Any Info on Pillans Lake?

[Son of a Beach]

Has anyone here been into Pillans Lake? What can you tell me about it? It looks like a good spot, with a 4wd track going in (only when Lake Augusta is nearly empty) and 2 huts nearby (with rather dull names: 'Hut Number 4' and 'Kerrisons Hut Number 2').

Are the huts still there? Are they any good? Is there good camping anywhere near the lake? Sheltered areas? The maps indicate scattered pencil pine forest which sounds nice.

Is it easy to walk around to the far side of Lake Augusta and pick up the track (assuming the lake is not empty and I can't just follow the track straight through)? I've heard of a route that passes by Tin Hut lake... is that easy to find and follow?

I'm thinking of doing a winter weekend walk sometime, and this just looks interesting to me... lakes everywhere... I love what I've seen of the thousand lakes area so far.

[norts]

I cant help you withPillans but dont plan on driving around Lake Augusta, I went up there in June to walk into the Walls. I didnt know there was a locked gate just after Bernachi. I had planned to drive to Lake Ada, Added about 18 ks to a 4 day walk.

Roger

[BarryJ]

The gate usually isn't opened until sometime in October although it can be open during winter. Ring the ranger station at Liawenee to check the gate status. I am not sure of the status of the huts; they may well be private and locked!

There is, of course, another boom gate at the point where the Pillans/Julian 4WD track starts at Lake Augusta. This usually isn't opened until the level in Lake Augusta has been down for some time.

[Robbo]

I walked from the Walls to Pillans via Butters, and then to Augusta, last November. Hut 4 is a locked hut - I have the phone numbers listed on the hut if you are interested. Hut 2 is an open hut. The further east you walk the drier the more straggly the vegetation becomes. There is very few Pencil Pines east of Butters from memory. The fishermen I have spoken to tell me that it is a good fishing lake. The walking is rather easy through the whole of the area. A good walk may be from Ada to Taleh Lagoons, then up Quail Gully to the Pillians and then back around to Ada.

I've attached a photo looking down over the northern end of Pillans.

Tony Robinson

[Son of a Beach]

I cant help you withPillans but dont plan on driving around Lake Augusta, I went up there in June to walk into the Walls. I didnt know there was a locked gate just after Bernachi. I had planned to drive to Lake Ada, Added about 18 ks to a 4 day walk.

Roger

I was planning to walk rather than drive from Lake Augusta (at about Bernachi), anyhow, so that's not a bit deal for me. So I guess I'd like to get some idea of how easy it would be to walk around the north east side of Augusta to meet up with the Pillans track at the North side of the lake. I'm guessing it would be mostly fairly easy, but there are two river crossings: Ouse and Thompsons. Does anyone know what these are like at Lake Augusta?

[heplittledoggie]

The 'usual' walking route (well the one that I use anyway) is via Tin Hut Lake, starting from the road at the eastern shore of Augusta. That way you could park at the gate and walk the road to the eastern shore. Up Christys Creek system is another way. I'd be surprised if you could get across Augusta at the moment - it's very shallow and fills quickly (maybe similar for Ouse and Thompsons rivers?), but from Bernacchi might be possible (I've never gone in that way).

Interesting read on this site:
http://www.sportsfishtasmania.com/phpBB ... d3718a1473

[flyfisher]

