Julian & Ali Travels


Trial Harbour and Montezuma Falls		February 20 - 23

		A small flock of Crested Terns. A walk along the beach to our south, looking round the corner, before retreating from the onslaught of march flies.

		The weather a mixture. At this time clear blue skies. But always a wind. Sometimes from the west, sometimes from the north.

		At last a sunset. The sun shining through the waves.

		Lighting up wet rocks on the shore.

		But then a day of rain. Enough sun to charge the batteries. Just. And enough to illuminate some of the waves, as the wind tries to turn them back.

		I grew up knowing them as white horses.

		I doubt I'll ever tire.

		After the rain, an early evening stroll a few hundred meters towards the town. More wildlife than I've seen for a while. As if they are recovering from forced inaction, just as I. Two young wrens. Feathers fluffed up as they try to be warm.

		And sparrows. A biggish flock. I didn't recognise them, similarly all fluffed up.

		There were a few padmelons trying to catch up. This one with a joey.

		Next morning we leave Trial Harbour. After 7 nights. "goo-goo-g'joob" (with more apologies to the Beatles).

		Towards the mountains.

		Through Zeehan. Again. The loo cassettes turned red this morning. A dump point just in time.

		Rosebery Mine. At least the concentrator. Lead zinc silver gold and I suspect a bit of copper. Operation started in 1936. Exploration says there's still many years left. Resistance to a plan for an expanded tailings dam resulted in an alternative plan for a new dam, a few km to the south, which is "the lesser of two evils", being approved last week. Concentrates shipped by train to Burnie, then ship to Hobart and Port Pirie. Estimate is around 50 - 60,000 tonnes of zinc in zinc concentrate per year. Gold doré bars (an alloy of gold and silver) are sold to a refinery in Australia to be refined into gold and silver bullion.

		We turn south towards Williamsford. On, you've guessed, Williamsford Road. The second time we've see remnants of the aerial ropeway which used to carry ore from the Hercules Mine to Rosebery. Hercules Mine closed in 1986. Part of Rosebery Mines it also produced zinc, lead, silver, gold, and some copper.

		Remnants of ore loading.

		Before there was a ropeway there was a tramway from Williamsford to Maple Flats at Zeehan. Up to 1914 ore was smelted there. About 700 tonnes of trees per week to power the smelters. Its now a popular walk to Montezuma Falls. About 5km. We joined 15 other parked vehicles. While we were away the car park filled, and emptied, a bit. A steady stream of people.

		Much easier than the Kelly Basin Track. Like this all the way, with some surface water. Higher above the river in a narrow valley. The rain forest very similar. Its had 100 years to revocer.

		We have become used to tannin stained creeks. But here the water is clear. The colour is in the rocks of the creek. A prominent sign saying the water should not be drunk. A bit of later research, this is Bakers Creek. The Hercules Mine is in the headwaters. Acid mine drainage from the old workings pollute the creek. The result of sulphide rocks exposed to water. A common problem in Australia. We've seen worse, but its never nice.

		The sun pokes through the clouds. By the end of our walk, 10.8km round trip there and back, clear blue skies.

		The bridge is decaying.

		Never tired of moss on trees. This forest is not the dark primeval forest we've seen elsewhere. But definitely damp looking temperate rainforest.

		Spikes that held rails to sleepers.

		Sleepers on which the rails rested.

		Occasional water falls at the side of the track.

		Even an old adit. I look, but I guess whatever caught the miners' attention has been mined. I can walk in about 10m, to a barrier.

		Montezuma Falls. Tasmania's highest. 103m. We are lucky, yesterday's rain means good flow. This pic is limited by my lack of enthusiasm for walking too far across the suspension bridge. Solidly built, all steel. Its a long time since I thought of such bridges as normal in the bush, I need practice. Its also high above the river.

		But saved by the viewing platform at the base of the falls.

		As it looked in 1899. With a lot of missing trees.

		Ali, and an Italian walker, were braver than I.

		The trestle bridge across the river, about where the suspension bridge is, was 48m long. I didn't find the concrete work. I could see some very heavy looking timbers and bolts.

		Sassafras is conical. I imagine this is sassafras. I couldn't get close enough to investigate the leaves.

		A little tired, but happy. We retreat to Tullah Oval to camp. The campsites on the banks of Lake Rosebery are full. The Oval lots of space when we arrive, swelling to about 10 well spread out campers within an hour. This pic of the lake is where we drove across the bridge south of Tullah. Perhaps Mt Black on the left.

Gateway

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