LWC Events Program

‘How things have changed.’

We have evidence of where people walked in the Tasmanian bush over the last 30,000 years. Today’s iconic bushwalking places have not always looked the same as they appear. From the far Southwest, across the Central Plateau to the far Northeast, everywhere was part of someone’s estate. This talk will ramble across those landscapes to illustrate the true depth of people’s involvement with the island.

Supper served at 7pm 

Meeting starts: 7:30pm

This trip to a beautiful part of the East Coast will be 4 days of exploring Maria Island with an emphasis on walking in the southern part of the island. Travelling by ferry($67.00 rtn) to the Darlington township in the north, our group will walk (or bike ride... not mandatory) to Chinamans Bay camp on the southern end of the northern peninsular and climb some nearby hills, Big and Middle Hills, riding and swimming if the weather is fine. More details will be provided as we get closer to the event. We will spend our  last night(Sunday 19th)n the penitentiary accommodation back in Darlington Cost will be btwn $15 to $22.00 per person. It should be a very pleasant mid-winter trip in any case. Remember along with the trip levy $50.00 and travelling in private cars. There will be a cost for the ferry to the Island and a small fee for accommodation for one night at the old penitentiary. 

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 surrounding 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 roughly 4-5 hours and would be suitable for beginner walkers.

Please be aware that before entering the property members will be briefed on Wedgetail's health and safety requirements and will be required to sign an indemnity form that states the following:

"I release Wedgetail Foundation, its staff, volunteers, and partners from any liability for injuries, damages, or losses that may occur during this event".

Coles Bay is a great place to explore by kayak. Expect about 12-15 km of leisurely paddling. Some may choose to vehicle base camp at River and Rocks Road on Saturday night for the bike ride on the Sunday. Please contact me before registering if you need to borrow a kayak.

Mt Arthur is a nice short local mountain, also an Abel with a height of 1187m. We'll start from the Mountain Road side which starts lower through forest. There is a fairly good track up, but it is steep and it can be slippery on the rocks in cold, winter conditions. There is also a bit of overgrown vegetation on the track up top which can be wet and a short "off-track" section to the actual big summit cairn. So please bring gear for exposed winter conditions even if this is a nearby destination. We can race up and down in 3 hours or take it more leisurely: up to 6 hours depending on who's interested in coming along and the mood of the group.

The purpose of this adventure is to explore some of the fire trails in the Freycinet National Park. This trip will suit mountain or hybrid bikes. We will ride to Friendly Beaches and explore some old mine workings and may even venture to Bluestone Bay, White Water Wall and Cape Tourville. Expect about 25-30 km of gravel riding. Please note that this is NOT a bus-supported trip.

This is a two-day base camp, staying overnight at our shack at Swansea. The idea is to visit up to six Central East Poimenas over the two days.
The Poimenas are a collection of day walks to amenable hills and knolls throughout Tasmania as described and published by Bill Wilkinson. The Central East Poimenas are contained in The Poimenas Part A Groups 1 to 5. 
On the way to Swansea, we will have the chance to walk up Hobgoblin at a height of 769m, a walking distance of 6.6km return and an ascent of 170 metres. Our next destination will be Snow Hill at a height of 971m, a walking distance of 700m return and an ascent of 40 m. Our third Poimena for the day, depending on how long it takes to walk the previous two Poimenas and travel time, will be Bald Ridge at 651m, a walking distance of 1.86km return and an ascent of 90m.
At Swansea we have two spare bedrooms and plenty of grassed area and a garage for tents.
The remaining three Poimenas are Roundhead at a height of 560m, a walking distance of 2.8km return and an ascent of 160m, Moaners Tier at 742m, a walking distance of 2.8km return and an ascent of 140m, and Breasted Sugarloaf at 640m, a walking distance of 520m return and an ascent of 60m.
I have not explored any of these Poimenas and am keen to share the exploration with club members. There is a distinct possibility of exploring only some of the six Poimenas.
Bring along something for the barbecue and a salad or sweet to share. I look forward to your company.

The plan is to meet at the Meander Hall. We will ride in a westerly direction to Western Creek and complete a clockwise circuit of 26-28km on flat, mostly sealed road. 

This is an interesting combination walk. We start from the Mersey River at East Devonport and follow the 3 km Heritage Walking Track around Frederick Head to Pardoe Beach. Here we pick up the 3 km John Palmer Track around the perimeter of the Devonport Airport to Pardoe Point. Now we’re back on the Heritage Walking Track for a further 2.5 km along Moorland Beach to Moorland Point. Finally we’re on our own – following the 7.5 km long Northdown Beach to Eagles Lookout and then onto Point Sorell. Some rock-hopping will take us around the point with views to the Carbuncle rock and then to Hawley Beach. With a total distance of 22 km this walk should help to keep you warm on a winter’s day.

Low tide on 25/7/2026: Northdown Beach & Point Sorell - 2.00 pm. 😀

Note: This trip is on the same day as the Christmas Dinner in July (which was programmed after this trip). Given the distance to be travelled by bus, the length of the required vehicle shuffle and the distance of the walk, I cannot guarantee that we'll be back in Launceston in time for people to make the start of the dinner. Therefore, if you've registered for the dinner you should probably not register for this trip. 🙁

FINAL CHANCE TO REGISTER!

Join us for a sumptuous festive feast in the heat of winter at our social event at the Clarendon Arms in Evandale.

There will be a Tropical Christmas-themed dress-up with prizes for the best outfits.

Aaaand humourous songs by the man hims(elf) - Malcolm Pryor, with carol-singing led by our choirmaster Tonya Turbo Jacobson.

There will be a traditional 3 course Xmas dinner (see sample menu below) including a glass of mulled wine... all this for $80.

The venue has confirmed gluten-free: Entrée of salmon pate can be served with GF toast and the main course is GF and the plum pudding is GF also. Please contact me EARLY if you have vegetarian or dairy-free requirements and wish to come.

To secure your place, please EFT payment to Launceston Walking Club:

Bendigo Bank - BSB 633-000

Account number 146518931

Reference: list Xmas, your surname(s) and initial.

Your registration will be approved following payment.

The SAMPLE menu:

Glass of mulled wine 

Entrée: Tasmanian smoked salmon pate (sourced from 41 South, Montana Road, not large salmon farms) with dill pickles and melba toast.

Main: Traditional fare – Turkey, ham, roast vegetables (more veg and less meat than last year).

Dessert: Plum pudding or chocolate hazelnut tart.

Ever heard of Wuthering Heights and the influence of the red dress and Kate Bush’s song? Sarah and I are looking to recreate the worldwide red dress phenomenon ‘The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever’ at Doyles Hut at Trevallyn Reserve. A visit to the op-shop to prepare could be useful.

We will meet at Doyles Hut at 9am (as there is a social event the night before). Dressed in our red ‘dresses’ and red/brown wigs we will conduct our Wuthering Heights routine/performance (training will be provided).

For those who are keen for a walk afterwards in red dress and wigs (likely a thermal underlay) we will walk up to Trevallyn Dam and back. The walk is optional and participation in the routine is most encouraged! Check out the Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights (red dress) video for some pre-trip preparation. Please feel free to talk to Sarah or me for extra detail!

