14 Sunday Jul 2019
Posted in days out, one with nature
This morning I stepped out for a stroll along our local coastal path.
It was a chilly 8°C with a good covering of snow on Mount Wellington, across the river. But with more heavy rain forecast it was good to get some fresh air.
Yesterday was rain all day so I did some chores then spent the afternoon with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire. The joy of afternoon movies on a winters day 🙂
29 Saturday Sep 2018
Posted in days out, one with nature
This morning, I went for a walk along one of the rivulets that flow down from Mount Wellington. Two hundred years ago, these streams provided fresh water to the new settlement of Hobart, although they gradually became polluted by industry and the growing population. Today they are public spaces with walking tracks.
New Town Rivulet has a couple of interesting sculptures representing local flora and fauna.
I wonder how long this bench has been along this track? How many people of rested here?
26 Thursday Apr 2018
Posted in one with nature, weekly photo challenge
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Now I’m back in an office full time, I’m taking every opportunity to take a walk, to connect with nature, to observe the changing seasons.
The Hobart Rivulet track is ideal during my lunch break.
St David’s Park is close by.
At the weekend, it’s nice to visit the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
Or one of the many coast paths or bush tracks.
Join me for a walk and follow the lines of the footpaths.
03 Tuesday Apr 2018
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Hobart has a wide network of walking tracks. Here are a few of the coastal paths, with views of the River Derwent heading out to the Southern Ocean.
21 Saturday Oct 2017
Posted in one with nature, weekly photo challenge
05 Tuesday Jul 2016
Posted in one with nature
Saturday was a sunny winter day so we went for a drive and a stroll on the east coast.
The steps and decking from the car park to this lookout at Marion Bay, were new since our last visit. Then it was a windy day and kite surfers were taking advantage of the air currents and waves. Now the beach was desserted.
Although this weekend was calm, there was evidence of recent storms.
The sand dunes have been eroded by the ocean and the gales.
Branches and shells continue to be covered by wind blow sand.
Even amongst the natural debris, someone had created a piece of art.
The waves were relatively small but still made a good sound as they crashed to the shore.
Now that I spend my weekdays in an office, weekend walks out in the natural world are essential and refreshing.
29 Tuesday Mar 2016
Posted in days out, one with nature
It’s been a few months since we went for a bush walk. We have been enjoying the beach and coastal paths during the summer months.
The shade of the bush called us on a still hot day recently, when there was no cooling breeze off the water. A walk on Mount Wellington from Fern Tree to Spring Falls sounded appealing.
Fern Tree is well named with an abundance of tree ferns in the area. We chose the steeper path and walked a longer circular route to the waterfalls.
There was no sign of water in the gullies or below the bridges that we navigated.
At a junction of bush tracks we saw this memorial. A little further on, this marker provided more information about the 1903 race.
The waterfalls were well worth the effort even after a long dry spring and summer. We must revisit after some winter rains.
I’m joining Jo’s Monday Walk this week.
16 Wednesday Dec 2015
Posted in days out, one with nature
My contribution to Jo’s walk this week is a gentle stroll.
Every fortnight there is a twilight market nearby. There are craft stalls, food and drink booths, musical entertainment and games for the kids.
After a delicious seafood pastry and bottle of local cider, we strolled home. It was low tide so we took the scenic route along the beach rather than up the road.
Photos were taken looking back the way we came, looking away from the setting sun.
The walk took us along the sand, under the boat jetty, past the steps leading nowhere, around the boats, over some rocks, home to mussels and oysters, over a rusty boat ramp, more rocks, past the ducks and cormorants, eventually along the section of beach below our balcony.
A very pleasant December evening in Hobart.
27 Tuesday Oct 2015
Posted in days out
This coastal path on the River Derwent, just south of Hobart, is one of our favourite places.
The well maintained footpath hugs the coastline as it passes through a range of vegetation.
The rocks are not far below, with some people choosing to walk that route. As the tide is coming in, there is a constant sound of waves breaking on the rocks. There are glimpses of yachts out on the river.
There are information signs along the track, identifying trees, flowers or sharing a little of the history of the area.
The path skirts the edge of homes that have boundaries to the high water mark. Most home owners are happy for the path to cross their land. A few are not. In some sections there are steps to negotiate a gully.
Then the path opens to this view. The cove is full of pebbles but a closer look shows a high ratio of shells amongst the stones.
We continue around the point to another little beach. Sand this time with a boat shed and dinghies upturned on the grass. It is good to see kids playing on the beach and on the rocks, exploring and enjoying nature.
As we back track we pass a lone grave, a historic site of the oldest known European grave in Tasmania. James Batchelor was buried here on 28th January 1810. He was a young sailor who died on his ship, Venus, that had brought much needed wheat from Calcutta, to the new colony in Van Diemen’s Land. A perfect last resting place, with views of the estuary and the beach below.
Hidden behind the trees, the University of Tasmania has a research campus.
We’ve walked here at various times of the day and in different tide and wind conditions. When a southerly wind blows in, the waves pick up and we have seen surfers having fun on boards or in kayaks.
On a calm evening at low tide, the long shadows enhance the peacefulness of the beach.
Taroona Beach is also a perfect spot for observing the night sky and because it is south facing with minimal light pollution, we have been fortunate to see the Aurura Australis from here – The Southern Lights. As I said, it’s a favourite place.
22 Thursday Oct 2015
Posted in days out
“Salmon Ponds” is a heritage hatchery set in beautiful grounds. It is the oldest hatchery in the southern hemisphere. We enjoyed a walk around on a sunny spring day.
“From it’s inception in the mid 1800’s, Salmon Ponds was designed with visitors in mind. The grounds were landscaped with exotic trees reflecting a Victorian era garden setting. The hatchery with it’s network of display ponds was open to the public.”
The gardens contain over fifty varieties of native and European trees. They are all clearly labelled and are noted on an information sheet map, along with pictures and leaf shapes of each tree type. Original buildings are dotted around the grounds.
Several heritage buildings explain the challenge of bringing salmon and trout from Britain to Tasmania, the life cycle of the fish and history of trout fishing.
The grounds run along side the River Plenty, home to trout and platypus. They grounds are all accessible to wheelchairs and it was interesting to see ramps for disabled fishermen.
There are various ponds, each stocked with a different variety of salmon or trout. Visitors are encouraged to buy food and to feed the fish. This was a lot of fun. There was a lot of splashing going on, with some fish jumping out of the water. Atlantic Salmon, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout and Rainbow Trout were difficult to photograph. Whereas the Albino Rainbow Trout were easily visible in the water.
Although it is called “Salmon Ponds” and salmon were released into the rivers from here, these migratory fish never returned. Trout became the success story and over the years ova from here were used to establish hatcheries throughout Australia and New Zealand. The Victorian challenge to bring the fish reminded me of the movie “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”.
This is my contribution to Jo’s Weekly Walk. Click on the link to enjoy a variety of walks from around the world.
