Hollow Mountain Track - Grampians - VIC

Walk:  Hollow Mountain

Distance/Type: Hike 2.4km / Return

Terrain/Rating:  Short Hilly and Rocky mountain climb

Start / Finish Time:  9:00am / 10:00am

Start / Finish Location:  Hollow Mountain Carpark.

Trip Detail Summary: 
Walk is uphill through bush for the intial 1km then up and along the rocky mountain outcrop to Hollow Mountain and its summit.

Trip Details:

Starting from the carpark walk for about 10 to 15 minutes before heading slightly uphill and reaching the bottom of the mountain range.

Track start.

From here you worm your way around and up with the occasional rock scramble.

The track opens up on the rocky mountain where the hollow cave is situated.

Around behind the cave to the left is a crevice which gives a view of the valley below.

You can walk around inside the cave with views.

Another 20 min walk to the top gives views for as far as the eye can see.

Mountain Top.

Working your way down the side trip to the abseiling area.

Its about a 15 minute side trip.

Abseiling area.

Coloured Walls.

Bay of Fires - Freycinet Peninsular - TAS

Walk:   Freycinet Peninsular

Distance/Type: Hike 33km / Return

Map:

  

Terrain/Rating:  

Day 1 Flat beach walk / Easy , Day 2 Hilly (600m) / Medium

Start Time:  

11am

Start / Finish Location:  

Freycinet Peninsular Carpark

Trip Detail Summary: 
Start at Freycinet Carpark, walking along Hazards Beach to camp at Cooks Hut campsite overnight, heading back to the carpark via Mt Graham the next day.

Trip Details:
For this trip we arrived in Launceston Friday evening and stayed at the nearby Treasure Island Caravan Park in Glen Dhu, which is suburb about a 5 minute drive away from the airport heading towards Launceston.

Treasure Island Caravan Park

The drive from Launceston to the Freycinet Peninsular should take no more than 2 hours.
Coles Bay is the closest town (15 mins) to the Peninsular and is a pretty location for a coffee and has a general store to pickup any late minute items.
From Coles Bay you can view the Freycinet Peninsular across the bay. 
We could see inclement weather was in store for us on this hike.

Coles Bay

Parking in Freycinet Peninsular requires a Parks Pass.
You can buy a  Parks Pass either at the carpark or from the Park Information Centre.
The Park Information Centre is on the main road from Coles Bay to the Peninsular carpark.
There are toilets here as well as at the carpark.There are no showers at the Park Center unfortunately.

We arrived at the carpark at 10:45am and were immediately greeted by a pair of pandamelons with joeys, which seem to have made the carpark their home and feeding ground.

Our hike began at 11am.
There is an intentions book at the shelter should be signed if you are doing any overnight camping.

Track Start

The initial section of the track is nicely maintained for the traffic to the popular Wineglass Bay Lookout which is about a 30 mins uphill walk.
For our trip we bypass the lookout,.
After heading a few 100m along the main track we turn right and head off down the track towards Hazards Beach.
The wide track narrows quickly to a  path which works its way around the bay.

Some nice granite boulders inland and views of the water can be seen along this section of the track.

After 30 mins or so the track heads downwards through some densely forested areas for a few hundred meters.

About an hour into the walk we arrive at the sandy shores of  Hazards Beach.

Start of Hazards Beach.

The forecast was for a cloudy drizzly day which is exactly how it panned out.
A pleasant day for walking but the lack of sun prevented the colours coming out from the water and the famous orange granite.
After walking along Hazards Beach for 30 minutes it was decided to take a lunch break on the beach while the weather was reasonable, as the weather looked more threatening further on. 

Hazards Beach.

Another 30 minutes along the sandy shores we end at the Hazards Beach campsite (which has pit toilets)
We continue on as the track works its way back into forest area but keeps close to the shoreline.

We follow Peninsula track through the forest for about 30 minutes before arriving at the shores of Cooks Beach.  There is a track junction here where the Peninsula track heads inland, over the mountains and back to Wineglass Bay. This is the return track we take tomorrow morning.

View arriving at Cooks Beach.

Start of Cooks Beach.

For our destination today, we head along the beach for a short 15 minute walk to the Cooks Beach Campsite.

Cooks Beach Campsite.

Arriving at the Cooks Beach campsite you have a few camping options.
You can camp near the beach or up to 100m inland near Cooks Hut. The campsite is well treed and pretty sheltered from the beach especially closer to the hut. 
At the time of our trip Cooks Hut was boarded up.  I have no idea whether it will be re-opened.
There are 3 water tanks that get fed off its roof with only one being available whilst we were there. There seemed to be plenty of water in the tank but we were there at the end of the winter period. so in summer best to carry in your own water.

Cooks Hut.