If anyone can volunteer to be a photographer or videographer for the dance please let us know!

Also if anyone has a loud battery operated speaker let us know too.

Dance class for those who are keen (optional)

There will be a workshop to teach the Wuthering Heights choreography on Thursday 23^rd July 2026 at the University of Tasmania's dance studio at Inveresk, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Anyone wishing to attend can meet at the front of the Blue Cafe at 6.25pm

There is no cost for the workshop, and there is no obligation for participants to dance at the Harvest Market at 10.30am on Saturday 25^th July. However, this is an annual fundraiser for the Launceston Women's Shelter and the more the merrier!

Useful resources:

Original Kate Bush film clip: https://youtu.be/Fk-4lXLM34g?si=XyhZefRLi-C9kV60

Dance tutorial video: https://youtu.be/H1oehKo2RZI

Key moves broken down dance tutorial (start of the video): https://youtu.be/kNa1QBNkpxs?si=w-tlmiajFNTL4NDD

Costume inspiration (do some or all):

1. Red dress (do wear your thermals underneath!)
2. Black wrap belt
3. Long brown wig
4. Red flower for hair and neck
5. Red lippy

https://carboncostume.com/kate-bush-in-wuthering-heights/

This will be a  leisurely exploring of Lake Trevallyn. It should suit most Club members. Expect about 8 km or a couple of hours paddling. We will explore for 45-60 minutes and have lunch and then explore back to our start.

If you need to borrow a kayak please contact the coordinator before registering.

If you are a Prospective Member and haven't met me, please contact me before registering and tell me some details about your experience and/or motivation to participate in this adventure.

The plan is to ride from Goulds Country to the Gardens on mostly gravel roads with an easy single track section of the Blue Tier to Blue Seas Adventure. The final ten kilometres is sealed road.

This walk starts at the Meander Falls carpark and is an old track that heads steeply up to the plateau through forest alongside Staggs Creek. We will walk up with a 600m elevation gain, have a short look around on top if it's clear with views for lunch and then retrace our steps. This will be a fairly short day, just a steep up and down the plateau, only obstacle could be one particular creek crossing if there's a lot of rain beforehand.

We will start at Trout Park and complete a clockwise circuit to the west of approximately 30km. The finish will be at Cressy Bakery for treats.

Those members who completed the First Aid Pro First Aid/CPR course last year are due to complete their CPR refresher in the next month. The First Aid component lasts for 3 years.

First Aid Pro have a CPR course scheduled on Sunday August 2nd 9-10.30am (1.5 hours) to be held at 50 Glen Dhu Street South Launceston. please arrive at 8.45am. 

Registration is through the First Aid Pro website at a cost of $45. I will confirm on Tuesday what contribution LWC can make to the training of Coordinators for this skill. I look forward to seeing a number of LWC members there. I am unsure of the maximum students per class.

For those available during the week, First Aid Pro run regular courses which are all on the First Aid Pro website.

We will paddle the Reynolds Neck area of the lake. Expect about 10 km of leisurely exploring.

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 First Basin 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 First Basin Cafe at the conclusion of the walk.

Map: Getting Around the Gorge

The plan is to walk from Carr Villa to the Plains of Heaven and find some snow to try out snowshoes, use a snow shovel and build a snow shelter. There may even be enough snow to try some XC skiing.

Join me for a walk in the township of Deloraine. We will drive to the Apex Train Park on the banks of the Meander River ready for our walk. From there we will walk to the newly developed Deloraine Racecourse Recreation Precinct. After we have explored the Precinct, we will then explore the banks of the Meander River and the Wild Woods Reserve. Bring along a picnic lunch for a lovely explore of Deloraine. We will have time to visit the ice cream shop and/or coffee shops.

Wild Dog Tier is an Abel located in the Central Plateau and is accessed from the Lake Augusta Dam Road. The walk commences across the often boggy Wild Dog Plains for 4km to an unnamed tarn. We then head northwards to Thompsons Rivulet. The walk soon has elevation up some scree to a ridge line. Of course the summit is the furthest peak away at 1394m! and should be reached after 3 hours. This winter adventure should take about 6 hours. Please come prepared for cool, exposed conditions. Please bring your thermos and your winter woollies. I look forward to your company. 

We will start at Don River Railway and ride to Latrobe on the Coastal Pathway. Some may like to indulge in the treats of the Chocfest. The ride will finish at East Devonport. Expect about 30 km of leisurely riding.

The plan is to ride to Nile and Deddington in a clockwise circuit. A relatively short ride. Expect about 30km of leisurely riding on mostly sealed road with a couple of hills. Treats at the Evandale Bakery to finish.

We will walk from Carr Villa to Legges Tor and return. This is a classic walk following the ski poles. There is a small scree section near the summit cairn. There may be some snow about that will make it more of an adventure. It is about 10 km return with the main uphill in the first kilometre and a bit. Hopefully we will get some great views.

Think You Know It All? Time to Prove It!

The LWC Trivia Night is coming on Saturday 15 August, and whether you're a walking encyclopaedia, a master of useless facts, or simply very good at confident guessing, we'd love to see you there!

Hosted by Matthew Scott, the evening promises plenty of laughs, a little friendly rivalry, great prizes, and hopefully at least a few correct answers.

Gather your dream team (or the people most likely to know the capital of Kazakhstan) and book a table of up to 8 people. Club members are welcome to invite guests, so feel free to recruit your cleverest friends, family members, neighbours, or that one person who somehow knows everything.

Cost: $10 per person, pay on the night cash, EFT or credit card
Time: 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start
Food: Bring a plate to share with your teammates
Bar: Open all evening to help those creative juices flow

And because we're celebrating our 80th year as a club, this year's dress-up theme is, quite appropriately, "80s". How you interpret that is entirely up to you. Come dressed as an 80-year-old grandmother, a glamorous 1980s pop star, someone from the 1880s, or anything else your imagination can dream up. Bonus points for creativity (although sadly not actual trivia points).

Once the final scores are in, stick around for some suitably classy 80s tunes and hit the dance floor—whether you're celebrating victory or trying to forget that answer you almost knew.

How to Register: this is a 2 part process: 1) register online the normal way, your registration will be pending approval, 2) team captains simply email Tonya, tonyajacobson@launcestonwalkingclub.org.au, with the names of your team members (your friends outside the club don't need to register separately but you need to let me know their names and you will be responsible for forwarding all information directly to them). Once I have your team information your registration will be approved.

Don't have a team? No problem at all. We'll happily match you with other friendly faces, so don't let flying solo stop you from joining the fun, just register online and email me with a note that you are looking to be placed in a team.

So start studying, brushing up on random facts, and preparing your best "I knew that!" face. It's shaping up to be a fantastic night and we'd love to see you there.

Not another Gipps Creek adventure? The plan today is to walk four different water races from end to end. Three of these races are new to the club. The walking is mostly easy with some beautiful scenery along the way. With short daylight hours we can be as flexible as required to make sure that we are not home too late. A fun day guaranteed. 

Join me to visit some flora highlights of Invermay and surrounds. We'll walk through some great green spaces including Heritage Forest, a native garden and the UTAS community garden.

