LWC Events Program

This working bee is to continue to attach chicken wire to the newly laid duck boards on the Junction Lake Track. It is private cars and we need to meet at the Walls of Jerusalem helipad car park by 8:00am. 

This bike trip will start at Pine Lake and finish at Poatina.

If the winds make it necessary to go in the opposite direction, we will start at the TOP of Poatina Hill. Expect about 50 km of undulating sealed road.

Mother Cummings Peak is a very distinctive mountain, part of kooparoona niara / Great Western Tiers. It is a relatively steepish but short ascent for commanding views. We will have a very leisurely lunch on top.

This is a practical "hands on" training event to teach the key aspects of land navigation using a map and compass. Subjects covered in training will be as follows:

• The differences between true North, Grid North and Magnetic North.
• Grid references, grid lines and map interpretation, including map scale and reading contours.
• Orientating a map to the ground with and without a compass.
• Taking a bearing from a map (grid bearing).
• Converting a grid bearing to a magnetic bearing.
• Estimating/measuring distance to an objective.
• Moving on a bearing to a selected objective, using the principle of "aiming off".

The basic theory will be covered in the first hour. We will then spend 3-4 hours moving on a compass bearing from point to point or along a trail, relating the ground to the map. 

Equipment: Bring a day walk pack, chair or stool, notebook and pencil and an adjustable dial compass (sometimes called a baseplate compass - examples include such brands as Silva and Suunto). Photocopied Maps will be provided, but participants are encouraged to purchase their own map from any of the local outdoor stores. Ask for a TASMAP, DAZZLER TJ07, 1:50 000 series, Edition 1, 2019. This will cost about $12. A number of club compasses will be available to use if you do not have a compass for this training.

This event would be useful for anyone interested to learn basic land navigation. At the end of this training, you will have the basic knowledge to continue developing your navigation skills by practising map reading (reading the ground) while participating on club walks. 

We will complete the activity at a suitable time to also attend Pizza at Pennicott's.

This is your chance to indulge in scrumptious pizzas in a unique setting. Festivities will start about 6 pm but you can arrive from 3 pm. There is plenty of room for tents, campervans and space indoors if you want to stay over. Some may like to bring musical instruments for entertainment. This event is a little earlier in the year than usual. Reserve the date on your calendar.

Heading up Mother Cummings Rivulet we can appreciate the recent track work done by our LWC working bee. Upon reaching the plateau we wander over to the ancient line of myrtle forest known as the Magic Myrtles. After a rest and the odd photo opportunity we can enjoy a pleasant plateau walk to the escarpment where we have a very steep descent down Stumps Track to complete the circuit.

The plan is to have an informal kayak maintenance session and kayak skills at Lake Huntsman. There will be practical aspects of how to care for and store your kayak gear followed by safety and paddling skills. For those that want to make a longer day of it, a paddle around the scenic lake will be an option.

Mt Stronach is a distinctive peak in the North East. It is close to Scottsdale. It will be a leisurely 10:00am start. It will take about an hour to drive there and about an hour to reach the summit for a leisurely lunch. Some may like a treat stop in Scottsdale on our way back to Launceston. If the group decides we could have a short walk to Lilydale Falls on our return to civilization. This adventure should suit most Club members.

This ride will be from Evandale to Deddington and return on mostly sealed roads. Expect about 30km of undulating countryside. We may adapt our route depending on wind conditions.

This will be about attempt 4 to do this long day walk. Because it will take about 8 hours return, following a rough taped route, we need to travel up the afternoon or evening before (Thurs) to camp at the start of the walk for a nice early start on the Friday. The walk is quite challenging, through much forest with fallen trees near the start. Upon gaining some height we follow the main western ridge across and around some rocky slabs and through more scrub but with good views on the way south across to the Black Bluff Range. Height gain is from 400m to the summit at 890m, therefore 500m of ascent over 3.5km. If the forecast is not good we will not be attempting this but if you want a challenging day walk get your registration in. It will be very rewarding.

Some of the options for our visit to the South West will be Clear Hill, Mt Sprent, The Needles and Tim Shea.

This will be bus camping so bring some luxuries.

Our walks will depend on the weather but the longest walk to Mt Sprent will be on the Sunday.

This will be a great introduction to the remote part of our island.

This trip was originally scheduled for 7 December but was postponed due to a poor weather forecast for that day.

The 5B tour will commence from the Beechford Sports Ground. We’ll do a bit of a loop around the town to view the Curries River before heading off on the Soldier Settlement Road towards George Town, but turning off to Bellbouy Beach for a break and a swim for those that would like one. Returning to our turn-off point we’ll continue to the Kanamaluka Trail (George Town - Low Head pedestrian/bike track) and follow this via East Beach to the Low Head lighthouse for some coastal views. Lunch could be taken at the Pilot Station or Lagoon Beach before we then follow the Trail around York Cove and then connect with the pedestrian/bike track to Bell Bay, ending opposite the Bell Bay aluminium smelter. This trip covers a total distance of about 50km on generally easy, flat, sealed surfaces so is suitable for all varieties of bikes and cyclists.

Our walk will commence at Narawntapu Visitors Centre, following the trail past the wetlands viewing area and on to climb Archers Knob. It's about a 120m winding ascent and offers great views over the Central North of the state. We'll descend to Bakers Beach where there will be lunch, and an optional swim, before walking the beach back to the car park. On the way home, we can stop in the Elizabeth Town area for an ice-cream. This should be a mostly relaxing walk suiting most members.

