Southern Forests

Arve River Picnic Ground


This morning we drove from here to Sandfly, then on to Huonvale and down the other side of the Huon River (to yesterday's drive). It's a really pretty area with lots of apples, stone fruits and veg growing and being offered for sale in little road side stalls. I think it's the most like the Tasmania many people would imagine. The river has lots of fish farms and a few factories and heaps of yachts moored in the little bays.

At Geeveston, we headed to the Southern Forests. We drove out to a pretty spot called Lookout Lookin for a brief walk through the temperate rain forest with its tall trees, tree ferns and mosses.

It was just on 12 o'clock so we decided to drive the 7 ks back into Geeveston and have lunch so we could actually enjoy the rest of the afternoon. Geeveston is a bit limited for eateries, but as usual, there was a bakery. Today being St Pat's day and the owner of the place being Irish, it and the staff were decked out in green, and Beef and Guinness was the pie of the day. We decided to get into the spirit and order a couple of the pies which were delicious-the best filling in a pie we've had in Tasmania. They were offering green coffees too-but we weren't quite THAT spirited!

Arve River Picnic Ground


After lunch, we went back and stopped next at the Arve River picnic ground where we took another short walk along the river and through the forest.

Hartz NP





Then on to Hartz National Park. It's a beautiful drive up into the Alpine region which we've decided we love in Tasmania. The mountains, rock and plants are more dramatic than the gentler farming land. We took a lovely walk to the Arve River Waterfall across the alpine field; the area is covered with water that gently runs downwards to the Arve, gradually getting bigger and bigger until it rushes and drops 500 metres down from the plateau to once again become the gentle little river at the picnic ground below.

Arve Waterfall (The Top)


For most of the walk to the falls, we were the only ones there. A couple of couples walked in as we were leaving, but I don't think many people visit.

The Big Tree


We stopped at the Big Tree after that. It's the biggest tree by weight in Australia-it's not the tallest and keeps losing its top in wind and storms, but is still a massive thing. I should point out that you can't see about 15 more metres of it in the photo and I think a large family could live in the base of it-the photos just can't show the immense size of it.

We met a couple at the tree who are from near Wonthaggi in Vic and after talking to them about mum and dad coming form there (dad was born in Jetho, they lived in Loch and Wonthaggi) we got onto names. I said dad and mum had bred dogs and it turned out the woman's sister had bought dad's last breeding dog Dooley who just died at a very old age! The man had been a livestock carrier and knew mum and dad's neighbour Allan Bramstedt REALLY well too-it's such a small world.

The Big Butt


We went on the the end of the road and the Sky Walk, but decided not to pay the $22 each so late in the day and headed home. We shopped in Huonvale Woolies for a few things and got home just on 6 pm; what a great day out.

Waratah Lookout