber we collected was Yellow Box and very good for fires. We headed down the track to the falls lookout. There was also a walk down to the Cygnet River but we will skip that.

Out onto a platform to view one of the best waterfalls we have seen. Would certainly be impressive with more water.

Looking down below to the Cygnet River. It also flows into the Swan River just below Cranbrook.

Looking downstream.

Impressive cliffs – imagine walking along and heading down the hill then there is nothing in front of you!!

Now the climb back up again – should be losing some weight this week.

The graffiti artists have struck again.

A young lady and her two dogs stopped to ask about camping spots by the water. We said there weren’t any as the rivers are in the gorges. She is from the Victorian Highlands and wasn’t interested in camping by the sea!! Passed some cleared timber areas where there were old “shoe” markers from the old timber cutting days.

Down McKays Road to meet the Lake Leake Highway (680m) which runs from the coast above Swansea across past Lake Leake to Campbell Town. Turned off and went to check out Lake Leake. It was constructed in 1883 to furnish Campbell Town with a permanent water supply. The Snowy River flows into the lake which in turn supplies the Elizabeth River that runs to Campbell Town. So the water from here runs west whereas the rivers we were just aat all run to the east. Drove passed a closed down service station at Rawlinna where there are a few houses and trout weekenders with access by a boat ramp to Kalangadoo Bay. We went down to the water’s edge which is a long way out at the moment.

Lots of swans though.

Back to the main road intersection and we turned south to look at Lost Falls. Only a picnic table and BBQ here (560m). Had a cuppa to warm us up then headed off to the lookout. Great view down the valley and the Wye River is running down the middle. The Wye also flows into the Swan River just north of Swansea.

Zoomed in to see Great Oyster Bay and Mt Freycinet.

Walked around to the next lookout but unfortunately the falls were ‘Lost’ as there isn’t much water flowing over and we can’t see around to the drop anycase. Certainly a sharp cliff face.

Zoomed in on the bottom though where there was a trickle going down the rock face.

As I walked back you could walk right to the edge (I held onto the tree) and look straight down.

Walked out onto another rocky point to see if we could see the top of the falls but the trees blocked it. Looking across the rocks on the other side.

The water was just trickling down over the rocks.

We followed another track down to the pools. Walked along the rocks down towards where the water would fall over the edge.

I could make out this is a great big fall of water!! But it is just a little one.

The water works its way down over of different levels of rocks to the big drop so we didn’t go any further.

Back up the hill to the truck and the heater.

At the intersection we stopped to check out the Forestry Tasmania info board.

They didn’t have a photo of the Lost Falls either.

Headed off down the Lake Leake Highway and nice gentle downhill range back to the coast. Only a couple of glimpses of the water and the peninsula as we headed down.

Unloaded all the timber and then got a drink and wandered over to a new caravan to say hello as they were standing around their fire. Steve took them some wood. Merv and Ruth are from near Shepparton, Vic. Chatted with them when Ruth noticed the smell of gas. Steve got his squirty bottle and found the leaks. We waited till the Space Station came over again, this time straight over our heads and headed directly out to the east.

Back to the van for leftover beef stroganoff and to warm up. The wind has come up and my shell wind chime was having a clanging time and the awning was getting up a flap but all was good.