This will be a largely flat walk of up to 10km with a few hills on good paths. Our walking time will be up to 2 hours + however long we take for morning tea and breaks.

This will be the perfect post-Trivia Night stroll whether you're new to bushwalking, coming back from injury or just appreciate a moderately-paced local walk with plenty to discover.

Bring comfortable walking shoes, clothes appropriate for the weather, enough water and morning tea.

Curries River Reservoir is a great venue to try kayaking and/or improve your skills. Expect a leisurely 10 km or so. Remember to contact the coordinator prior to registering if you need to borrow a kayak.

The plan is to ride from Lower Crackpot (near Sheffield) to the Bluff at Devonport. We will have lunch at the Tasmanian Arboretum and hopefully see a platypus or two. Expect about 45 km of leisurely riding with a hill or two and we will finish on the Coastal Pathway.

August guest speaker Dr Kath Tuft, CEO of the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, will talk about the conservation work of the TLC with a special focus on Skullbone Plains and the Central Highlands.

Supper served at 7pm

Meeting Start: 7:30pm

Meeting Close: 9:00pm 

An 11 km circular walk around Bridport, taking in the three tracks of River Forest, Wildflower Reserve and the History Foreshore. We will enjoy a relaxed walk taking time to enjoy the river, beaches, birds, plants, and history. We will have plenty of time to enjoy a picnic lunch and refreshments.

As a privileged member of Blandfordia Alpine Club I have made a booking for 2 nights for the walking club on this late winter weekend. Graeme P has kindly offered to drive our bus up on Friday afternoon with his kayak to take a group out paddling on Saturday 22 August, weather permitting. (See his registration details trip on a separate event.) So the plan is to combine the walking and kayaking events, if possible, and base ourselves at Blandfordia. The limitation, unfortunately, is the lodge can only accommodate 12 people. It will be a case of first in, best dressed. 

As the walking coordinator, where we walk will be totally dictated by weather conditions on the day. I would like to go up the valley and find on old track from Riggs Pass up onto the plateau and do a circuit walk back down the Horse Track. This may not be possible but the area, as many of you know, has lots of walking options.

For dinner on Friday night we will keep things simple, perhaps soup and bread and pre-dinner nibbles. For Saturday night we will combine as a group to provide various culinary options. Watch this space.

Participants will need to bring a bed sheet (double) and pillow case and your sleeping bag. Warm clothing and hut slippers are a good idea, plus a torch. There is a wood fire. Cost per person to stay is $30 per night or $60 for the 2 nights.

Somewhat surprisingly, there hasn’t been an LWC day trip to Stacks Bluff (an Abel at 1527m at the southern end of the Ben Lomond National Park) since 2020 - and that was also in August. If we get a nice day, weather-wise, then we should be rewarded with an excellent alpine experience with brilliant long-distance views across the State.

Access is from Storeys Creek, initially through eucalyptus forest until we meet the scree near Tranquil Tarn. From here it’s a steep scree ascent of a gully until reaching the plateau which offers a gentle approach to the summit. As this is a winter trip the rocks could be quite icy so microspikes are recommended. We might even have an opportunity to use snowshoes on the top!

This is a classic paddle. Some may come on Dale's Base Camp and participate and others may meet at Dove Lake Carpark at 7:30 am. Please contact the coordinator before registering if you need to borrow a kayak.

This will be a steep ascent of Mt Roland via the Face Track which starts at Kings Road and is a short, sharp way up the mountain compared to the long way round via O'Neils Road. I have NOT been up this way before, expect a big height gain and about 3-5 hours according to the Parks sign at the track start, also possible steep slippery rough sections. 

We will ride the Coastal Pathway from Penguin to Latrobe. Lunch will probably be at Turners Beach. There is a short on-road section between Penguin and Ulverstone. Expect about 50 km of leisurely riding.

We’ll have another go at this one after it was cancelled in June due to rain.

This is a close-to-home walk connecting some of our local delights into a day walk. We'll start close into The Gorge on the Trevallyn side, making our way to Kings Bridge and then via the Zig Zag Track to the First Basin and onto Duck Reach (and the ruins of the hydroelectricity station). Then it's up all the stairs and through the beautiful sheoak forest towards the Trevallyn Dam. This will be a great spot with a view for lunch. After lunch we make our way back towards the First Basin, passing many of the area's mountain biking tracks.

This track is about 14km and includes about 400m elevation for the day. We'll be walking on a well-defined path, uneven gravel and beside the road.

Bring morning tea and lunch, and appropriate walking gear for the weather on the day.

This is an opportunity for those members wanting to try kayaking or those who already participate in our kayak trips to try out other craft and/or skill up on basic maintenance of your kayak. Bring lunch.

The plan is to walk from Carr Villa up onto the plateau and find some snow to try snow shoes, microspikes, using a snow shovel, sledding etc. If there is sufficient white stuff we may be able to build a snow cave and maybe try XC skiing.

Projection Bluff summit is a short walk off the Lakes Highway. The plan is to follow the short, steep track from the carpark by the highway. When on top of the flat Projection Bluff plateau area we'll do a rough circuit round the edge, making it into a longer day that involves off track walking through low scrub including scoparia, along the cliff edges, depending on clear views.

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 First Basin 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 First Basin Cafe at the conclusion of the walk.

Map: Getting Around the Gorge

Millers Bluff is an Able and its summit is at 1213 metres, grid reference 135593.

We get there via Lake River Road, then onto Millers Bluff Road where we need a key to the gate to get to the start of the walk. Once on top, we will try and explore as much as we can, depending on terrain and scrub. I missed out on this walk the last 2 times due to family reasons, so I am keen to get there this time.

Early start due to exploring the summit.

We will have a crack at Mt Madge from the shore of Lake Burbury. Day 1: the paddle starts about 23km from Queenstown and will be 7km to 8km long to our campsite for 2 nights, so bring a few luxuries if you don't want to rough it. (Some people might recognise the area from the TV show Alone.) Day 2 will be a day walk to Mt Madge, an 8km return walk. Day 3 head home. This will be a combined trip with the Pandani club.

This 16.5km circuit commences at the start of the Higgs Track in the Western Tiers. The first hour of the walk up to Lady Lake Hut via the Higgs Track is quite steep but picturesque with some very nice trackwork. From Lady Lake Hut we will head south then bear east to Westons Lake where others have been known to have a swim in fairly cold temperatures. The next section is off-track and heads south-east before turning northerly towards Western Creek and Mt Ironstone and Whiteleys Hut. The descent from Whiteleys Hut does include a rocky screen field so confidence on rocks is important as they could be a bit icy. The Western Creek Track is a lovely forested descent after the rocks have been negotiated. The final section is on the road back to our cars/bus. This approximately 8 hour trip is a great day walk with a lovely changing landscape. Please bring all your walking gear as the weather could present anything! I look forward to your company.

Join me for a scenic walk along the delightful Liffey River and up to the falls. The walk is in forest the whole way with lots of ferns. The track is good, dry and mostly flat with a short ascent near the falls, and good picnic facilities.

Return by the same riverside track. All up 7km. Bring some warm clothes. The walk is mostly in the shade and it will be cool in early spring.