Lake Ila is a lovely lake with a beautiful campsite on the northern end of the Western Lakes area of the Central Plateau. We’ll access it via the first part of the Meander Falls Track and then the steep Dixons Track. Once on top of the escarpment the off-track walking is generally open and easy. We’ll visit First Bar Lake on the way to Ila. After establishing camp a wander out to the viewing point of Prince Alberts Throne is an option.

On the next day I’d like to visit Thomsons Lake, Second Bar Lake, Grubb Lake and Deep Lake before returning to Dixons Track and completing the circuit.

This trip will be a kayak and walk event. We will explore the northern part of Lake Plimsoll and then do the short off track climb to Mt Selina for a late lunch. Then we will return to the kayaks and explore a bit more on the lake. Some may choose to kayak only and will have more time on the lake.

The walk will start with an 8km paddle from Butlers Gorge. The rest of the day we will make our way onto the range. We will climb Slatters Peak, King William II and III over the next few days. I would like to camp at Owens Tarn to do King William III. Last day head home.

A mountain often neglected because of the scree. The views make it worthwhile so come and be adventurous.

Tonight's presentation of Himalayan vistas and local flora captured by David on a recent trip to Annapurna Circuit and Tilicho Lake; the largest and second highest lake of Nepal. 

LWC members include - Brian O’Byrne, Glen Hayhurst, David Seaton and Sue McKinnon. 

Great opportunity to ask questions if preparing for your own Nepalese adventure. 

Where: Newstead College

Time: 7pm light supper and catchup 

Meeting starts at 7:30pm - Presentation starts at 8pm.

Meeting closes: 9pm

Mt Pelion West lords over the Overland Track like no other mountain. We will climb Pelion West as a day walk from our campsite at New Pelion Hut (NPH). Day 1: Walk in via Arm River Track. Day 2: Day walk to Mt Pelion West. Day 3: Walk out. The second day will be long (9-10 hours) but on the plus side, we will be walking with day packs and 80% of the walk will be on good track/pad. From NPH, we will head towards Pelion Creek on the Overland Track. Just before the creek, a well-worn pad will lead us initially through forest and then through low scrub to the start of scree. There is considerable boulder hopping from here onto the summit and back. Walkers will need to be comfortable with large boulders and some exposure on this section. Please feel free to discuss with me if you are unsure of what is involved. I have rated the walk as Grade 5 mainly due to the length of the second day.

Mt Charles and Bedlam Wall are Poimenas. This is your chance to visit these often overlooked destinations. Both walks should suit most Club members.

This kayak adventure will have the option of a short walk to Mt Franklin  included. It will be a 12 km return paddle and a 4 km  return walk so it will be a reasonable day out. We will set out from Interlaken.

Mt Lorymer is a peak located on the Dial Range and is an 11.9km out and back trail, commencing on Fabers Road and can also be accessed via the Penguin Cradle Trail. The walk commences on an old four-wheel drive track and then onto a steep track through dense forest. Not too much of a view but a lovely walk.

The plan for this ride is to ride on the Interlaken Road and then south to Bothwell. It is mostly good gravel road. Expect about 50 km of leisurely undulations.

This mostly beach walk is a great way to experience the southern part of Larapuna/ Bay of Fires. Depending on the wind direction we will walk either North to South and finish at Binalong Bay or start there and finish at the Gardens. It is a spectacular coast line with plenty of photo and swim opportunities. Expect about 16 km of mostly flat beach walking with a few short rocky headlands. This will be bus supported so you can walk parts or all.

We will ride on roads from Legerwood to Branxholm, then pick up the beautiful Valley Pond Branxholm Derby Link, Riverside Trail and then Lake Derby Circuit to whet your appetite for a swim!

These are easy/beginner MTB trails. Valley Pond Branxholm Derby Link introduces features such as berms, rollers and shallow river crossings and it follows the Ringarooma River. There are giant manferns along this trail and the opportunity to spot a platypus at Valley Ponds.

Finish at the lake for a swim/sauna, then relax in a cafe.

First people to register can join us for an hour in the FLOATING sauna for an extra $50 per person. Additional sauna spots may be available.

Turrana Bluff is an Abel on the Central Plateau at 1454m. The approach for this backpacking weekend will be from Lake Mackenzie. Our backpack will follow the eastern shore of Middle Lake before heading south-west towards our campsite. We will have a canal to cross which will hopefully be lower in March than is was in August and we can safely cross the canal without having to swim! Our forested campsite will be set up below the mountain and we will approach the mountain from this south-westerly direction. The mountain will be summited on the Saturday all going well, but it could be Sunday morning. Our return walk will see us retrace our steps. The track is rough in places into the campsite but the country is quite open and the climb up the mountain is quite rocky. This backpacking trip is suitable for those with some backpacking experience. Please ensure you bring your gear for all weathers! Please contact me if you would like to know more regarding the trip.

This is an intermediate trip for kayakers who wish to develop their kayak camping experiences with two nights away. I hope it will be a pretty relaxed trip, but the weather will determine the actual details. We'll travel to Lake St Clair in private cars on Saturday morning and meet at the boat ramp. Cars will be left at the main Parks and Wildlife visitors car park and all vehicles must have a valid parks pass. We will paddle to Echo Point for lunch and then cross to Ida Bay. On Sunday, if fine weather, we'll make an attempt to climb Mt Ida. Alternatively, people can have a relaxed day in camp. On Monday we'll return but might go via Narcissus River to experience more of the beautiful lake. Participants must have appropriate camping gear and the required kayaking safety gear. Please check the kayaking guide and gear lists for details. I have made this trip "Pending Approval" simply because I don't personally know all current club kayakers. Please call with any enquiries.

