Monday, October 4, 2010

Mt Misery

Tasmania has a lot of places with dire names. So many that it is a popular joke for the tourists - we bought a stubby holder recently with a map of Tasmania including many of these names on it, such as Dismal Swamp and Hells Gates.

So when I read in a tourist guide of the area we live in that there is a walk up to Mt Misery, I had to go. Yesterday was anything but miserable though. It was a warm sunny spring day, T-shirt and shorts weather. The walk starts in the private nature reserve at the Huon Bush Retreats near Ranelagh. I was glad to be driving a 4WD to get there.

The hike up the hill is fairly steep, but through rainforest so it's lovely and cool. At the top, the vegetation changes suddenly into sub-alpine heath and some dry forest. Part of it was burnt in a 2007 bushfire. There is a rocky outcrop with fabulous 360 degree views, with the highlight being the snowy peaks in the south and west. The return trip took about two-and-a-half hours, including a rest at the top and plenty of photo stops.

 

2 comments:

  1. The view looks worth the effort. Was Baerli allowed to come too?

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  2. Dogs aren't permitted in the private nature reserve at Huon Bush Retreats - even in cars, according to the sign at the gate. I ran into the owner up the top of the walk, who said they have loads of wildlife there but unfortunately a couple of feral cats at the moment too. Luckily we can take B into the forestry areas near where we live though.

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