Franklin News and Views

Tasman Coastal Track and Cape Hauy Wednesday 26 to Friday 28 September 07 This was two walks spread over three days. The first two on the Tasman Coastal Track commencing from Fortescue Bay on an overcast but mostly fine day with a camp just before Tatnells Hill. There was a decent sort of breeze in the bay but this became quite strong once we reached Dolomieu Point with the wind howling and the seas pounding the cliffs. However even though only a metre or so in from the cliffs at times the wind just shot straight up leaving us in relatively calm conditions. We reached the campsite close to 5 pm and Sue headed off to find the creek for water whilst I put up the tent. After going a fair distance Sue became concerned that she hadn't arrived at the creek and decided the best option would be blow her whistle to make sure she hadn't wandered in the wrong direction. The sign did indicate a 10 minute walk to water and this did prove pretty right, but the track is now a bit over

The photos can be viewed as a slideshow --------------

Gates Bluff Wednesday 5 September to Friday 7 September 07 The route for this walk was modified after looking at a map marked with the way Andreas Hack planned to walk through the bush near the Hazards Lagoon. We adopted a variation on this by leaving the Isthmus Track about 400 metres from Wineglass Bay and after a short bit of bush came out at the side of Hazards Lagoon, which was mostly dry at this point. The conditions were so good and pleasant that we walked along the sandy shore line eventually coming to a section filled with plenty of water, crossed a small bush patch to reach a very pleasant small lagoon. Beyond this an attempt to make a direct line for Lagunta Creek was quickly reversed and we cut across to the beach a bit over 100 metres north of the creek outlet. The flowers from here through to Cooks were splendid, especially the Thryptomene. Unfortunately the dunes of Cooks Beach are being undermined by the sea. We left the track just north of

Wednesday 29 August Noted that the vehicle track in has been blocked by a trench. We took the second vehicle track as usual but this time decided to head directly to the gorge at the end of it; however it turned out to be just a subsidiary creek that actually joined the Bluff River north of the walk crossing point. When we did find the walking track we crossed over the river, followed that side of the gorge down and returned via the big overhangs before exiting and returning to the car.