Thursday 16th May 2019
Today we get off to a slow start as it was quite cold. We drove from Orford to Freycinet National Park which was about 1.5 hours away. It was a pleasant drive and the sun was shining brightly with minimal clouds for the first time since we arrived here. David said this is what he was expecting for our entire holiday, cold but clear. Oh well, you live and learn. Just a little unlucky this time with the weather, but we have had a great adventure anyway.
We arrived at Freycinet National Park at about 11.30am ready to climb Mt Amos. This was a 3-5 hr hike but only 4km, 2km up and 2km down, an elevation of 454m above sea level. This is quite a challenging track with lots of rock scrambling for the last 1km. It was a tough climb for me today as each step on the rock scramble you would be looking at your hands then up again then back down. It affected my balance and left me a little dizzy which meant I had to stand and wait before I continued At one stage I was thinking I should maybe pull the pin on the summit but was almost there so I kept going slowly and managed to get over the difficult sections and eventually made it to the top. The views were very rewarding and we spent about 2 hours up there chatting to some young backpackers from Ireland and Finland, some Melbournians who had done a few of the hikes we want to do and we had done some they want to do, so it was good to exchange experiences. We then chatted to some young girls from Germany and France. We love sharing their journeys and ours as we take in the amazing view. After about 1.5 hours up there I realised we hadn’t even had our lunch and it was almost 2pm.
SO we had a quick lunch, with amazing views (my lounge room is going to be somewhat lacking when we get home) and just enjoyed the sunshine. Then it was time to head down. I wasn’t too worried as figured I could shimmy down on my bottom where necessary. This was the case, there were a few tricky bits but it was much easier on my balance than on the way up. David’s childhood bush adventures held him in good stead, he just walked up and down without too much problem at all, only occasionally using his hands. I slowed him down a lot today.
Anyway I made it. We left Freycinet National Park around 4pm and drove to Scamander. A small town further north on the east coast.
Today was probably our last rock scramble, summit hike for this trip to Tasmania. We have a few more on the list for next time:
• Walls of Jerusalem
• Mt Freycinet and Mt Graham loop
• Mt Eliza and Anne, Strathgordon
• Malaleuca to Cockle Creek
• Mt Fields National Park
• Cape Pillar
• Hartz National Park
So I think we will be back before we are too old to enjoy the hikes as a few of these require overnight stays and big packs to be carried.
We still have a couple of days left on our Tasmania adventure but I don’t know where we are heading except we will be in Devonport by Saturday afternoon
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Swansea Beach looked lovely along our drive from Orford to Coles Bay. The water definitely the colour we were expecting over here
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1st warning sign for the Mt Amos hike at the very start. We were aware of its challenges…
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..2nd warning..
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..and a 3rd one just to make sure you knew what you were in for. We had seen photos and videos of people climbing and were lucky there had been no rain so the track was really dry.
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The start of the steep rock platforms..
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..David just takes it in his stride..
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..and keeps walking up the steep slopes..
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..the rock formations were amazing. This one looks like the head of an iguana to me..
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This spot was a bit sloped/steep but you could use the crack in the rock for balance..
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A chair for David to wait for me..haha..
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David made it look very easy but it was really quite difficult..
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..I used my hands a lot, it was a real scramble for me..
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The rocks and the view were amazing.
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He we go again,
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..just taking my time making sure of every step and hand hold.
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David hanging around waiting for me, checking which way was the best to go.
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Gorgeous view as we keep climbing up and up..
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..and up and up..
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Almost to the top. The sky today is amazingly blue at last.
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At the top, phew I made it.