There should be time for a coffee or wee whisky tasting in Westbury on the way home.

Quamby Bluff is one of my top 10 favourite day hikes!  Starting with beautiful rainforest, the hike up Quamby Bluff quickly emerges onto an impressive scree field which elevates us to myrtle forest, more scree and boulders and then, if we're lucky, a delightful view for lunch!  The total distance is 6km with an elevation of 500m.

The summit of Quamby Bluff is 1250m, where the weather can turn quickly, so make sure to bring your warm clothes and wet weather gear just in case. And do be prepared for scree, there's a fair bit of it!

LWC Annual Dinner & Awards Night – Celebrating 80 Years!

This year marks a remarkable milestone for our club as we celebrate 80 years of walking, friendship, adventure, and community.

To honour this special occasion, we invite all members to join us for our "Elegant 80th" Annual Dinner and Awards Night on Saturday 12th September. This promises to be a memorable evening filled with great company, celebration, and recognition of the people who have helped shape our club over the past eight decades.

Catch up with old friends, welcome newer members, and share stories from the trails as we celebrate this significant chapter in the club's history. Following the formal proceedings and awards presentation, there will be music and dancing to round out the evening.

Venue: Grand Chancellor Ballroom
Time: 6.00pm for pre-dinner drinks, photographs, and a catch-up. Dinner and the official proceedings will commence at 6.45pm.

Cost: $75 per person, including a buffet dinner, dessert, tea and coffee. Other beverages may be purchased from the bar. Gluten-free options will be available. Please advise Tonya of any dietary requirements when registering.

Dress: Formal evening wear (think evening wedding or formal event attire).

Payment is by direct deposit to LWC:

• BSB: 633 000

• Account Number: 146518931

Please use your name and "dinner" as the payment reference. Registrations will remain pending until payment has been received.

Accommodation: The Grand Chancellor is offering a discount on rooms for anyone that would like to stay between September 11 and 14th use the link below to receive a special 15% discount: https://reservations.travelclick.com/10791?Identifier=LWC26 

We encourage all members to come along and help celebrate this very special club milestone. Whether you've been with the club for decades or have only recently joined, we'd love to see you there as we celebrate 80 years of LWC.

Warners track starts near Jackeys Marsh and goes up onto the plateau. It is a very steep but well graded wide track (old stock-route) that zig-zags up the mountain. Once on top, the track peters out a bit in the low vegetation and it's only a short distance to get to the top of Adams Peak if there's clear visibility before retracing our steps down. Bit of a later start time to reflect the previous night with the Annual Dinner.

As all positions are declared vacant, the Committee welcomes and encourages all our members to participate in our club Annual General Meeting.

For our club to continue to be successful in providing club activities, safe transport, social events, a safe environmental footprint, IT support, historical legacy, encouraging and supporting new coordinators, we need you, a club Member, to become actively involved on the Committee and sub-committees. 

This AGM will require multiple nominations as several familiar faces who have volunteered for numerous years will be stepping aside to allow a new and fresh Committee to implement new ideas. 

With the support of your fellow Committee Members, can you volunteer your time for 12 months? 

Please contact any of our existing Committee to discuss what the role description entails in the role for which you would like to be nominated.

This trip will feature a number of short walks in the Cethana area. Participants can pick and choose which ones they want to do, but to do all three is well within the capabilities of all regular members.

The first of these will commence at the coffee shop at the top of the hill on the eastern side of Cethana. We will descend part way into the valley and then follow the contour around the side of the hill until we reach the falls at Machinery Creek. We’ll complete a through-walk by heading back uphill to Cockatoo Road where the bus will meet us. Longer-term members may remember doing this walk as part of a longer walk to Lorinna.

Our second walk will be to the little-visited Phillips Falls. This is the only untracked part of our day but it is a very short return walk and worth the trip.

Our final walk will be on the Billet Creek Walk. We’ll start from the side of the road that descends to the Lake Barrington rowing centre and will make our own descent alongside the creek, finishing at the rowing centre. There are often some lovely fungi to check out on the track and the views of the lake are often quite beautiful.

This will be a different working bee in conjunction with the karst Volunteers.

Details are yet to be finalised. The aim will be to clear the track to the area and remove any rubbish that is around. These areas in the past have been used to dump rubbish "in the holes". The area in question is around Westmorland Falls. This will be a much flatter working bee but still requires all our track clearing equipment and safety gear. More details to come.

Join me for a delightful walk to Mt Parmeena via the Yeates Track.

This walk, not far from Mole Creek, is around 13km return mostly on old roads but crosses scree and eventually becomes a small track. To reach the summit you'll need to climb up some scree. We'll return the way we came. 

You'll do almost 700m elevation over the day, but it's largely a gradual climb.

We start at just over 600m elevation and end up at almost 1300m so make sure to have all of your cold and wet weather gear with you as weather can be changeable. You'll appreciate lunch and a hot drink at the top (that means, a thermos is highly recommended).

Let's cross our fingers for beautiful views but even if the sun gods don't shine upon us, there is beautiful native flora to admire. As always, a good chat with your fellow walkers is absolutely worthwhile.

The planned June trip to this peak was changed due to bad weather. So hopefully we will get better weather in September. 

Castle Cary is a small prominence to the south of the Ben Lomond plateau. We will aim to leave by bus, I hope and travel via the Fingal Valley, turning north from Avoca up into the foothills. 

Following pads through a dry sclerophyll forest, the walk is up and down following the same path. The climb up the Castle is a steep scramble (330m of up over 1.5 km). Our club legend, Stephen Griffin, has marked a route from the road to the summit. There is some exposure, so a head for heights will be necessary. The walk will take about 3 to 4 hours return.

Pack lunch and a thermos. If the weather is fine it will be a great day out. Depending on numbers and weather there is also the option of doing a through trip over Rosiers Knoll, a Poimena, to Castle Cary. This will require a car shuffle and will take an hour or 2 longer.

This ride will travel for approximately 30km along the Nile Road from Evandale to Glen Esk before turning south-west and travelling another 10km to meet the Midland Highway just north of Conara. The riding is very flat at the northern end but it does get a bit more undulating at the southern end. However, the journey features no significant hills that may put you off going!

As mentioned above, the plan is to start at Evandale and to head south but if the wind is coming from the south then we’ll reverse the direction of the ride. If people are interested, we also have the option to deviate into Clarendon for a visit and perhaps a morning tea stop.

Something a bit different for anyone keen to test themselves. A walk starting at Greens Beach, walking west to Badgers Beach, then across to Bakers Beach and all the way to the end (ca. 25km) and then retracing the same route back. It's fairly flat apart from short bits up and down the headlands. It will potentially involve a few awkward sections walking on rocks at Badgers Beach due to the tides (high 10:29am, low 4:55pm) but also stretches of long flat beach walking. Expect about 50km (roughly) and probably at least 12 hours of walking depending on pace. Any questions please get in contact.

This is a totally off-track walk to an Abel which lies close to the Laughing Jack Lagoon. We will start and finish our walk from an old logging spur north-east of D'Arcys Bluff. The walk involves an elevation gain (and loss) of under 400m and should take around 8 hours to complete at an easy pace. The walk will take in dense scrub, myrtle forest, coral ferns and scree. In good weather it is an enjoyable walk and Lake Knight makes for a lovely lunch spot.

