Postman's Track

[sthughes]

Apparently I'm told there is a walking track from Stanley to Wynyard via a track called the Postman's Track. I can't seem to find any information on it - does anyone know anything about it they'd like to share?

[Tassiedevil]

Hi sthughes,
The track that traverse the track from Rocky Cape to Sisters Beach follows part of the old Postmans Track. I was walking there on Saturday, glorious winters day.
Cheers
Shane
wildaboutoutdoors.com

[sthughes]

Yeah, we were toying with the idea of a walk in there sometime but due to not being able to camp in the RC National Park decided to look for other options. That's when I heard about this one.

[Tassiedevil]

Where does high tide mark stop, could you camp at Anniversary Bay?

[sthughes]

Where does high tide mark stop, could you camp at Anniversary Bay?

I don't know, but I know I'd rather camp above it than below it!! The National Park Appears to extend to the low water mark on the LIST Map.

[Graham51]

Where does high tide mark stop, could you camp at Anniversary Bay?

I don't know, but I know I'd rather camp above it than below it!! The National Park Appears to extend to the low water mark on the LIST Map.

Yes, I believe coastal national parks extend at least to low tide. Not so much the inland ones.

[Chrisbulldog]

Hi St.Hugh.

Just replying to your query re Postman's Track.

What is known as Postman's Track nowadays is the small section starting at the eastern end of Sisters Beach ,
climbing up over a hill , and ending up on Irby's road and either following the road back , or using a smaller track
inside the road. An account of this can be found in the book "Family Walks in North West Tasmania".

However earlier in the year I was on a walk between Rocky Cape to Sisters Beach ( see my report elsewhere).
At the top of this walk , there was a sign reading "Postmans Track" Now that headed of in a different direction
in this area at that point , but I assume some of the original track is contained on the present track.

When you get to a turnoff to Anniversary Bay , which most walkers take , the inland tack continues up the
hill in front , with both tracks eventually arriving at the carpark at the western end of Sisters Beach.

Now the section west of Rocky Cape i'm not sure of ..but the present highway is quite close to the coast for
most of it ,and there must have been some turnoff to Stanley near where the current road and former train tracks are.

Now west of Stanley is whats called "Old Stanley Road " which is the former road to Smithton. There was a stage coach
service , but I presume that started later after trees were cleared for farmland , as I couldn't imagine a stage coach
going up over Rocky Cape hills.

For more info , I think the Wynyard History Centre would be the best shot ..I might ask more info myself.
Hope this is helpful to you.

[Tortoise]

Yeah, we were toying with the idea of a walk in there sometime but due to not being able to camp in the RC National Park decided to look for other options. That's when I heard about this one.

Just wondering - I thought camping is allowed there, though not promoted as such. From PWS:
"Rocky Cape is mainly a day use park, so no camping areas are provided."

That still suggests to me it's not prohibited - though other options might suit you better anyway.

[Chrisbulldog]

Hi Tortoise

There does not appear to be any designated camping area at either Rocky Cape or Sisters Beach end ,
and no sign of anyone doing so. The nearest place would be at the Rocky Cape Tavern I would say.

[Tortoise]

Hi Chris,

I realise there's no designated camping area, but from my reading of the Parks website, 'bush camping' is not prohibited. No ideal sites, but some possible ones along the way (not at track heads) irrc.

[sthughes]

I was under the impression it was allowed but not designated as well, until I read this: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=19051.

Pets and firearms are prohibited within all national
parks and camping is prohibited in the Rocky Cape
National Park.

[Tortoise]

Bummer

The quote I gave above is currently on the website under:

Home>Parks & Reserves>National Parks>Rocky Cape National Park>Activities

So what other use is possible if it's a 'mainly day use park'?? I s'pose it allows nocturnal rogaining, though that's not the usual use of the phrase wrt national parks...

[Pongo]

From the research I did on the area I was under the impression that you were not permitted to camp there. Tonnes of holiday accommodation in sisters beach.

Burnie info centre were very helpful for me when enquiring: http://www.discoverburnie.net/about-bur ... entre.html

[Chrisbulldog]

Hi all .

Just adding to the debate about camping areas in Rocky Cape N.P. ..When I walked through it , there was
no evidence that anyone HAD camped anywhere within it.

[doogs]

I was under the impression it was allowed but not designated as well, until I read this: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=19051.

Pets and firearms are prohibited within all national
parks and camping is prohibited in the Rocky Cape
National Park.

I thought the same until I came across this today whilst researching something. http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=6720 I am interested what the 'hunting areas' are that appear in the WHA around the Central Plateau? Surely that needs a firearm in a National Park?? I know it's from 2002 but I have been doing a bit of reading and a many of their current management plans appear from around then. They appear to be in the process of creating a new management plan due out later this year.

[sthughes]

The Central Plateau isn't a national park just a "conservation area" (apart from the Walls area of course).

[doogs]

The Central Plateau isn't a national park just a "conservation area" (apart from the Walls area of course).

OK that's the bit I find confusing, it's in a World Heritage Area but not a National Park so you can kill stuff there?

[pazzar]

I don't see why you would need to camp in the NP. It doesn't take more than a day between Sisters Beach and Rocky Cape. I would camp at either side. Water is very unreliable in the NP itself - you would need to carry your supply from Sisters Beach.

[sthughes]

The Central Plateau isn't a national park just a "conservation area" (apart from the Walls area of course).

OK that's the bit I find confusing, it's in a World Heritage Area but not a National Park so you can kill stuff there?

Pretty much. Kill stuff, mine stuff you name it. Not sure what is actually conserved in a "conservation" area to be honest?

I don't see why you would need to camp in the NP.

Who said anything about need? I don't see why you would need to camp in any national park.

[stepbystep]

The Central Plateau isn't a national park just a "conservation area" (apart from the Walls area of course).

OK that's the bit I find confusing, it's in a World Heritage Area but not a National Park so you can kill stuff there?

Pretty much. Kill stuff, mine stuff you name it. Not sure what is actually conserved in a "conservation" area to be honest?

The Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area is an excellent example, some areas need to be re-taken over time from the traditional(lol) uses. It takes a generation or two but you get there eventually. See the Tarkine mining thread...

I don't see why you would need to camp in the NP.

Who said anything about need? I don't see why you would need to camp in any national park.

I've camped there a cpl times, no one has bothered me yet...

[Nuts]

The Central Plateau isn't a national park just a "conservation area" (apart from the Walls area of course).

OK that's the bit I find confusing, it's in a World Heritage Area but not a National Park so you can kill stuff there?

That's the beauty (or disdain.. depending on how you look at it) of World Heritage. Reserving places including use in a historical context.. they could have left that out of the WHA as another option..

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=664

Iv'e found myself camping at RC a few times Hughesy. The only time on foot I wandered down through the shacks and camped near the beach on that side. I saw on a map that there's a picnic spot further south along the beach now.. not sure if the shacks would even still be there but I don't think its a part of the park, maybe in the reserve still?.. I asked an old timer on the way through and he had no problem..