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View Create PostPhoto/VideoLive VideoLife Event What’s on your mind? Photo/Video Tag Friends Feeling/Activity Friends Post Posts Manage Posts List ViewGrid View Fiona Broadbent Just now · Our last rock scramble in Tassie – Mt Amos, Freycinet National Park Image may contain: ocean, sky, cloud, mountain, tree, outdoor, nature and water Image may contain: outdoor and nature Image may contain: tree, outdoor and nature Image may contain: tree, outdoor and nature Image may contain: people standing, sky, tree, mountain, plant, outdoor, nature and water +30 Like Comment Share Comments Fiona Broadbent Write a comment… Fiona Broadbent 7 hrs · At the top of Mt Amos for lunch today. Spectacular view of Wineglass Bay, Mt Graham and Mt Freycinet. You will be our challenge next time. Image may contain: ocean, sky, mountain, cloud, outdoor, nature and water 20Peter Day, Mim Moore and 18 others 7 Comments Like Comment Share Comments View 1 more comment Prue Graham Prue Graham Wow – looks just beautiful!!! xx 1 Delete or hide this Like · Reply · 6h Fiona Broadbent Fiona Broadbent replied · 1 Reply 9 mins Mim Moore Mim Moore The colour of the water is amazing.! 1 Delete or hide this Like · Reply · 2h Fiona Broadbent Fiona Broadbent replied · 1 Reply 9 mins Liz Hoad Liz Hoad One of our most exciting places when Glennie,Ellen & I pushbiked around Tassie many years ago !!! Liz Delete or hide this Like · Reply · 45m Jan Hoban Jan Hoban Have loved the sights of Tassie and the amazing blue skies and your adventures 💞💞 Delete or hide this Like · Reply · 40m Fiona Broadbent Write a comment… Fiona Broadbent 10 hrs · Here we go again! Freycinet National Park Image may contain: tree, sky, mountain, plant, grass, cloud, outdoor and nature 18Mike Tamblyn, Peter Day and 16 others 2 Comments Like Comment Share Comments Kylie Wade Kylie Wade Gorgeous spot Fi xxx Delete or hide this Like · Reply · 58m Fiona Broadbent Fiona Broadbent replied · 1 Reply 8 mins Fiona Broadbent Write a comment… Chat (19) Close Fiona Broadbent 6 mins · Edited · The view is amazing – Wineglass Bay – Mt Graham and Mt Freycinet tagTag PhotopinAdd LocationpencilEdit Like Comment Share Comments Fiona Broadbent Write a comment… Who were you with?… Swansea Beach, on the way to Freycinet National Park, Tasmania… Who were you with?… 1st warning at the start of today’s hike…. Who were you with?… 2nd warning…. Who were you with?… Final warning – lucky for us the sun was shining and the track was dry…. Who were you with?… The start of the steep rock platforms….. Who were you with?… ..David just takes it in his stride….. Who were you with?… ..and keeps walking up the steep slopes….. Who were you with?… ..the rock formations were amazing. This one looks like the head of an iguana to me….. Who were you with?… This spot was a bit sloped/steep but you could use the crack in the rock for balance….. Who were you with?… A chair for David to wait for me..haha….. Who were you with?… David made it look very easy but it was really quite difficult….. Who were you with?… ..I used my hands a lot, it was a real scramble for me….. Who were you with?… The rocks and the view were amazing…. Who were you with?… He we go again, … Who were you with?… ..just taking my time making sure of every step and hand hold…. Who were you with?… David hanging around waiting for me, checking which way was the best to go…. Who were you with?… Gorgeous view as we keep climbing up and up….. Who were you with?… ..and up and up….. Who were you with?… Almost to the top. The sky today is amazingly blue at last…. Who were you with?… At the top, phew I made it…. Who were you with?… The view is amazing – Wineglass Bay – Mt Graham and Mt Freycinet…
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David climbing up on the puffer fish rock for a photo
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DB on top of the puffer fish
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..and again, you can see him still on the puffer fish. A beautiful view of Wineglass Bay. We saw some of this from the lookout last time.
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Lunch with an amazing view yet again.
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What goes up must come down, so off we go..
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..oh no, here we go again..
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..sometimes I wish my legs were a bit longer, check out my facials if you can see them.
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Beautiful view of Coles Bay..
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..the view was magic the whole way back down..
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DB waiting again..
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..these rocks are amazing the way they fall and stop on their perch. What is holding them there..
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..love the colours in the rocks as you look back up to where we have come from..
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Today’s challenge complete. Mt Amos conquered. Woohoo!!
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Today’s reward – Fresh mussels, jumbo oysters and scallops and rice. Yummy, I wonder what the rich people are eating.
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Today’s drive Orford to Coles Bay to Scamander – 137km