Mt Victoria is a very impressive mountain in the north-east that offers great views of the ocean and of surrounding landmarks such as the Rattler Range, Mt Albert and Mt Saddleback. The climb up to its summit offers great variety as well, commencing with a short crossing of a button-grass plain before entering beautiful myrtle forest. We’ll pass by an imposing rock overhang in the forest and will then eventually emerge onto a boulder field where a bit of dexterity is required, and then complete a final clamber to the summit.

The walk is not particularly long but offers a pleasant challenge, along with a whole heap of different terrain to enjoy. I hope to see you there!

Two Abels that I am yet to summit but have been on my “to-hike-list” for some time. Weather will play a significant factor in the opportunity of hiking Mt Emmett due to a solid 4-5 hrs of rock scree and boulder field. Imperative for dry conditions.

This will be a relaxed pace due to being the first multi-day trip carrying the big pack after winter. There will be plenty of boulders for Emmett and knee-high heath/scrub in sections to Inglis. There is also the option to make this into a circuit by dropping down to Lake Will via Innes Falls – quick stop at Waterfall Valley Hut – back up to the Overland Track.

Day 1: Early drive from Launceston will enable us to park our 3 cars at Ronny Creek. Morning tea at Kitchen Hut, turning off at Green Bubble Emergency Shelter. Day packs to Mt Emmett for a late lunch. If Emmett not to your liking, enjoy the rest at the Green Bubble. 

We will then follow the Barn Bluff Track sidling behind in a SW direction with options of two areas for camping. One area is past Barn Bluff scree, but if too windy, second option to traverse further along to a small grove of pencil pines closer to Inglis. These two options will depend on wind and water.

Day 2: A day trip to Mt Inglis and opportunity to ramble further afar and enjoy stunning views and any off track leads we may encounter. Return back to tents for nibbles and dinner with a stunning sunset and dramatic profiles of some familiar mountains.

Day 3: Exit hike from campsite back to carpark. Returning back to Newstead Sunday night approx. 7pm.

Transport: Please indicate when registering if you have capacity to drive.

2 x cars required + 3 passengers per car.                   

Please bring $50 cash for your driver.

Gear: We will be exposed to the elements! All participants must have full wet weather gear inclusive of a Gortex-style jacket. Please refer to the website for the LWC Gear Checklist if you do not have a hard copy.

Tents: I have set a limit to 6 hikers, however happy to increase to 7 hikers.  Please advise if you are prepared to share your 2-person tent.

Toileting: It is essential to follow Leave No Trace Principles and you must bring your Poo Pot or suitable container to bring home your waste matter.   

Food: 2 x breakfasts, 3 x lunches, 2 x dinners, Friday & Saturday night nibbles at sunset.

I look forward to your company.

At 485m Mt Dove is the highest of The Hazards range at Coles Bay. Many people are unaware that there is a track up Mt Dove, albeit one that is little used by tourists or advertised to them either. We will be tackling this track and will be rewarded by great views in all directions. Those familiar with the climb up Mt Amos may expect similar conditions.

This trip was original scheduled for last autumn but was called off due to a forecast of wet weather – which never eventuated! We’ll have another go but as was the case last time the trip won’t go ahead on the scheduled date if the forecast is for rain – because the risk of walking steeply on wet granite is not a risk worth taking.

Join me for another short walk at Four Springs Lake. Beginners are encouraged, so please give priority to newer members.

It is a lovely 9km flat circuit walk around the lake mostly in open forest, with abundant waterfowl and perhaps the odd snake. We sometimes see the resident sea eagles.

You may not need bathers, but it can be wet in a few places when the lake is high in spring, so boots are essential.

We will drive to Fortescue Bay on Thursday morning (Launceston Show Public Holiday) for our three-day backpacking and one day walk trip on the Tasman Peninsula. From Fortescue Bay we will be walking along the original Cape Pillar Track. From this track we will turn off and walk along the old Arthurs Peak Track in a south-westerly direction around Crescent Mountain, across some marshland and button grass and up onto Arthurs Peak. We will continue along the very well made Three Capes Track to our camp site for two nights at Bare Knoll. On Friday we will day walk out to Cape Pillar, again on a well-made track. We will view Tasman Island and Cape Raoul from the Chasm Lookout and the Blade. Retracing our steps, we will return to our camp site at Bare Knoll. On Saturday we will walk up to Mt Fortescue on the Three Capes Track back to Fortescue Bay, with a possible side trip to Cape Huay. On Saturday night we will camp at the Port Arthur Caravan Park for the night. On Sunday we will travel to the Cape Raoul carpark and commence our 5-hour return, 14km walk to this magnificent cape. Note there are steep sections of track, but the views are well worth the effort. Please join me for these fantastic walks over four days on the Tasman Peninsular.

This is quite a spectacular little gorge near Mole Creek that is rarely visited. It is a through walk of about 2.5 hrs but is highly dependent on our bus driver doing a drop off at one end and a pick up at the other end. It is rough and rocky in places and requires some scrambling, but has some great waterfall features and grand old myrtles. If time permits, we can visit Alum Cliffs as well. A worthwhile adventure and not too far from home.

The plan is to bus base camp and explore our southern-most bays over three days. Bring some luxuries. This will be popular and spaces are limited so get in early.

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 First Basin 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 First Basin Cafe at the conclusion of the walk.

Map: Getting Around the Gorge

This will be a rare opportunity to explore Goat Island as it can only be accessed at low tide. It will be low tide at 10.00am, so we will start there, then follow the shoreline paths and beach to Ulverstone wharf area, have lunch then continue along to Buttons Beach to the east. Grippy low hiker shoes for the rock hopping along with plenty of water recommended and a light day pack. Lunch and spare clothing can be carried on the bus. It will be a leisurely day of coastal walking, finishing with a coffee or icecream at Turners Beach.

The aim of this trip is to locate Nuttings Cross, a memorial to stockman Bill Nutting, who went missing and died at that site in July 1927. It's at a spot about 1.5 km east of (the incorrectly named) Lake Nutting in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. Bill's remains weren’t discovered until November of that year, by George Ritter, son of the farmer Charles, who created the nearby route that bears his name: Ritters Track, in about 1913. And to add to the historical intrigue, one of the two people that carried and erected the cross in 1986 was Reg Dixon, the builder of Dixons Kingdom Hut.

We’ll be walking in via the Little Fisher River valley, visiting Rinadena Falls along the way and ascending to Long Tarns on the plateau. From the southern end of the tarns we’ll head further south and off-track (more navigation practice opportunities 😉) to the memorial site and possibly also look for some of the remaining Ritters Track cairns. Camping will probably be at Long Tarns, Lake Nutting or Daisy Lakes – depending on our progress. On the Sunday a visit to Mersey Crag might be in order. Come along for an adventure with a difference and to learn more of the stories of Bill, George, Charles and Reg.

Mt Saddleback lies to the north-west of Mathinna and offers good ‘bang for buck’ in terms of the views you get from its summit versus the amount of effort required to get there. It has huge cairn at the top and from this point you can appreciate the Ben Lomond plateau and escarpment, along with many of the peaks in the Fingal Valley.