This will be a leisurely adventure close to Launceston. Expect about 6-8 km of paddling. If you need to borrow a kayak, please get in early and contact the coordinator before registering. 

Depending on the direction of the wind, we will complete a circuit ride to the south of Westbury towards Bracknell. Expect a leisurely 25-30 km.

This is a three day base camp but some may choose to travel independently and participate on Saturday and Sunday. On the Saturday we will climb Tylers Hill on the way to camp at Cockle Creek. Sunday will be a longish day to South Cape Bay and back. Monday will be an explore of Recherche Bay before heading back to Launceston. This is base camping so bring a few luxuries.

This trip combines a 6km morning walk to Lobster Falls with a 4km walk to Westmorland Falls, suitable for those beginners or others who can cope with a track that can be steep, rough and slippery in wet conditions.

Lobster Falls are 11km west of Deloraine. This 6 km return walk takes about 3 hours. We will follow the Lobster Rivulet through pleasant forest, rich in birdlife, where there are a series of nice waterfalls and cascades leading to Lobster Falls.

Back into our cars for a short drive to Westmorland Falls, under the Great Western Tiers.

After lunch, we will do the leisurely 4 km return walk (about 2 hours) on a good track. Crossing and following the river upstream through fern and rainforest, walking mostly uphill to a 20m high picturesque waterfall.

There should be time for an ice-cream on the way home.

This will be a through trip with a downstream flow assistance. We will need to do a car shuffle if we are unable to get a Club bus driver who can drop us off and pick us up at the end of the trip. Expect about 10-12 km of flat water. It is a good introduction to kayaking.

Our bus driver will drop us off at the top of Poatina Hill so that we can ride down to the farmlands below, that's a plunge of 900m vertical descent, assisted by gravity, so excitement will be assured. Following that, we will ride along Saundridge Road through lovely rural country, mostly flat into Cressy. We'll have lunch there or a coffee at the bakery. For those that want more, riding the Powranna Road will be an optional extra, finishing just before the Midlands Highway. It will be bus-assisted all the way, and any type of bike will be suitable especially road or hybrid. Come prepared with warm gloves and windproof jacket for the expected cold conditions at the high altitude start point. This should be a day of maximum fun and pleasure.

Stone Hut Track

The trackwork includes vegetation clearing along the 2.9km of the T3 Stone Hut Track to the Dell Track junction out and back), roughly 6-8hrs of field work. The track is gradually steep, is overgrown at some sections and has a number of medium trees down. Time permitting, the remainder of the track markers can be installed along the northern side of Dell Track for approximately 550m to meet up with existing track marker work. Additionally, if vegetation works are completed well before the end of the day, a team can tackle Bastion Bluff Track vegetation to the plateau.

• Vegetation to be cut back hard to T3 standard
• A number of medium trees along the first section of the Stone Hut Track ascent
• Directional arrows/markers to be installed where appropriate
• Remove old flagging tape

Map 1. Stone Hut Track proposed works – Stone Hut Track ascent (yellow), Dell Track north (green), and Bastion Bluff Track (pink).

This is a weekend kayak trip. We will paddle south on the lake and find a campsite where the lake narrows. Sunday will be an explore of the lake as we head back to the cars.

Lady Lake is located at the top of the Higgs Track on the Great Western Tiers. The track climbs 530metres in elevation over 3.5km and winds up through rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest, taking approximately 2 hours to reach the plateau. Higgs Track was originally cut as an access route to graze cattle up on the plateau and was upgraded in 2014 using traditional Scottish stone-pitching techniques.

We will have morning tea at Lady Lake Hut (1130m). The hut is a good example of early pioneering European history. On the Tasmanian Mountain Huts Preservation Society website, they state "This is the second hut on the site. The original hut was built in 1911 by Sydney Higgs on behalf of the Deloraine and District Improvement Association to promote fly fishing in the Chudleigh area. It was built on the Western Tiers escarpment. The first hut was destroyed by a bush fire in 1961. Following representations by the MHPS, Lady Lake hut was built in the summer of 2002 - 2003, to replace one burnt in 1961. Construction was undertaken by members of the Mountain Huts Preservation Society, lead by Dr. Simon Cubit."

After morning tea, we will walk around to Lady Lake and then off-track across to the Lobster Rivulet, where we will find a magnificent stand of Pencil Pines in the gully leading off the plateau. We will then continue our off-track walk across to Nells Bluff (1180m) and down to Lady Lake. We will then walk back down Higgs Track to our commencement point. Expect a fairly long day in our beautiful Great Western Tiers.

It is some years since our Club completed this trip. We will travel to Bothwell and then ride east on very pleasant gravel roads to Jericho. We will have a look at the historic Mud Walls convict heritage site before crossing the Midlands Highway and riding to Parratah and then finish at Oatlands. Expect about 45-50 km of 55% gravel and 45%sealed roads.

Please refer to 21st May event for description of photography competition guidelines. 

Sleeping Systems - we all know that one person who sleeps on a chip packet! Maybe it's you? 

Five members from our club brains trust will bring along their preferred choice of mattress and sleeping bags and discuss pros/cons of their equipment. 