The campsite has a pretty beach to relax at.

Cooks Hut campsite beach.

The next morning we head back down the beach the way we came back to the Peninsula track junction to head inland. This is a longer walk than yesterdays so a earlier start was planned at 9am.

Peninsula track over Freycinet Saddle.

The weather was windy, cool and wet which we thought might make the track tricky as we had read that it could be slippery on the rocks along the way. I can only recall  2 spots along the track that I would say you had to pay attention to when walking but no real scary or dangerously slippery areas.

Peninsula track over Freycinet Saddle.

The walk through this area took 1-2 hours before you reach the Southern rend of the Wineglass Bay beach.

There is a Camping area and pit toilet here, very basic.
For our 2 day hike, we continue on along the beach.

The walk along the beach is a little over 1km.
We reached the other end of the bay /Wineglass Bay track within 20 mins.

It takes another 30min to walk up the hill to the intersection with the Wineglass Bay Lookout track.
This side track only takes 2 minutes to get to the lookout, worthwhile sidetrip on a clear day.

From the lookout intersection its 40 min mainly downhill walk back to the carpark.
If doing this hike remember to sign out of the intentions book.

Allow 2 hours to get back to the Launceston Airport.

Vango Helium 200 - Equipment Review - Tent -

Equipment:
Vango Helium 200 2 man tent.

Intro:
The hybrid tunnel design, ease of pitching and watertight seams make the 2 man Helium 200 a welcome shelter at the end of a day on the hills. TBS® Pro and pre-bend poles offer exceptional stability, end vents allow for a through flow of air reducing condensation build up and its light weight and compact pack size make the Helium ideal for short trips without compromising comfort.
The main reasons for purchasing were for a very lightweight tent at a reasonable price.
At 1.3kg for $A329 on ebay this is about as good as you can get weightwise for the price.
I now have the flexibility of a spacious 1-2 man tent to go with the Exped Sirius 2-3 man tent.
                   
Features:

• All in one pitching
• TBS® Pro Tension Band System
• Protex® 5,000HH SPU ripstop nylon 20D
• NEW 40D breathable ripstop inner tent
• HD nylon groundsheet
• Force Ten FlexLite poles
• Flat pole sleeves
• NEW Dyneema guylines
• Pre-angled poles
• O shaped inner door
• Flysheet door can be opened as a vent
• Rain stop flysheet door
• Multiple reflective points
• NEW flysheet vents with mesh covering
• Part mesh inner door
• Lightweight stuffsac

Review:
Tested the Vango tent on the Freycinet Peninsular / Wineglass Bay / Bay of Fires hike.
Easy to carry, nice and small so easy to put virtually anywhere in the pack.
Need to practice some more on setting it up, couldnt get it as tight as I liked especially since it was likely to be wet overnight on the first night.
Overall was a little bit disappointed with it. I like a bit of space both inside and in the vestibule to protect your pack and other items that dont need to be inside. The Vango vestibule only just covered my 60L pack with boots and bottles.
I am 6ft tall and couldnt really sit up straight without my head touching the roof, there is no flat ceiling area inside, just a peak at chest level laying down and the roof slopes its way down at about a 60 degree angle to the feet where its about a foot tall in the middle apex.

Theres not much height to stick items at the feet end without them getting wet from any condensation off the ceiling overnight.

 I had condensation in the morning both in damp and dry conditions even though there seems to be plenty of ventilation. The sacrifice for extra few 100 grams of weight for the lack of that extra space probably isnt worth it.

Two Bays - Mornington Peninsular - VIC

Walk:  Two Bays Dromana to Cape Schank

Distance/Type: Hike 21km / One Way
Terrain/Rating:  Hilly and undulating countryside
Start Time:  11am
Start / Finish Location:  Arthurs Seat / Bushrangers Bay

Trip Detail Summary: 
This was just a surveillance walk/drive to get info on the track and any good overnight campsites along the way.  Start at Arthurs Seat Carpark, walk along various tracks and finish at Bushrangers Bay.

Trip Details:

Firstly had a look at the Arthurs Seat chairlift at the bottom of the hill. This chairlift has been shutdown for over a decade now after a few accidents due to lack of maintenance.  The chairlift VicParks are looking for a new operator to rebuild the .

Arthurs Seat chairlift.

The official start of the Two Bays walk is actually from Dromana beach and then head up Latrobe Parade to the corner of Latrobe Parade and Bunurong Track.  There's a small dirt carpark here which could take about 6 cars snuggly. 

Two Bays track start at Bunurong Track.

Walk across Bunurong Track, through the gate the path winds uphill for about 1.5km until you reach the Seawinds Gardens.  These gardens are accessible by car and a nice rest spot for this walk with picnic tables, water and toilets.

Seawind Gardens.

