Part 5 Macquarie Harbour and Queenstown
The picturers have disapeared in the transfer ??
The tourist trip on the Harbour Master II around Macquarie Harbour, Sarah island and the Gordon River.
The weather was just perfect and thus we exited hells gate to the Cape Sorell lighthouse and returned - a rare treat.
Sarah Island was the most extreme convict settlement in Australia, it even preceded in time that of Port Arthur.
There are some great stories that emulated from here.
Thousands of lashes per year.
Escapes leading to cannibalism
The hardest of all only for re-offenders
One incredible escape where the stolen ship and inmates sail to Argentina..
Then is a very short time:
Its a model prison with inmates re-offending to be sent here.
It’s the largest shipyard in Australia producing a ship every 3 weeks.
On the job training etc
‘Good’ food and improved accomodation.
The local play that we participated in this evening is about that very stolen ship
“The Ship That never Was” = very worth seeing - and its been running for 26 years !
A quick drive of Ocean Beach and back to the Pine Forest for Wild Camp No23
Friday:
A bit of a clean up, washing...
...and caught up with my Sister Kay, and Noel who are also travellin g Tasmania
We also today have the National Parks gate key to do the Mt Crotty Track. - That’s Tomorrow.
Wild Camp No 24 beside Lake Burbury
Saturday 5th March 2022
This area of the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park is very sensitive and Nat. parks wants to keep weeds etc out.
After washing the truck we had to present our vehicle for inspection before being allocated the key.
The fungus for Eucalyptus die back, introduced Blackburry, and Gause is on the NO list.
There are 3 locations on the track for these bee hives all for Leather wood Honey.
After the last hive grouping the track is not maintained.
2nd LOW is the go
Remember the 1980 Franklin River blockade to stop the dams.
At 700m high the vegetation changes with some Endemic Tasmanian species - King Billy Pine and these iconic Pandani.
In the distance our goal.
Mt McCall
As the low cloud moves in we are almost there
Our wild camp No 25 at 700m.
The road does go further to about 500m before the Franklin River but incredibly rough and VERY steep. Then a rough foot track to the river 300m vertically in just 500m...Not Today !
Today: 32Kms
Total: 1902 Kms
Altitude: 716m
Here we are:
What goes up must come down.
2nd gear low range - same as we ascended.
In the far distance is Lake Macquarie
Discovered in 1972, is the Darwin Meteorite Crater.
Its the source of Darwin Glass found over a 400sq Kms area.
This glass was formed when the rocks melted following the impact some 816,000 years ago, and thrown back up into the atmosphere.
Tried everywhere to get a better pic but the dense timber and topography just dot not allow.
Wild Camp No 26 some 40 kms East of Queenstown
Monday 7th March 2022
Heading East on the Lyle H’way.
The 1.2km walk to the top of Donaghy’s Hill gives a great view of Frenchman’s cap and down below the confluence of the Collingwood and Franklin Rivers.
And way below one of the 2 rafts we see starting out on the 10 day Franklin River expedition.
We take forestry tracks as a short cut from Wayatinah to Maydena.
This is our 1/2 way camp beside an idyllic river.
So peaceful here and my thoughts turn to those in Ukraine and the terror they must be experiencing.
I feel quite guilty ...
Wild Camp: 28
Today : 158 Kms
Total : 2,173 Kms
Altitude 400m
Tuesday 8th March 2022
Gordon River Dam -
Quite an engineering feat.
Its a 150kms return trip and although the country is a nice drive the dam is well worth a touch, feel and a walk over.
Constructed in 1974, the wall is a 140m double curve concrete construction and holds back the largest volume of fresh water in Australia.
Nice old house..
Tall Trees Reserve, on a gravel road some 15kms out of Maydena.
These 80m giants are the largest and hardest gums around - Swamp Gum
Wild Camp: 29- Big Timber
Today : 210 Kms
Total : 2,383 Kms
Altitude 400m
Temperature : 2*C overnight
Wild Camp: 30
Hartz Mountains
Today : 152 Kms
Total : 2,535 Kms
Altitude 880 m