Reaching the top involves a fair bit of rock negotiation on the way up the gullies on the mountain’s eastern flank, but eventually we reach a flat mountain top and follow that to the western side. All in all, the walk is only moderately challenging and well worth the day out.

*Please refer to Shadow Lake Circuit event ** Shared Bus Driver

Join us for a full day to commute south to Lake St Clair, utilising a full bus of hikers. We will split into two groups as per the event you have registered for.

Mt Rufus is a Grade 4 - 19km - approx. 7 hr day hike. On a clear day this mountain has stunning views of surrounding peaks and of course, a historical Sprent Cairn.

Recent track work completed by PWS and volunteers make this track very enjoyable; there is no exposed rock face to negotiate.  

Glorious open plateau, no scrub to negotiate, however you will be exposed to the elements.

Gear:  All participants must have full wet weather gear inclusive of a Gortex-style jacket. Please refer to the LWC Gear Checklist if you do not have a hard copy.

Toileting: There are public toilets available at Lake St Clair. There are no other toilets on this track. I strongly recommend following Leave No Trace Principles and bringing your Poo Pot or suitable container to bring home your waste matter. 

Stats: Approx. 17km, approx. 770 in elevation gain, allowing 7hrs, a medium paced day.

Join us for a great day hike with an early commute south to Lake St Clair, utilising a full bus of hikers. We will split into two groups as per the event you have registered for.

Shadow Lake Circuit is a Grade 2 day hike suitable for all members. A perfect hike to enjoy putting the boots on and an easy track often with boardwalk, myrtle forest and stunning eucalypts. Our plan will be to enjoy lunch at Shadow Lake then walk around the lake a little further to Forgotten Lake if time permits.

This will be relaxed paced day hike allowing 5-6 hrs to ensure we are back at the bus before our Mt Rufus group.

Gear:  All participants must have full wet weather gear inclusive of a Gortex-style jacket. Please refer to the LWC Gear Checklist if you do not have a hard copy.                          

Toileting: There are public toilets available at Lake St Clair. There are no other toilets on this track. I strongly recommend following Leave No Trace Principles and bringing your Poo Pot or suitable container to bring home your waste matter. 

Stats: Approx.14km – 470 m elevation gain – all easy track and boardwalk.

2026 George Perrin Photographic Competition opens today.

Competition rules and prizes

Please bring your USB to tonight's club meeting or email to karenprince@launcestonwalkingclub.org.au

This is a bike base-camping weekend with a difference because we will be staying overnight at a house in Rosebery that is owned by a club member. The first in to register will most likely get to sleep in a bed, and the next few can sleep indoors on the floor with the help of an air mattress. Late registrants may have to bring a tent or vehicle to sleep in.

Participants are encouraged to bring plenty of food and drink to help make this a great social event as well as a great ride.

Our first day’s riding will begin at the start of the Montezuma Falls Track and head west to emerge on to the Murchison Highway just near Melba Flats. If there is time, we may continue on into Zeehan. There is some superb forest in the Montezuma Falls area and it is a very attractive ride, to say nothing of the fact that the falls themselves are spectacular. Be aware, however, that upon reaching the falls, riders will be required to wheel their bikes across the swing-bridge just downstream. This may seem daunting to some, but plenty of help will be available and this is something we have achieved successfully in the past.

The remainder of the riding for the weekend will be determined closer to the event, but will definitely include a journey through the Spray Tunnel just near Zeehan (so bring your bike headlamps!).

Please note that a mountain bike is very strongly recommended for this trip, or at the very least a sturdy hybrid. Some of the riding may be a bit rough in places.

Please note that the bus for this trip will depart at 3pm on the Friday, so if you are one of the working fraternity you will need to take Friday afternoon off or travel down separately.

This is a 3-day trip conducted over a weekend. We will leave Launceston at 6pm on the Friday night and drive to the start of the Arm River Track. With head torches we will walk into Pelion Hut via the Arm River Track and set up camp at the Hut. Saturday morning with day packs we will be away by about 8.30am and walk up to Pelion Gap and hike up the summit of Mt Ossa, 1617m, the highest mountain in Tasmania. After enjoying the views we will hike back down to Pelion Gap and then hike up to Pelion East at 1461m. We will then return to the Hut for a social evening. Sunday morning we will pack up and retrace our steps in the light on the Arm River Track to the Mt Pillinger turn off. We will enjoy the hike up Mt Pillinger, 1270m, and enjoy the Lees Paddocks views. We will then walk out. This is a full programme for those with backpacking experience. I look forward to a fun weekend and that evening/night walk is one of my favourites.

A long circuit, starting at the Smoko Road car park, up Smoko Creek, crossing twice and up to the old Ironstone Track which goes up onto the plateau. Here the track becomes vague/stops and there is scrub and rocks to negotiate to get onto the higher Ironstone Plateau. On top there is open walking following the edge or a sidetrip option to go over and visit the summit/trig point for anyone who hasn't been and is keen. We then descend off Ironstone/Bastion Bluff down a very steep and loose scree shoot which leads down to the Dell. Here we join the Dell Track and follow it back to Smoko Creek, completing the loop. Expect between 7 to 9 hours depending on the group. Please bring all the gear necessary for exposed conditions on the mountain and get in touch if you have questions.

This is always a smashing way to get some of the closer highlights of Cradle Mountain in a day walk - plus you get to do the start of the Overland Track (with the joy of only carrying a day pack).

The plan is to start at Ronny Creek and proceed to do a clockwise circuit of Crater Lake, including visiting Crater Peak along the way.

We'll park the bus at the Visitor Centre car park, and take the shuttle bus from the visitor centre to Ronny Creek to the start of the walk.

Please note that we all will have to have a current National Parks pass with us (or purchase one on the day) and need to purchase a shuttle bus ticket (cost $15.00) unless you have a current Cradle Mountain shuttle bus annual pass.

After departing from Ronny Creek along the board walk to Crater Lake, the track proceeds up and over Marions Lookout following the first section of day 1 of the Overland Track towards Kitchen Hut. Please note there is an elevation of approximately 300m up to Marions Lookout, including climbing up a short steep rocky section assisted by chains. We then proceed towards Kitchen Hut and take the turnoff to complete the circuit by returning down the Horse Track to Ronny Creek, after enjoying the view from Crater Peak along the way. Depending on time and conditions, we may pop up to Kitchen Hut.

There are some exposed sections on this walk, and being in an alpine environment please bring appropriate gear ie rain jacket, layers etc since the weather can be unpredictable and can change at short notice.

There are toilets at the Cradle Mt Visitor Centre as well as an opportunity to fill your water bottles/bladders. Please ensure that you carry sufficient water for the day since there are very limited opportunities to fill up on the track.   

The walk is likely to take approximately 5-6 hours including any breaks. 

This adventure is mostly on gravel roads with more downhill sections than uphill. We will have morning tea at Waddamana and check out the Power Station Museum. The uphill section out of the village will be on the bus. The last part to Bothwell will be on the sealed Highlands Lake Road. Expect about 60 kilometres of leisurely riding with bus support.