All five presenters will have different options - side sleeper vs back sleeper - quilt vs zipper - summer vs winter.

Great opportunity to try before you buy or upgrade. 

Where: Newstead College

Time: 7pm light supper and catchup 

Meeting starts at 7:30pm - Presentation starts at 8pm.

Meeting closes: 9pm

It’s time again for the annual(?) Lake Malbena Circuit – this time approaching the lake from the south, rather than the northeast.

The plan is to start from near Clarence Lagoon and take a fairly direct route to near Lake Malbena over two days via Lakes Ina, Beatrix, Catherine, Kaljee, Lenone and Ingrid. On the third day we’ll have a day walk to Lake Malbena with a possible ascent of Mt Oana. For the return two-day leg we’ll follow the Nive River to Lakes Tiddler and Linnhe before heading south to Skullbone Plains, Kenneth Lagoon and then Clarence Lagoon. Each of the backpacking days will involve about 12 km of mainly off-track walking through a mix of open and scrubby terrain (with the grade 5 rating reflecting the most challenging of the conditions), making use of animal and fishermen’s pads where possible to avoid the worst of the scrub. There will be a substantial number of creek and small river crossings. It should be another good “Exploratory Easter Adventure” for those with experience who enjoy remote walking.

Our Bass Strait beaches are well worth an explore. It will depend on the wind as to wether we walk east or west. So we will either start at Waterhouse and end at Tomahawk or start at Tomahawk and finish at Waterhouse. The walking will be leisurely with the chance for a couple of swims. There is a short section of rock hopping close to Tomahawk otherwise it is very pleasant beach walking. We will have the Club bus so we will be dropped off at the start and collected at the end.

An Easter walk into the Walls of Jerusalem to a rarely visited peak, Zion Hill, for excellent views of the Walls. Good track into the Walls and up the Temple, off-track down the north slope of the Temple, visiting the little Temple hut where the Tale of Ruby Rose was based, through the Gate of the Chain and up onto Zion Hill for more fabulous views. Down north to walk out via Golden Gate. Around 2.5 km off-track, some boulders, mostly open or light scrub.

The time has come for another Twitchers adventure. Come prepared with binoculars as we explore known bird habitats close to our city. We will have lunch at Narawantapu NP and finish our adventure at Tamar Island Wetlands.

The walk to Mt Pillinger, which overlooks the Mersey Valley near Lees Paddocks, is an absolute classic walk that offers the best return for your efforts, probably in the whole state.

We'll climb up to the base of Mt Pillinger via the Maggs 17 Track which isn't as steep as the Arm River Track and before long we'll be sitting on top of the mountain on the edge of a steep drop, with views towards Lees Paddocks, Mt Ossa/Pelion East, Pelion West and many other peaks.

If you haven't been to Mt Pillinger before, it's highly recommended that you get your name down quickly!

It will be close to prime fagus time at our Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The weather will start to cool off so remember cold/wet weather gear. There is a bit of up and down but we will hopefully get some great views of our iconic mountain.

The Tyndall Range is earmarked by the Liberal Government as the site for the next Great Walk on Lutruwita / Tasmania. This will be your opportunity to not only explore this special place but experience first hand why this area is totally unsuitable for a commercial venture. Expect wet conditions and mostly off-track walking, which means that you will need some experience of West Coast walking. This adventure will be expressions of interest to the coordinator via phone/text. Places are limited.

This is the perfect time to visit the Cradle area as the autumn colours should be perfect. There are multiple options, all on track, high level alpine or low level in the forest but we will chose depending on the weather.

This ride will start in the city and head out via St Leonards and White Hills to Evandale. We'll then ride alongside the South Esk River to Perth, where it is planned to have lunch.

Our return journey will commence on the bikeway from Perth towards Longford and then turn off onto Pateena Road. This will bring us back into Prospect, and we can then follow the back streets back to our start point.

There are a number of hills to be tackled, particularly on the way out, but it is planned to adopt a casual pace. The trip should be within the reach of all club members used to riding a bike.

Last Lagoon is located at 1250 metres, just beneath the summit of Fisher Bluff on the Central Plateau. A stunning destination, featuring off-track walking with some light scrub, some small button grass and snow grasses. We have a 3 km hike along the gravel access road and we need to repeat this on our way out. From here it is all off-track and will be an 11 km circuit. We can do four side trips if time allows, two of these are to the precipitous southern edge of the Devils Gullet, one is to Jacks Creek Falls and the last is to Fisher Bluff summit. We would need to be a fast moving party to achieve all four, but regardless, this is a stunning day out, visiting an area which sees few people.  

The plan is to meet at Darlington on Wukaluwikiwyna / Maria Island at 1:00 pm and ride to Frenchs Farm where we will base camp for Saturday and Sunday nights. Sunday will be a full day exploring the southern part of the island with a combination of riding and walking. Monday will be a return to the northern part of the island with excursions to Fossil Cliffs etc before catching the last ferry. There will be no camping fees but participants will need to have a Parks pass and make their own ferry bookings. It will be private cars. Bike hire is available on the island. Bikes cost $10 to transport on the ferry. To maximise your time on the island book the last return ferry on the Monday.

Black Bluff is an Abel at 1340m in elevation. This walk is mainly on tracks before heading onto open moors. We will commence from Taylors Bridge off Loongana Road near where the River Leven is crossed. The walk covers some elevation and takes about 3.5 hours of walking to the summit. Wonderful views will hopefully be attained. This walk is for experienced walkers ready for a full day out and ready for all conditions. Please come prepared for all weather conditions.

