Tazzie's trips

Ep2
Today we decided to visit the Grove of the Giants, a coupe of huge old eucalypts recently (2023) protected from forest operations.
It contains the world's largest Blue Gum tree , named Lathamus Keep, discovered in 2021. "Lathamus" is the genus name for the critically endangered swift parrot.
22 years ago I first visited the Valley of the Giants , a similar conservation site saved from logging.
I last visited this neck of the woods in 1980 in 1st year uni...fishing/bushwalking. We took a VW Beetle, an uncomfortable go-anywhere vehicle.
It remains today a potholed road that will trap the unwary.
Well we enjoyed a superb 2 hour walk through the cool rainforest. So many massive trees within an area logged in the 19th century. We found parts of what was probably the old horse driven haulage tramway.
Saw nobody else, the beauty of getting off the beaten track. It's a pretty awkward walk for anyone not used to rough conditions underfoot.



Here I am right alongside the reserve. They stopped this sort of desecration in the nick of time!

Tazzieman said:

Ep2
Today we decided to visit the Grove of the Giants, a coupe of huge old eucalypts recently protected from forest operations. 15 years ago I first visited the Valley of the Giants , a similar conservation site saved from logging.
I last visited this neck of the woods in 1980 in 1st year uni...fishing/bushwalking. We took a VW Beetle, an uncomfortable go-anywhere vehicle.
It remains today a potholed road that will trap the unwary.
Well we enjoyed a superb 2 hour walk through the cool rainforest. So many massive trees within an area logged in the 19th century. We found parts of what was probably the old horse driven haulage tramway.
Saw nobody else, the beauty of getting off the beaten track. It's a pretty awkward walk for anyone not used to rough conditions underfoot. View attachment 7881263

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Here I am right alongside the reserve. They stopped this sort of desecration in the nick of time!
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Thank you for sharing those pictures from your big island! It’s for sure a place worth visiting. In my mind I started the plan for a long trip around Australia and Tasmania with visiting those of this forum who would like to.
It’s the lack of time that stops me turning it into reality.
btw, where could I possibly rent a Grenadier in Australia?

bemax said:

Thank you for sharing those pictures from your big island

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My island is the tiny one
But it is like a Tardis!
You are most welcome to visit.

bemax said:

. In my mind I started the plan for a long trip around Australia and Tasmania with visiting those of this forum who would like to.
It’s the lack of time that stops me turning it into reality.

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You need time! It's big!

Tazzieman said:

You need time! It's big!View attachment 7881381

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That’s why I haven’t yet knocked on your door by now. I assume that Tasmania alone is good for some weeks…

bemax said:

That’s why I haven’t yet knocked on your door by now. I assume that Tasmania alone is good for some weeks…

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Years, if you like walking/ exploring in the wild

If you visit Australia over summer, this is early summer. Are you ready for 40-47C?
Only one island place stays comfortable

I would not act stupid but ask the fellows in this forum what the best time would be

Took the highland route home after picking up the car after service ~250km from home.
Perfect late summer afternoon. Managed to capture another butterfly species (an alpine one) to add to my photo collection, plus a big fat caterpillar that turns into a stunning huge moth { the Helena gum moth) we see at home sometimes.
Did our favourite little walk alongside Pine Lake {1200m altitude} with its elderly and younger pines, the origins of which predate flowring species on earth.
Saw one tiger snake , which warned me not to stray from the boardwalk today....

Stunning scenery

It's a long weekend in Tassy and with perfect weather everyone's out and about. We decided to get there a couple of days before and enjoy relative solitude, drive back today and head out for a few days after this weekend. The Grenadier towing 2.5T performed faultlessly , and it's so comfortable.
As before we headed to Lake Pedder, a hydroelectric impoundment but stunningly beautiful and on the edge of true remoteness if you care to take a heavy pack and brave potential roaring 40s weather , snow in summer , lack of water and the various hazards including steep rocky ascents/descents and venomous reptiles.
We went for relaxation , and to try and nail a couple of obscure hills. We couldn't finmd the pubslished access points of the unmarked "trails" , one of whcih we bailed out at the start. The other , well we bush bashed through an area recovering from bushfires in 2020, got covered in charcoal and wore gaiters as it felt quite snakey. Lots of yabbie (small native crayfish) holes. In any case we ploughed on but eventually pulled the plug as it was hard going and very steep. We're not 25 anymore, just wiser!
The drive home was also stunning given the incredible weather. last time it bucketed down and we saw nothing.

Yes we now sleep in a van not a tent. It gets pretty cold at night (300m altitude, 35km from Southern Ocean) and sleep is important; wandering off in the dark to pee is no fun for male or female. We still have a swag tent , should we get the urge to live like homeless people or SAS soldiers But at least the van looks tactical



At the now world famous ex logging town now bike park Maydena - Swedish-Austrian fusion cafe. Bloody nice and A+1 coffee.


If you have to pay for fizzy water, might as well get the good stuff!



Late brunch



Always nice to get amongst nature