Join me for a walk in the Punchbowl Reserve and surrounding area. We will meet in the Punchbowl Reserve carpark for a 9:30am start. This is a lovely area to explore. Bring a drink and morning tea to eat along the way.

Join us for a full day to commute south to Collinsvale, utilising a full bus of hikers. We will split into two groups as per the event you have registered for.

This event is a Grade 3 – due to distance of 16km.

An opportunity for those keen to hike an Abel, endurance is needed for the 16km day hike. From the carpark it’s an open track to Myrtle Forest Falls, then walking up the East West Trail, to a fire trail. The Mt Marian Track does have some easy solid boulders close to the summit to step up and over but nothing near a sheer cliff. The hike will have a total ascent of 780m and plenty of photo options to catch your breath! Fingers crossed for a clear sky for spectacular views of Trestle Mt, Collins Cap and other peaks of Wellington Range. 

A great hike for new and prospective members. 

Gear:  All participants must have full wet weather gear inclusive of a Gortex-style jacket. Please refer to the LWC Gear Checklist if you do not have a hard copy. 

Toileting: There is a public toilet with one cubicle, 1km from the carpark. There are no other toilets on this track. I strongly recommend following Leave No Trace Principles and bringing your Poo Pot or suitable container to bring home your waste matter. 

Stats: Approx.16km, approx. 780 in elevation, allowing 6hrs, a comfortable paced day.

Please call me if you have any additional questions. 

Karen 

Join us for a full day to commute south to Collinsvale, utilising a full bus of hikers. We will spilt into two groups as per the event you have registered for.

This event is a Grade 4 due to rock scree.

This being the harder of the Wellington Range day trips, this option will have us continuing on past Myrtle Forest Falls Track onto Collins Bonnet Track. Meeting up with East West Trail until the sign for Trestle Mtn.

Trestle Mtn is an Abel involving some negotiating around/up and over mid-size boulders, approx.11km total trip. Being a small group, weather and time permitting, retracing our steps back we may have time for a Collins Bonnet summit. This is a short and sharp track up to the summit, and yes there are rocks to tackle. The coordinator will decide on the day.

Gear:  All participants must have full wet weather gear inclusive of a Gortex-style jacket. Please refer to the LWC Gear Checklist if you do not have a hard copy. 

Toileting: There is a public toilet with one cubicle 1km from the carpark. There are no other toilets on this track. I strongly recommend following Leave No Trace Principles and bringing your Poo Pot or suitable container to bring home your waste matter. 

Stats: Approx. 11km, approx. 740 in elevation gain, allowing 6hrs, a comfortable paced day. * This is not inclusive of Collins Bonnet stats.

Please contact the coordinator if you have any questions or concerns. 

This has been rescheduled from March and will now be a 3-day walk to allow us to have a whole day on the plateau.

We will take the 9 am ferry from Lake St Clair to Narcissus (please note the current fare is $55 each way). From there the plan is to head north on the Overland Track for a short way to the Bowling Green (this is permitted as we are not going past a second node) where we will head up onto the Traveller Range. We will find somewhere nice to camp near Orion Lakes for 2 nights. From here we will explore the nearby lakes and climb The Gatepost.  Depending on the group and the weather we will have several options for our time on the plateau.

We will have Monday morning to explore before we pack up and descend back down to The Overland Track and back to Narcissus where we will catch the 3.30 ferry back to Lake St Clair.

This should be a lovely relaxing weekend with plenty of opportunities to enjoy a dip.

The Pieman is a beautiful deep river flowing through thickly forested hills which drop right to the water's edge. On a still day the reflections are magnificent. The Pieman River forms the southern border of the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area. It's 6 years since the club's last trip here, so time to return!

We will travel in private cars and meet at the Corinna boat ramp at 10 am and proceed to prepare kayaks for launching. We'll have an early lunch before launching. Depending on the tide there are few if any landing spots to get ashore during the paddle. We may be doing 15 of the total 19kms without stretching the legs. Strong westerlies funnel up the river valley in the afternoon so the last few kilometres may be a bit choppy and windy if the wind is up.

At the Pieman Heads there is a shack village, but we will pass this to camp at the small Parks and Wildlife campsite just behind the dunes for both nights. It is rough ground and the only facility is a toilet. Numbers have to be restricted to available ground for tents, so the limit will be 8 tents, but there can be more paddlers if there are double kayaks or people share tents.  The site cannot be booked - it's pot luck! There is no fresh water source, so we will carry all our water for the weekend from Corinna. Being a long weekend the shackies will be in residence, possibly some vehicle noise etc. It's not wilderness!

Sunday will be an easy day walk to the nearby spectacular Conical Rocks to the south. On Monday we will pack up early for the return paddle. If time allows we can explore the Donaldson River or Savage River on our way back. The aim is to be back at Corinna around 4pm.

Please refer to the K2 packing lists for required kayaking and safety equipment and the kayaking guide on the website. Participants should be able to transport their kayaks on their own vehicle or with a friend. I will be doing my travel on Friday afternoon and camping at Corinna that night. You are welcome to join me. This should be a great relaxed trip so book in early for this adventure!

Mt Weld is an Abel surrounded by several well-known peaks including Mt Anne, Snowy South and Mt Picton. The plan involves driving early from Launceston to the start of the track and then hiking to a campsite just below the summit. We will aim to leave Launceston by 05:00am on Saturday as we have to drive a long distance to the starting point around 36km past Judbury. We then have a walk of around 7hrs to the campsite. After pitching our tents near an unnamed tarn below the peak, we may either aim for the summit in late afternoon or in the morning next day before returning to our cars and Launceston on Sunday. Please note that the coordinators haven't done this walk before. Please also come prepared for cutting grass and scrub. The final ascent involves some scrambling over boulders.

Ritters Plain is located to the west of Lake Mackenzie. It has a Poimema on it and we will visit this as we complete a circuit around the cliff edge of Devils Gullet, southern side. Fantastic views and an area not often visited but well worth the trip. If time permits we can visit Parsons Falls on the way out, hopefully the Fisher River has plenty of water in it.

A previous attempt at Mt Dromedary in late 2025 saw us fail to reach the summit of Mt Dromedary, not least because a misfiring bus (at the time) saw us start the walk far too late. As a result, we’re going to have another attempt, but this time we’ll make it a base-camping trip to allow us plenty of time to complete our objectives.

The plan this time, rather than walking from Black Hills like we did last time, is to get a key from Sustainable Timber and begin our walk much closer to the Dromedary summit. This should allow us enough time to climb Dromedary and also visit the summit of Platform Peak on the same day. On the Sunday, we will visit Collins Cap and then cross the river to Risdon Vale and do the short stroll up Mt Direction. All four peaks are Poimenas and all offer superb views of the Derwent and the area to the north of Hobart.

Registrations will open two months before the trip so appropriate arrangements can be made for accommodation. Hopefully, we will be able to stay at Base Camp Tasmania (either @ $45 per person in the bunk house or $15 per person in your tent) - a quiet bushland setting with showers and a great communal camp kitchen - but this will depend on availability and numbers.

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 First Basin 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 First Basin Cafe at the conclusion of the walk.