This will be a leisurely, mostly flat ride around the burbs of Longford. There will be stops at points of interest. Expect about two hours of riding. We will meet at the Longford Boat Ramp at 11:00 am.

Mt Murchison is an Abel on the West Coast of Tasmania at 1278m in altitude. This is a medium rated climb which involves a steep start, scree, exposure and rock. It takes about 2 hours to walk to the summit and great views reward the walker. Those with experience would be best suited to undertake this walk. Please contact me if you have any questions. Being located on the West Coast, please come prepared for all weathers. 

This will be a base-camping trip where we'll tackle some of the peaks at the northern end of Hobart.

On one of the days, we'll be climbing Mt Dromedary, which is a familiar sight to anyone driving north towards Bridgewater and which offers great views over the river and towards the Wellington Range. Since this isn't a really long walk - the "Poimenas" book estimates it at two hours - we also have the option to climb Platform Peak.

On the other day we'll be climbing Mt Direction from Risdon Vale. It's a fairly easy climb but it is a peak that the club has hardly ever visited. From the top, the westward views encompass a lot of Hobart city including Cadburys, the Bowen Bridge and the Entertainment Centre. Again, this is only a short walk so a second peak may be in order, and Collins Cap would be a good option.

Being a base-camping trip, we have the option to bring lots of food and drink and make a great social weekend of it. I hope you will join me!

This is a shorter but harder way to get to the summit of Mt Roland. The track is very steep in places and involves clambering up and over boulders and scree. The start of the track is located on Kings Road, off the Claude Road.

You will need to bring all your winter woollies and rain gear as it may be very exposed on top.

Please contact me to discuss the walk’s suitability for you if you have any concerns.

We will explore the estuary part of the river. Depending on the tide, we will launch at Turners Beach or Forth. Expect about 10 km of leisurely paddling.

If you missed the last adventure on this ride, maybe this is your chance. It is mostly on shared pathways and the road sections can the travelled on the Club bus. A ride to do in each season.We will most likely start at Fossil Bluff near Wynyard and ride in an easterly direction to finish at Devonport Bluff.

A very tragic event happened on May 20, 1965 when Club member Ewen Scott and Riverside High School student David Kilvert died in a blizzard storm near Dove Lake. The LWC, Riverside High School and greater community rallied and the Scott- Kilvert Memorial Hut at Lake Roadway was opened less than a year later in an effort to prevent future tragedies. The plan is to walk to the hut and stay overnight. On Sunday we will return in time for the Commemorative Ceremony. This an opportunity to support a Club tradition.

We will start the day just outside of Branxholm exploring what remains of Briseis Race - a water race constructed between 1901 and 1902 to provide water to the Briseis tin mine in Derby. We'll take our time to appreciate the work involved in its construction and to fossick around for fungi, ferns and mosses that now grow on its shady banks. The trail follows the race, sometimes above the channel cut into the rock, and at other times on uneven ground (hence the grade 2 rating) where the water was carried in a timber 'flume' above ground.  We will spend somewhere around 2-3 hours on this walk.

We will then head to Derby for another walk, this one on a gentle shared trail around Briseis Hole - a lake that fills what used to be the tin mine site. The trail starts in the village and crosses the Ringarooma River taking us over old spoil heaps and around the lake past the floating sauna. We will have to watch out for the occasional bike rider! This walk will take around an hour, so we'll have plenty of time for a coffee or cake before heading home.

There will be a Commemorative Ceremony at 1:30 pm at Dove Lake on Sunday 18 May 2025 to mark the 60th Anniversary of the tragic deaths of Ewen Scott and David Kilvert. Former students and teachers of the school walking party, family members, former and present Club members will have a respectful but low key gathering.

More details will be available closer to the date.

Our Annual Michael Higgins Photographic Competition is an opportunity to be both creative in photography and imaginative in linking photography and title. 

This competition is judged by you, the members.  Your photos will be displayed in a smaller format for audience to view and vote via secret ballot. A slide show will be viewed showcasing all images on the big screen. 

This relaxed new format has been a huge success, noting an increase of entries in previous years, variation in style of photography, wonderful to have new club members participating.  We all take plenty of photos on our adventures, this is your chance to enter your favourite photos, creative in theme, open to interpretation, linking both photos and title of entry. If you are uncertain, check out our previous winners/entries on our club webpage and Facebook. 

Conditions

• A set of 5 digital images on a theme of Tasmania's natural environment.
• You cannot submit photos previously submitted in LWC competitions.
• No visual watermark/signatures.
• Your entry must have a title for voting purposes.
• Photos need to be a minimum size 1920px (this means normal landscape/portrait size).

Prizes: 

• 1st Prize - $100 
• 2nd Prize - $75
• 3rd Prize - $50

Entries close on Wednesday 7th May.

Come along and show your support by entering and voting!

Please submit your entry by dropping off your USB at the April 16th club meeting or email your 5 images to either:

Where: Newstead College

Time: 7pm light supper and catchup 

Meeting starts at 7:30pm - Presentation starts at 8pm.

