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Walking Blue Tier & Bay of Fires, TASMANIA

For SINGLE WALKERS. Ages 45 Years & Over
Sunday 27 November to Friday 2 December 2011 (6 days)

Itinerary

WHAT YOU CARRY:
The Blue Tier and Bay of Fires Tour offers a series of day walks. During the day walks you will need to carry a small backpack. It needs to contain water bottles, warm and waterproof clothing, sun protection cream and clothing, your camera and a snack that your guide may offer before departing your accommodation. It needs to be at least 25-40 litre capacity and should not weigh more than about 7 kg max once packed. 

ACCOMMODATION ON TOUR:
The accommodation is in share style rooms. If you are travelling alone you will share with someone of the same sex.

GEAR CHECK LIST:

What Equipment We Provide 

  • Wet-weather jacket and trousers
  • Satellite phone for emergency use only.
  • Group first aid kit for emergency use only

What Equipment to Bring
A Gear Check List will be provided once you confirm your booking, advising clothing and equipment you are required to bring for you to participate in this adventure. The gear check prior to your departure from Launceston will ensure that your have covered all aspects of the required gear without over packing.

High Cut Ankle Boots
The high cut ankle boots that are mentioned in the gear list are what is considered safest and most ideal for walking on uneven terrain.  This is essential for walks that involve carrying heavy packs in the most remote areas.  However, for this trip it is not so essential.  If you are not sure about the kind of shoes, please send us an email or call. 

If you don't hae high cut ankle boots you may want to consider using a walking pole - however this is not essential.  The idea behind a pole is to give the support that shoes don't offer if the going is steep or really rough.

Day 1 SUNDAY: Launceston to Pyengana via Derby & Waterfalls

Today you will be picked up from your accommodation in Launceston between 8.00am and 8.30am & transferred to a pre-departure briefing at the Arthouse Hostel in Launceston beginning at 8.30am. Your guides will present a general overview of the trip, conduct a gear check and provide you with the opportunity to hire/borrow any equipment/clothing that you may need.

After our briefing we drive approximately 90 minutes north east of Launceston to the Derby Tin Mine Centre (www.trailofthetindragon.com) where we discover the story of how this small township was once the world's largest exporter of tin ore. The afternoon is spent exploring nearby waterfalls such as Ralph Falls, Cuckoo Falls and St Columba Falls. We overnight at the quaint ‘Pub in the Paddock' at Pyengana where we will enjoy a traditional country pub meal. This is the first of two nights we will spend at Pyengana which is an aboriginal word meaning the meeting of two rivers.

Walking Distance: up to 10km
Walking Time: 3-5 hours

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 MONDAY: Blue Tier Nature Reserve
Our morning walk today takes us to the foothills of the Blue Tier where we visit a pocket of remnant old growth rainforest containing giant Eucalypt & Myrtle Tree's. The highlight of this spectacular 90 minute circuit walk is the opportunity to see ‘The Big Tree' which has a massive girth of 19.4m and has braved the tests of time & nearby forestry activity.

In the early afternoon we drive up to the Blue Tier Nature Reserve and enjoy a picnic lunch at the site which was once a thriving mining town called Poimena. Now deserted, this reserve becomes our base for the afternoon from which we can enjoy a selection of the following walks: Australia Hill Circuit Walk: This 2 hour walk has great aboriginal significance and fantastic views back to Ben Lomond and surrounding mountains. Tin mining relics & abandoned machinery are evident. Weldborough Creek Walk: A walk through regenerating rainforests that displays remnants of the regions tin mining history.

Moon Rim Walk: This 2 hour circuit walk takes us to the summit of Mt Poimena providing great views to the east coast, St. Helens and the Furneaux Island Group.

Three Notch Track: Follows an old mining pack trail to McGoughs lookout - superb views of the coastline.

If time permits, we will stop by the historic Pyengana Cheese Factory and enjoy a cheese tasting and cup of coffee before making our way back to the Pub in the Paddock where your guides will prepare a delicious evening meal.

Walking Distance: up to 10k
Walking Time: up to 8 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 TUESDAY: Waterfalls in the Blue Tier & Transfer to Binalong Bay

This morning we may return to Poimena to complete any of the above walks that were missed out on yesterday. We will then visit the historic site of the Anchor Stamper Batteries, where mining relics are disappearing into the regenerating cool temperate rainforests. Another option is the two hour Mt Michael Circuit Walk which on a clear day, provides us with spectacular views of the surrounding area and peaks.

After lunch we depart for the coastal town of St. Helens where we enjoy some free time to explore the local stores, enjoy a coffee and perhaps purchase some Tasmanian beer and wine that can be enjoyed over the following three nights at our spacious holiday houses at Binalong Bay.

Walking Distance: up to 10km
Walking Time: up to 6 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 WEDNESDAY: Bay of Fires Beach Walk

Today we set out to explore the Bay of Fires Conservation Area by walking along the isolated coastline from Policeman's Point to The Gardens. We spend the whole day exploring pristine, white sandy beaches, rock pools and ancient aboriginal middens (shell & bone deposits) under the watchful gaze of various sea birds usually circling overhead. Along the way we will stop for lunch and the opportunity to have a swim or to simply sit back and take in the breathtaking views of the iconic orange lichen covered granite rocks contrasting with the aquamarine colour of the sea - an

image that is representative of Tasmania's spectacular east coast. When our walking is complete, we will be driven the short distance back to our accommodation at Binalong Bay to enjoy dinner and each others company as the sun sets over the bay.

Walking Distance: 14km
Walking Time: up to 6-8 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 THURSDAY: Eddystone Lighthouse & Mt. William National Park
This morning we drive to the northern most end of the Bay of Fires Conservation Area to see the Eddystone Lighthouse which was constructed in 1889. We will explore the surrounding coves before continuing to Mt. William National Park to see one of the only areas where Forrester Kangaroos still exist in Tasmania. After lunch at Stumpy's Bay we make our way through coastal vegetation to Mt.William and climb to the summit to enjoy spectacular views of the east coast, Flinders Island, Cape Barren Island, Eddystone Lighthouse and even Ben Lomond!

Walking Distance: up to 10 kms
Walking Time: up to 6 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 FRIDAY: St. Mary's and Evercreech Forest Reserve
This morning we hope to enjoy a private encounter with Gloria Andrews, a local aboriginal elder who shares the story of her cultural heritage with us and may show us examples of aboriginal basket work, tools etc that have been passed down through the generations in her family.

Saying farewell to the East Coast we drive to Evercreech Forest Reserve to see the tallest white gums in the world that stand over 90m high and are referred to as the ‘White Knights'. Here we have the opportunity to explore two short walking tracks that take us through forests of Blackwoods & Manferns and to the picturesque Evercreech Falls. After lunch we drive past Mathinna and return to Launceston via forestry roads. You will be dropped off at your accommodation at approx 5pm at which time your group may arrange to meet later that evening to share a final meal in Launceston together.

Walking Distance: up to 6km
Walking Time: 3-4 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

 
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