Category Archives: activities

2021

February 13th

Ascent of Ben Nevis

Mike Douglas lead us up the steep track to the summit at 1368 metres. From dense regrowth forest of Eucalyptus delegatensis, through a belt of Eucalyptus archeri, then above 1200 metres alpine vegetation, including the beautiful Tasmanian snow gentian. The grand vista from the summit took in Mt Maurice, Mt Albert, Mt Victoria and Mt Saddleback.

March 13th

Whale Rock, Mt Cameron

Whale rock, on Mount Cameron’s south West peak, is a spectacular boulder resembling a breaching whale emerging from the granite slab. We walked through open woodland of bracken, dotted with large stringybark and black peppermints, their trunks blackened by bush fires. Also common were caterpillar acacia, bulloak, banksia, kunzea and tea tree. Then we passed between massive sculptural boulders with drifts of the rock orchid Dockrillia clinging to them. From the huge steep granite slab beside Whale Rock, where we stopped for lunch, there are breathtaking views to the west across the Mt Cameron Regional Reserve, and north to the coast and the mouth of the Ringarooma river at Boobyalla.

April 10th

Paradise High Plain

Views of Ben Nevis, and Mts Victoria and Albert; an old pine arboretum, vestigial rain forest, 2 huge 200 (at least) year old myrtles, sub-alpine vegetation, and even a bit of wind-driven snow.

May 8th

Two properties at East Diddleum

We visited two properties, the first with sub-alpine grassland, and both with native rainforest. The highlight of the day was the wide range of fungi to be seen and photographed.

June 12th

Notley Fern Gorge

A richly satisfying fungi foray in the remnant rain forest.

September 11th

Mount Cameron with Mike Douglas

We walked a network of 19th century water races from tin mining days, some dug by hand by both Chinese and European miners. We took a scrambled diversion across Deep Creek (aka Galloway Creek)

October 9th

Upper Scamander and Granite Knob

November 13th

Mt. Barrow Discovery Trail with Len Gillett

We explored the Trail in vehicles, interspersed with short and interesting walks. Remains of the timber industry going back to the mid 1800s were seen, as well as the mightier destruction caused by forestry happening right now. We picnicked at the rather neglected discovery centre, and found many orchids in bloom. Our last stop was at the Weaver’s Creek Waterfall.

December 11th

Cape Portland – Petal Point and Wind farm

Looking for threatened species.

2013

February

Black Creek pools and Derby tunnel

Lunch and a ramble at the pools. Then to the 3.7 metre-long tunnel cut through solid granite in the early 1880s by the Briseis Tin Mining company. We saw glow-worms, Arachnocampa tasmaniensis, and the cave spider, widely distributed in Tasmania – a top-level predator maintaining a stronghold around the entrance zones to caves and tunnels.

March

Bush-food day at Little Musselroe

April

Mt Cameron Range – the Skywalk

May

Tomahawk walk and talk with Aboriginal elder Patsy Cameron

Patsy shared her extensive knowledge of Aboriginal culture, local plants and animals, and bush tucker.We were introduced to “cunnygong” (pigface), the natural aloe vera for burns and ant bites. Also of note was the native cranberry, Astroloma humifusum, Diplarrena moraea, the white flag iris, a favourite plant for basket weaving. And an unusual species of native cherry, Coastal Ballart, Exocarpus syrticola,

June

Blackman’s Lagoon

Blackman’s Lagoon covers 28 ha. And is an important site for the rare State and Commonwealth protect-ed dwarf galaxias Galaxiella pusilla. This is a small scaleless species which grows to a maximum of 40mm and can survive in the substrate even when the water dries up. A list of native species and bird-life is here

July

Rocky ramble Mount Cameron

A small band of nine members enjoyed this walk partway up the Wedgetail Peak Track, starting from the Field Study Centre. The track wandered through a woodland of gnarled black peppermints, stringy barks and white gums and then climbed up rocky slopes dotted with granitoid monoliths resembling abstract sculpure

September

Harridge Falls

After a scramble down the steep, humus-rich and damp hillside we slid and wended our way over fallen logs covered in beautiful fungi such as the “curtain crisp” until we reached the Weld River and the falls.
We disturbed an echidna at his ant lunch and caught a glimpse of the prized pink robin. We also spotted some maroon hoods, Pterostylis pedunculata, thriving in the sandy damp conditions.

October

Federation of Field Nats get-together Port Sorell

November

W.A.G. Walker Rhododendron Gardens, Lalla

In the gullies Tree ferns, dogwoods, Bursaria, white gums and various species of rhododendrons. Higher up, Eucalyptus obliqua and a stand of Eucalyptus viminalis,
On the ground, maroonhoods, the curtain crisp fungus, and the dogs vomit slime mould. Above, the crescent honeyeater, the golden whistler, pardalotes, thornbills, cuckoos, the shrike thrush, and everywhere wrens and robins.