Meeting closes: 9pm

Kermodes Tarn has not been visited by the club since 2016. It is a worthy destination sitting peacefully in a huge glacial valley beneath the Wild Dog Tier. The track starts near Doctors Point on the Great Lake and follows the Pencil Pine Rivulet to a small but beautiful set of waterfalls, which is also the end of the track. After morning tea we follow the rivulet Westerly to its Junction with Kermodes Rivulet. Off-track now, we follow the stream up for 3 km to reach the gorgeous little tarn. There’ll be time for exploration and lunch before we retrace our morning’s steps. Total distance is only around 11 km, however we have some scrub to negotiate which the coordinator will be doing his utmost to minimise. 160 metres of elevation gained then lost. 

This is a practical "hands on" training event to teach the key aspects of land navigation using a map and compass. Subjects covered in training will be as follows:

• The differences between True North, Grid North and Magnetic North.
• Grid references, grid lines and map interpretation, including map scale and reading contours.
• Orientating a map to the ground with and without a compass.
• Taking a bearing from a map (grid bearing).
• Converting a grid bearing to a magnetic bearing.
• Estimating/measuring distance to an objective.
• Moving on a bearing to a selected objective, using the principle of "aiming off".
• Counting paces and estimating movement time in open country and close country.

The basic theory will be covered in the first hour at the Apex Hut. We will then spend 3-4 hours moving on a compass bearing from point to point, reading the ground and estimating distance. As members gain confidence with using a compass, they may wish to break into groups of two or individually and navigate on their own route back to a finish point.

Equipment: Bring a daypack, chair or stool, notebook and pencil and an adjustable dial compass (sometimes called a baseplate compass - examples include such brands as Silva and Suunto). Maps will be provided. A number of club compasses will be available to use if you do not have a compass for this training.

Transport: Own vehicle to Apex Hut, Lake Trevallyn Road, Trevallyn Nature Recreation Reserve.

This event would be useful for Prospective and New Members. All Members are welcome. At the end of this training, you will have the basic knowledge to continue developing your navigation skills by map reading (reading the ground) while participating on club walks. This event will finish at or about 3 pm.

We'll begin and end this circuit ride at Beauty Point and we'll be visiting many of the towns on the western side of the Tamar River mouth. These include Beaconsfield, Clarence Point, Kelso, Greens Beach and Badger Head.

Although the ride is mainly on asphalt or good gravel roads, there will be a bit of riding on sandy roads and even a bit of low-tide beach riding, so a mountain bike or hybrid is strongly recommended.

My plan is to leave a car at the Western Creek Track car park then drive to the start of the Higgs Track. We’ll ascend the Great Western Tiers on this track to the plateau past Lady Lake and its hut and then just before Lake Lucy Long and Westons Lake we’ll take a side trip to climb Panorama Hill for some brilliant views. Heading east off-track to Connecting Lake will take us to Whiteleys Hut before we descend via the Western Creek Track. Should be plenty to see and do.

Georges Bay is a relatively sheltered paddling location. We will base camp near Humbug Point so bring some luxuries. Depending on the tide, we will explore the bay over two days. Some may choose to only come for the Sunday.

It will be an exhilarating ride from the escarpment down through Golden Valley. Then we will ride past Long Hill and through Montana to finish at the Meander Bridge Cafe. Expect about 50 km of mostly downhill and sealed road riding.

This trip was originally programmed for last August but was cancelled. We will spend both days at Chauncy Vale.

Chauncy Vale offers a variety of walks ranging from 30 minutes to 5-6 hours. There will be the opportunity to view caves and some beautiful sandstone cliffs. All the walks are on tracks. Walk information, including maps, is available here. I suggest that decisions about which walks we do be made on the day, depending on weather conditions and interest.

I have booked the Peter Bird Memorial Meeting Room for our use and we have been granted permission to spend the night there. The meeting room has a small kitchenette for tea, coffee etc. and a BBQ so we could have a BBQ for dinner. There is room to sleep on the floor of the hut but you will need a sleeping mat and bag. There is room to pitch tents but we need to be packed up by 9 am on the Sunday. Further information about the meeting room is available here. The hire fee of $30 will need to be shared between the participants.

This trip is capped at 12 - the capacity of the meeting room.

Recondite Knob is an Abel north west of the Cradle Valley at 1170 m. The walk commences from the start of the Reynolds Falls Track next to Pencil Pine Creek. The walk crosses buttongrass, becomes steeper, encounters some fagus and pandani and the summit is reached after about 4 hours. Hopefully great views will greet us of St Valentines Peak, Black Bluff, Western Bluff and the West Coast mountains. This all-day walk could encounter any weather so please come prepared with your full winter walking kit. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Join me for a walk in the fantastic Cataract Gorge right on the doorstep of central Launceston. Meet at the Alexandra Suspension Bridge on the pool side of the Gorge for a 9:30am start. Be prepared for steps and some uneven ground. Bring a drink and check the weather forecast prior to the walk. We will have morning tea at the Gorge Cafe at the conclusion of the walk.
Map: Getting Around the Gorge

The plan is to camp and explore South Bruny. We will probably climb Mt Mangana on the Saturday. Sunday will be an explore around the Lighthouse and coastal bays and Labardierre Peninsula. On our way back on Monday we will call into Adventure Bay and explore Fluted Cape.

This will be a leisurely 8-10 km paddle with the exact details available closer to the event.

Mother Cummings Head (Cliff) Track (via Scotts Road)

The fieldwork consists of the entire 1.7km length of the T4 track, from the ascent and along the northern section of the plateau to Mother Cummings Peak (out and back), approximately 4hrs of track work.