Continuing through Seawind Gardens the track heads slightly downhill with nice sweeping views of the bay.

At 3.5km into the walk we arrive at the junction with the Kings Falls circuit walk.  Not that you should need water yet, but there is a dam at this junction behind the mound on the East.

Seamist Drive dam.

The Kings Falls circuit walk takes a leisurely hour to do but would only recommend for a short day trip rather than as a side trip here. At the time of walking it was closed off due to storm damage with a few fallen trees across the track and damaging some of the boardwalks along the way. None of these made the track dangerous or unpassable but care is needed.

Kookaburra on the Kings Falls track.

The Kings Falls themselves had minimal water flowing and would only be of interest after some decent rainfall.

Kings Falls lookout.

Kings Falls.

Once the circuit is finished turn left back at the junction and head down Concept Spur track. Travelling down the track you get great views of McLaren Dam and the Rosebud Golf Course.
After 2km you pass the Bowls Club and McLaren Dam before reaching Waterall Gully Road.

Track at Waterfall Gully Road.

This next section is the "suburbia" part of the walk passing many houses. Turn right down Waterfall Gully Rd, turn left at Goolgowie St and head thru the reserve on the corner of Avalon Drive.

  

Goolgowie Reserve.

At the other end of the reserve you turn right and head down Yambil Ave. Turn left at the roundabout opposite the Peninsular Sands Estate and head down Duells Rd. At the T intersection turn right on Gardens Road and over the stile away from civilisation. The track is well signposted thru the streets.

Unfortunately the battery on my camera went flat from here on.

Yambil and Duells Rd roundabout intersection.

After about 1km of walking along the road reserve between farm land you cross over Browns Road and head on for another 1km before reaching the Greens Bush section of the walk.

Map:

http://www.visitmorningtonpeninsula.org/pdf/05_0289.pdf
 

I haven't check the track between Browns Rd and Boneo Rd but having a look around the Highfield/Long Point area you could camp near the Highfield buildings, Long Point next to Lightwood Creek or the unofficial/official halfway campsite, Lightwood Creek. The creek itself had a reasonable flow of clear water but as you are surrounded by farmlands if you had to drink it, I'd boil/treat it.  The Highfield buildings have toilet blocks but they may not be open. This looks like some sort of school camp setup so for most of the year it will be locked up and empty. You should be able to find yourself a water tap there. 

If you cut the walk slightly short, you could probably do this hike in a day with a daypack and a car shuffle to the Boneo Rd/Highfield car park.

If doing the full walk, the track continues across Boneo Rd and uses the track to Bushrangers Bay which takes about 30 mins. It then heads for 30 mins along the coast to the Cape Schanck Lighthouse.   There are toilets, water and a small kiosk here.

Badger Creek Weir - Healsville - VIC

Walk: Badger Creek Weir.

Distance/Type: 4km / Return  
Terrain/Rating:  Flat / Easy / No wheelchair access to weir.
Start Time:  11am
Start Location:  Badger Creek Picnic area.
Trip Detail Summary: 
Please note that in 2016 this area was completely devastated by a storm. All amenities were destroyed and as of 2018 trees were still down and virtually nothing has been done to clean it up.

Walk from Badger Creek Picnic area, crossing bridge and head up Lyrebird track along the creek before crossing back over the creek, heading up Coranderrk Track to the weir.  Head back to Picnic area completely along the main Coranderrk Track.
Trip Details:
Came across this little gem of a picnic ground and short walk park by accident.
Originally heading towards Marysville via the Maroondah Hwy I had to divert to Warburton due to the highway being closed just north of the Maroondah Reservoir.
Badger Creek is a little town about a 5 minute drive south east from Healseville along Don Rd.
The main attraction is the Weir which is reached by turning left up the Badger Creek Weir Rd.

Badger Creek Weir entrance

There are plenty of undercover seats and tables and bbqs scattered around the park and a reasonable toilet block.

Badger Creek Picnic area.

Having no real idea of the walks in the area I headed to the weir via what looked like the longer more scenic track to the left along the creek called Lyrebird Track.

Track across creek to Lyrebird Track.

With a huge amount of rainfall in the surrounding hillsides recently there was a huge flow of water in the creek.  I assume normally it would've been just a trickle with previous drought conditions.

Just after crossing the creek theres an intersection where Lyrebird Track heads off to the right. 

Lyrebird Track slightly flooded.

The track then follows the creek for about 10 minutes before crossing back over the creek and joining up with the main path called Coranderrk Trk.

Coranderrk Track.

After travelling a few more minutes down the Coranderrk Track theres a track on the left which leads down to the weir.

Badger Creek Weir bridge.

All in all a nice easy 40 min hike that you could take the family on.

Badger Creek Weir