Map: Getting Around the Gorge

We will ride the easy/beginner MTB trail on Valley Pond Branxholm Derby Link both ways, and have time for coffee in Branxholm.

Valley Pond Branxholm Derby Link introduces features such as berms and rollers, and it follows the very pretty Ringarooma River. There are giant manferns along this shady trail and spots to picnic at Valley Ponds. In Derby we will do a loop trail of the lake.

Finish at the lake... it may be warm enough for a refreshing swim at the beach!

Mt Tor is just an Abel in terms of height at 1110+ m but it is certainly a good challenge and is linked to the Black Bluff Range. The walk starts 13.5km from the Leven Canyon turnoff. It is best to bring river shoes with you as from the outset there is water to be encountered. The Dempster Creek is crossed then the track is followed for 400m to the Leven River. Hopefully there will not be too much water flowing to allow a safe passage. The track follows the river, crosses Tor Creek and then steepens into a forest. The walk follows pads uphill, through buttongrass, tea tree, gums, and bauera is to be avoided. Buttongrass slopes and tea tree is encountered before a rocky ridge line of boronia, scoparia and boulders at the summit of Mt Tor is reached after 3 hours. The whole walk is approximately 6 hours and great views will hopefully be gained from the summit, including Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff. This is a harder walk for experienced walkers. Please talk to me if you have any queries. Please come prepared for all conditions. 

Please note that this walk involves a 4 km paddle across Lake Crescent and a 12 km return walk to the summit. It is a 4 km paddle back to the bus. If you need to borrow a kayak please contact the coordinator BEFORE registering.

Remarkable Rock reserve is located alongside the Ouse River, south of Miena and features Basalt Rock formations amidst a lovely subalpine environment. The walk involves two crossings of the river, possibly wet feet and cancellation of the walk if the river is too high. If we need to cancel we will visit Skittleball Hill and Lake Fergus which are nearby, instead. Remarkable Rock is an amazing destination and more than worthy of its reserve protection. Ten kilometres maximum and little over 100 metres of altitude gain/loss.

We all take plenty of photos of our adventures, but did you capture that "bang for buck", sharp, great composition and colours!

This is the competition for you!

Club members are encouraged to submit a single Tasmanian image taken in the past three years. 

• Photos must not have been entered in any previous club photographic competition.
• No watermarks/signatures.
• Only 2026 financial club members are eligible to enter.
• Maximum of three (3) entries per member.
• 2026 judge to be announced closer to the date. 

 Prizes

• 1st prize: $100
• 2nd prize: $75
• 3rd prize: $50
• Entries close Friday 6th November.  USB stick can be dropped off at the October club meeting or upload and email photos to karenprince@launcestonwalkingclub.org.au

When: 18th November

Where: Newstead College, Cypress St, Launceston

Time: 7pm for light supper and catch up with old mates and make new friends *Gold coin donation

Meeting starts: 7:30 pm 

Meeting closes: 9pm 

We will commence at George Town and follow the path to Low Head. After lunch we will walk the beaches to Bell Buoy Beach. Our bus driver will pick us up there, making this a mostly flat, through trip.

Now I don't want to tempt fate, but with 'summer just around the corner', let's hit the East Coast for a spectacular coastal walk and optional dip in the ocean. The walk is about 12km with around 400m elevation over the day.

We'll follow the track up to the look out and over to Wineglass Bay (the steepest part of the day) before crossing at the isthmus. The walk will then take us back along Hazards Beach and through beautiful she-oak forest before we're spoiled with a magnificent display of xanthorrhoea (grass trees).

Bring your lunch and a day pack with plenty of water and sun protection as we aren't under tree cover for a lot of the walk. 

I'll never forgive myself for the sad faces when last time I said not to put your togs and towel in your day pack and the day opened up to be hot and sunny when we popped out at Hazards Beach*, so this time pack them just in case!

* Conditions may vary from last time and not be hot and sunny, although may still be perfect for a quick dip at lunch.

Southern Ranges 

This location is rarely visited by our club and it's been on my radar for a long time (the 2024 and 2025 trips were cancelled). Moores Bridge is named after the well-known explorer and track builder, Thomas B Moore. It’s accessed just off the Moonlight Ridge Track into the Southern Ranges. The area is very beautiful and wild.

Three days are required for this trip, starting with the 4-hour drive on the Saturday morning to the start on the Lune River Road. Our party will walk up the hill on the Moonlight Ridge Track (8-9 km with about a 900m climb) to our base camp at Moores Bridge or nearby.

Sunday, we will carry day packs out to Mt Alexandra (930 m) over undulating open moorlands past Moores Gardens and numerous pools and tarns. This will be a pleasant walk of 12km return in total, off-track but there won’t be much climbing as we are starting the day at the 900m level. The last small climb is only about 90m.

Monday, we will retrace our steps to the vehicles and drive home. Come and join me for a great long weekend. (Let's cross our fingers for good weather.)

We haven't been to Lake Mackenzie on a kayak trip. This will be a shorter than usual kayak trip so we can walk to Parsons Falls as well. Expect about 8 km of exploring.

The club rode this course only a few years ago and the ride is back by great popular demand, with only a few small changes to the route. We’ll begin in Sheffield and ride north towards Nook before looping around to Barrington. We continue south via Nowhere Else and West Kentish and then through backroads down to Claude Road. From there we follow Claude Road from Claude Road (no, really!) into Sheffield to finish.

The ride is only 35km long but it features a few challenging hills – although it’s very much worth it because we’ll be riding through some of the most spectacular rural and mountain scenery the state has to offer. Hi-vis clothing is absolutely essential because we may encounter a bit of traffic, particularly in the final section from Claude Road to Sheffield.

This is the last track on the Great Western Tier that we have not tackled yet.

There is marking and track clearing to be done. We will have access beyond the boom gate on Urks Loop Road using Parks ATV and 4WD to ferry people and equipment up a rather tedious forest track which has recently been cleared by Tas Fire team.

More information TBC.

This will be a not too difficult weekend trip that will be all about the enjoyment of backpacking and camping beside a lake with your tent in an idyllic location. There will be plenty of opportunity for swimming, fishing and enjoying the sunset over a slow camp dinner. There is plenty of scope for wandering different routes in this central highlands area.

We will meet at the Lake Trevallyn Beach. Bring a wetsuit and change of clothes. The plan is to skill up on paddling, experience capsize and re-entry, both assisted and individual. Some may also like to try rolling.

A visit to the Boobyalla River Tract, located south of Tomahawk and just north of Little Mt Horror, provides a rare opportunity to experience a forest that still contains Eucalyptus ovata (swampgum) –and Eucalyptus obliqua (stringybark) – the remainder of a landscape that was much more common before clearing for farming. The 7km walk takes us along both sides of the Boobyalla River, is mostly flat, on a marked but not formed track and involves three river crossings: two on logs and one on stepping-stones. There are some patches of scrub in places. We’ll encounter two water races: White Rock Race and Wares Race. We’ll stop at Billy Bank and view the "Truganina Tree" – two features visited by George Augustus Robinson and his largely aboriginal entourage (including Truganina) on his 1831 journey through the North East. As the walk will probably take about 4 hours I’ll plan another short one in the area for later in the day – TBA.