• Vegetation to be cut back hard to T4 standard, mostly scrub and some Eucalyptus delegatensis.
• A number of small-medium trees in the first 250m.
• Directional arrows/markers to be installed where appropriate.
• Remove old flagging tape.

Mt Vulcan is the location of a disused iron ore mine that provided some of the first samples of iron ore in the early days of colonial settlement in the West Tamar area. Located close by is an ochre pit which provided both yellow and red ochre. We will visit these areas by conducting a 10 - 12 km circuit walk mainly though lowland bush in the Anderson Creek Regional Reserve and Dans Hill Conservation Area west of Beaconsfield. This is a suitable walk for beginner walkers.

This ride will be about 30km. We will ride out towards Osmaston and then to Exton and Reedy Marsh and finish at our starting point at the Deloraine Train Park. 

Mt Amos is a must do. It will be a cooler time of year with spectacular views. It is usually a 2-4 hour adventure. It is a big day out but well worth it.

In January 1973 the Tasmanian Latrobe Boys Brigade consisting of 19 boys aged between 12-16 and 6 leaders, set off for an 8 day adventure into Lees Paddock. An air food drop would be required to sustain their off-track adventure. What happened next?

Come along to hear a great story from "one of the kids”, how Pilot and Co-Pilot navigated from the plane crash, the boys put their bush skills to practice, some still managed to climb Mt Ossa.

Great photos from 1973.

Where: Newstead College

Time: 7pm light supper and catchup 

Meeting starts at 7:30pm - Presentation starts at 8pm.

Meeting closes: 9pm

This south to north trip over six nights, seven days commences with a ferry ride to Narcissus, missing the walk around Lake St Clair. The ferry leaves at 12.30pm and takes 20 minutes to reach Narcissus and we will then walk to the Bert Nichols Hut for our first night, a distance of 10.1km with an ascent of 310m and a descent of 165m. The Bert Nichols Hut now has solar panels enabling lighting and additional heating in the hut, making it a more comfortable stay. Day two we will continue northwards, with side trips to Hartnett, D’Alton and Fergusson Falls, staying at Kia Ora Hut overnight. Day three we head for New Pelion Hut with a potential side trip to Mt Ossa or Mt Pelion East. Staying at New Pelion Hut for two nights providing us with the opportunity to climb Mt Oakleigh and explore the Old Pelion Hut or simply have a rest day. Day five we continue on to Windermere Hut, covering a distance of 15.3km with an ascent of 665m and a descent of 520m. If the weather is fine, we will make the short detour to the Forth River Lookout. Overnight at Windermere Hut. Day six we continue northwards, overnighting at the Waterfall Valley Hut, with an optional side trip to Lake Will, nestled underneath Barn Bluff. Day seven we will complete our final leg of the Overland Track journey to Ronny Creek, where we will be met for our bus trip back to Launceston. Cost for the bus to Launceston to be advised. I will register our trip with Parks, via the booking system, as soon as it opens. The cost of the ferry from Cynthia Bay is $55.00 each and must be paid in advance to secure our booking. Once your registration is approved, each registered member will need to book and pay the ferry fee to secure their spot. Be prepared for cold and potentially wet or snowy weather and short days. Join me for an adventure.

An old favourite, the plan for today is to complete the original 10 km circuit first traversed back in 2011. I expect 99 percent of the old pink tapes to be long gone but navigation is not too challenging. The world's largest myrtle has also now collapsed but there are still some monster trees to be seen. The scrub that we do encounter is very minimal also. So if you have never seen Paradise get your name down for an awesome day out.

Meander Falls may be frozen at this time of year making for a spectacular display. Depending on conditions we may go up to the middle or even the top of the falls.

This will be a leisurely base camp weekend with two day walks. On Saturday we will climb Collins Cap and Sunday will be Collins Bonnet / Sleeping Beauty Mountain. More details about accommodation will be available closer to the event. There will be a chance for a winter solstice swim after our mountain walk or you may want to register for the official 7:00am Winter Solstice Swim as part of Dark Mofo.

This is a relatively short walk suitable for beginners who don't mind some uphill on good tracks. It's not far from Launceston, on the other side of Meander.

I haven't been here for years, so join me for this beautiful forest walk in the Great Western Tiers with two substantial waterfalls, caves, rock overhangs, King Billy Pine AAAAND Split Rock!

We start at the Meander River and walk up through treefern and rainforest to arrive at Split Rock. We will head up the creek to Shower Cave Falls and Split Rock Falls. There will be time to enjoy the falls and take photos. We will complete the loop uphill to join the Meander Falls track to return downhill through Split Rock to rejoin the main track.

It's only about 3km, but with a 330m climb, photo ops, breaks and lunch, expect about 4 hours - and time for a cuppa in Deloraine.

We will explore the Inglis River Estuary at Wynyard and if the weather is favourable head into Bass Strait and around to Fossil Bluff. Expect about 10km of leisurely paddling.

This overnight base camp kayak adventure will allow us to explore the Waterhouse area and if the weather is favourable, head out to and maybe around Waterhouse Island. Some may choose to come for a day only otherwise we will base camp so bring some luxuries.

Cradle Mountain is an iconic mountain in Tasmania and would be one of the most famous.  At a height of 1545m this Abel is an exciting day walk and the higher sections may even be covered in snow in early July. We will commence from Dove Lake, head over Marions Lookout to Kitchen Hut then ascend the mountain soon after. The hike is quite steep and rocky, encountering scree and boulders and passing large columns of rock. The summit will be reached in 3.5 to 4 hours. The weather is quite unpredictable at Cradle and the walking quite exposed in places so please come prepared with your winter walking kit. I look forward to your company on this winter adventure.