Nick, if you are going to walk to Pillans from Bernachi, there was an old 4wd track leading nw from near the Bernachi end of the dam to the right of the rocks. This goes through Thompson's rivulet and on to a ford in the Ouse river.There was a bridge hereabouts many moons ago to give access to Allisons hut (no1)
which is just under little Splitrock.
If lake Augusta is not at a high level the easier way is to cross the Lake on the 4wd track starting at 55s463276e 5365737n. There is a foot bridge over the James river at the ford in the middle of the lake bed.
From Allisins hut climb following track to n then nw till over the hill when you can see a fair way out in good weather.Approaching lake Julian ,Kerrisons hut can be seen to the left along a spur track.both this hut and Allisons are open to the public. From Kerrisons heading north anound the small lake then west will give access to Pillans shoreline.An old track to the shore may be found in this area,and I think the hut was meant to be built on the shore but vehicles became bogged so the hut was built at present location.
Another good access to the eastern side of Pillans is from a start at the sw end of Augusta 55s459094e 5364096n then up the track past huts alongside the lake and on nw to Stumps lake (named after "Stump "Jordan )then past Wadleys lake (for Reg Wadley) continuing on to meet Pillans where a crossing can be made at calf deep in summer.55s 451825e 5370303n.
Yet another approach is from the Lake Fanny track ,leaving the track at 55s450583e 5364192n just past Christy's lagoon and heading basicly north up Christys creek , past Lunka lake and small lagoons to the southern end of Pillans.
This whole area is nice walking ,if a little rocky but very exposed and best visited in nice weather
Hope this is of some help.

Flyfisher

[Son of a Beach]

Thanks guys... it's great to get insight into these areas from those who know them well.

[roseart]

I am wondering if anyone has walked from Lake Ironstone across to Pillians Lake
If this is can be accomplished we are considering venturing onto the Walls of Jerusalem
via Lake Butters and onto Zion Gate.
If anyone has any experience of this area any information would be greater appreciated
This is a walk hopefully we will attempting late January, 2011
when the weather might be abit reasonable .

[Vee]

Howdy All
We are thinking about walking from the Talleh Lagoons Track up towards Lake Pillans to spend 2 nights fishing and exploring. Where are the best spots to camp?
All advice most welcome. And..... where are the best fishing spots ???
Cheers and thanks
Vee

[flyfisher]

Hi, there is good fishing in the southern end of Pillans, but pay attention to the small lagoons to the south of the main lake.

Camping can be done anywhere you can find somewhere flat without too many rocks.

Lunka has some good spots as does Hunters.

Good luck and don't forget to post results.

FF

[Vee]

Hi flyfisher.
Thanks for the advice. Plan is to go this coming weekend. The ifs says gate is open to Ada. Will report in when we return; hopefully with some big tales of fishing
Cheers

[Son of a Beach]

(Yes, the gate is open. We drove through to Ada two weeks ago.)

[Vee]

Thanks son of a beach. Always good to hear from someone who has been there recently.

[north-north-west]

From Talleh Lagoons through Quail Gully to Butters is very easy walking, and beautiful country. Can't comment on Butters to Pillans but it looks similar. The east side of Augusta up to Wild Dog Tier and through to Ironstone is also pretty easy going, and the country across to Pillans also looks open. Even if picking up the 4WD track north of Augusta is tricky, cross-country navigation and walking should be straightforward.

Go for it. It's a lovely area.

[flyfisher]

Yep, what nnw said is spot on.

FF

[Vee]

Thanks nnw. Sounds like we have lots to do

[Vee]

Happy to report we had a good trip.
Day 1 we headed into Talleh Lagoons; caught one big fish which we had for tea and the remainder for breakfast with toast. It's a tricky business trying to cook a whole fish which is 2 foot long in a trangia size frypan - but we did it quite well. Stuffed him with bacon and cherry tomatoes and wrapped him in tinfoil with heaps of butter. Then kind of steamed the fish with a little water in the frypan' moving him along gently!
On day 2 we then fished our way north along the lagoons and headed up Quail Gully (where you suggested nnw) then we went over to Lunka. The wind was coming out of the north and it was quite unpleasant; so we decided against heading north and explored the area, did some fishing and camped at the lagoons at the southern end. There was a pair of black swans nesting in one of the lagoons. Are they very common up that way? The island out in Lunka is a sight to behold being covered in very old pencil pines. That night the wind blew and it rained.
Day 3, however was reasonably fine and we headed home via Christy's Creek seeing heaps of big fish; but they were a bit tricky to catch. The only one we hooked was way too big!!
Thanks for all the advice; it was a fun filled trip.