Is WOJ worth it for just one night?

[Deb]

Hi,
We have a small window of opportunity to visit the WOJ for an overnight camp leaving tomorrow (Tues 1st). Is it worthwhile going in for just one night and if so, what could we realisitically hope to see in ths time frame? We would be starting our walk at about 10am.
Thanks.

[johnw]

Hi,
We have a small window of opportunity to visit the WOJ for an overnight camp leaving tomorrow (Tues 1st). Is it worthwhile going in for just one night and if so, what could we realisitically hope to see in ths time frame? We would be starting our walk at about 10am.
Thanks.

IMHO absolutely. Plenty to see in a fairly compact area. First visit I went up there for a day walk then eventually returned for a 7 day trip. If you're reasonably fit walkers you could get to say Wild Dog Creek campsite in 2-3 hours and look around the central walls area and probably on to Dixons Kingdom, maybe also up Mt Jerusalem or one of the other peaks. Depends also on what time you need to come back on day 2.

[whiskeylover]

Hi Deb,
Mt Jerusalem can be done easily in a long day walk (depending on fitness), so yes, it is definitely feasible to just go in for an overnighter. Having said that, the weather for the next two days is a bit uncertain, so you may get clagged in with showers and limited visibility meaning the views may not be great and you might be better considering other options with say, waterfalls. It is preferred that you camp at Wild Dog Creek, but you would probably still have time to explore further on the first day, and/or you may choose to walk out a different way, e.g. Lake Ball and Adelaide or around the other way via the Golden Gate; again depends on ability, fitness, navigation etc. The views from the top of Mt Jerusalem are amazing on a good day, and it is one of the easiest mountains to climb as far as gradient of the track. Enjoy your days off.

[kramster]

It depends on how fast you walk and how clear the weather is.
For a single night, I'd suggest walking in as far as the Herods Gate/Wild Dog Creek campsite (there's platforms and things here), then depending on how much time you have that afternoon or the following morning, take a day-walk (say around 4 hrs) through the walls proper to Dixons Kingdom. Doubt you'd have enough time for Mt Jerusalem or Soloms Throne, but The Temple is a relatively easy climb from the main track to Dixons.
Herods Gate is also a good place to climb King David's Peak from.
At this time of year daylight is ok till 8:30 /9PM, which can help with longer days...

[JamesMc]

Yes

JamesMc

[Deb]

Thanks for your replies and suggestions. Just back from a very enjoyable overnight to WOJ. Camped at Dixons Kingdom. Will certainly be back for more at a later stage.
Deb

[Genesis]

G'day All

I am new to Tassie and am planning a 2 nighter to WOJ, plan to get in, up all the peaks and out over the three days. for those who have been up there
anytips? Also where does the Lake Adelaide track end up I see on the map it continues on way past lake adelaide?

Genesis

[matthias]

WoJ seems pretty overrun by people at the moment. I walked out on Tuesday and met like 30 people on my way out. Can't imagine the number on weekends.
If the Wild Dog Creek campsite is full, feel free to camp near the Dixon's Kingdom hut. It's not an official campsite, and camping is discouraged but at the moment there are temporary toilets at the hut, to deal with the many people.
Lake Adelaide track (I think on maps it may be called Junction Lake Track) goes all the way down to Junction Lake, but at the top end of Lake Adelaide you will find an unmarked junction and if you walk left, over the ridge, you get to Lake Ball.

[Genesis]

Matthias,

I am one who enjoys walking when there are no others on the trail. I understand this is not always possible but generally I go either early or late in the "walking season" to avoid
crowds. Thanks for the heads up on the numbers though, I am not heading out till mid-late March so I hope the numbers have receded by then. Dixons hut sounds like a plan as it would make a closer base camp for all
the peaks in the park and I would like to get up them all plus I like to feel like I am in the bush when I am in the bush and platforms, toilets etc detract from this feel. However I can acknowledge
that these structures are necessary for the volume of walkers these days and toilets are a welcome sight sometimes.

Genesis

[Snowzone]

We spent 5 nights in WOJ mid Feb 2010 and it was a lot quieter then. Two of these nights were at Dixons Kingdom and there was only two other girls camped there at the same time. I'm certainly glad we didn't have crowds of campers then.
A lot of the other walkers we came across were actually day trippers.

Lake Meston also has a really nice spot to camp at its Northern end.