Wukalina / Mt William National Park is a great place to visit in mid-winter. We will travel to Larapuna and walk to Deep Creek for our campsite. On Sunday we will walk south towards Ansons Bay and then inland to meet the bus on Eddystone Road. This will be a leisurely weekend so bring some luxuries.

The plan for this event is to have four nights base camping to allow for a thorough explore of the day walk options on Turakunna / Tasman Peninsula. We will explore Shipstern Bluff and Tunnel Bay; Cape Huay; Cape Raoul; Mt Brown and Crescent Beach; Lime Bay and Lagoon Beach; MacGregor Peak, Cape Surville; Mt Koonya. We will be flexible depending on the weather. There are a few options for where we base camp.

The Quoin is a distinctive square feature roughly 30 km east of Ross and is set in the catchment of the Macquarie River. The feature is surrounded on all sides by slopes 200-300 m high. At the southeastern corner of the feature the Quoin Cliffs dominate the area. We will leave our transport on the side of Honeysuckle Road and venture onto this conservation property now controlled by the Wedgetail Foundation, an organisation dedicated to the preservation of Tasmanian flora and fauna. On climbing the slopes, we will arrive on a plateau of grassy woodland with a forest of mainly white and black peppermints. We will complete a 10 km circuit walk of the feature, stopping at the Quoin Cliffs along the way. This will be a walk of about 4-5 hours and would be suitable for beginner walkers.

This is a classic bike ride. We haven't done this ride in winter so it will be a real adventure. Expect undulating riding to Royal George on sealed road. Then we have gravel roads with a bit of uphill but then some extensive downhill with a bit of flat to finish. Expect about 50 km of leisurely riding.

Thinking that you would like to contribute more to the LWC and become a Coordinator? This day is a great opportunity to learn about coordinating for the LWC and could launch you to become more involved with the trips! A programme will come out closer to the time but please talk to one of your friendly Walks Committee or another Coordinator if you would like to come along and take the next step.

The plan is to have a winter day walk exploring the area known as Solomons Jewels on the track into the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. Hopefully there may be some snow and frozen tarns. Please come prepared for winter alpine conditions. It will be a great opportunity for winter photos.

Did you know Tasmania has 29 species of eucalypt with 16 species found nowhere else?

What happened to the Miena Cider Gums? What other Eucalypts of significant cultural heritage are under the threat of extinction?

Rebecca will even discuss why or where you shouldn’t pitch your tent!

Where: Newstead College

Time: 7pm light supper and catchup 

Meeting starts at 7:30pm - Presentation starts at 8pm.

Meeting closes: 9pm

Located on the edge of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park, Nescient Peak lies close enough to the Lake Myrtle Track to make for an interesting day walk during the shorter winter days. The Abels book describes it as a "moderately adventurous target for walkers". From the car park off Mersey Forest Road, the well marked Lake Myrtle Track initially climbs steeply through eucalypt forest before emerging onto Blizzard Plain. From there, a pad will lead us to the summit area. If we are lucky, there may be good snow cover on the higher elevations of this walk.

We will venture to the 'Edge of the World' for some mid-winter exploration. On our bus trip there we will visit Dip Falls. Each day will be a coastal explore in a remote but spectacular area. Bring some treats to stay warm in mid winter. We will walk from Arthur River to Laraturunawn / Sundown Point on Saturday and Sunday will be Nungu / West Point to Bluff Hill Point. On our return bus trip we will stop at Trowutta Arch.

The Asbestos Range is the most northerly feature in the Briggs Regional Reserve. Departing from a start point on Bowens Road we will follow a taped track up onto Flowers Hill. From this feature we will go off-track and move through a mixture of both open and close bush up onto the Asbestos Range, then follow the ridge in a northwesterly direction to intersect a fire trail which will lead back to our start point. There will not be many views, but it should be a good bushwalk on a winter's day. The distance will be roughly 12 km and will take roughly six hours.

The Freycinet Peninsula is a great location in the middle of winter as it generally has the best weather in Tasmania at that time of year. This weekend backpacking adventure will leave Launceston at 7am and we will drive to Wineglass Bay carpark. The well-made track will take us uphill to a lookout then descend to Wineglass Bay Beach. We will hike the length of the beach to our campsite. From the campsite we will take daypacks up Mt Graham which can be rocky. Great views will hopefully be gained from the summit at 579m. After a social night of camping we will backpack back to the carpark, approximately 20km of walking for the weekend. Please come prepared with all your gear for a winter trip as well as your sunhat. I look forward to your company.

Starting from the lower Liffey Falls Reserve car park and campground we’ll follow the track along the Liffey River through the dense rainforest to the Liffey Falls, returning by the same route, in about 2-3 hours. After lunch at the campground we’ll then walk the Bush Heritage Australia Liffey River Reserve Circuit, which should take about another 1-1.5 hours.

Viewing Meander Falls when it is frozen is a very unique experience. We may be lucky on this adventure. It will be a biggish and coldish day out. 

We will leave Launceston earlier than usual at 7:00am or meet at Coles Bay at 10:00am.  Depending on the wind, we will either do a clockwise or anti clockwise paddle. Expect about 12km of leisurely paddling with a swim to finish. If you need to borrow a kayak please contact the coordinator BEFORE registering.