Mt Shakespeare

[ILUVSWTAS]

Stepbystep and myself did a very long daytrip to this rarely visited peak yesterday in fine weather.
The route goes up to Wylds Craig using the new track which cuts about 3k's walking and 300mtrs elevation off the old track. Wylds can now be done in a comfortable 4hr return walk from here (old way was nearly 7hrs)
From Goodwins Moor, we followed the West side of the ridge (the top of the ridge is a bit rough) towards Darkes peak. The going was very easy with light pads followed in some places. Once above Lake Laurel, we descended into the scrub which isnt anywhere near as bad as it may look at first glimpse. After about 15minutes we arrived at the lakes.
For those who dont like daywalks of 11-12hrs, there is a nice campsite in the forest near the outlet creek at Lake Laurel. Following along the lakes, we headed up to high ground to follow a "bridge" through to the ridge line of Mt Shakespeare. It got a little rough up near the top, but again it wasnt really all that bad, only taking around 45minutes to get to the top from the Bridge.
We got to the summit at around 12pm, some 5.5hrs after leaving the car.

Sitting on the summit admiring the rarely seen views of the Prince of Wales and Spires, along with many peaks in the Southern reserve, Frenchmans, West Coast peaks as well as the usual loved peaks in the Southwest, it was after about 40minutes we retraced our steps back to lake Laurel where a dip in the lake was WELL in order!

Feeling somewhat refreshed, we headed back up the mildly scrubby hill towards the ridge near Cunninghams Knoll. The feeling of rejuvenation only lasted about 30minutes however and the 3k slog back towards Wylds Craig was quite slow and tedious. I had already been up Wylds, but as SBS had come out to Shakespeare with me, I dragged my tired body up to the summit for the amazing views of all the above mentioned peaks as well as the Denison range which was very close, and the Eastern and Western Arthurs were clearly in view.

Knowing it was all down hill back to the car some 3.4k's away, we soon started off. Fatigue had really set in by now and we both stumbled along like a pair of drunks, soon arriving at the car exactly 12hrs after setting off. This was the second 10+hr, 20+k walk I had done in 5 days, and my body was really punishing me for being so mean to it.

A short walk back through a disgustingly ugly forestry coup with all kinds of ooze and crap seeping out of the ground to run into the nearby Florentine River (oh yeh out rivers are REALLY nice and pristine in Tas, thanks Forestry Tasmania for that!!) we headed off for the 2 hr drive back to Hobart. Stoppig at Gretna for a couple of soothing ales (and a chat to the very colourful locals) we got back to Hobart around 830pm.

[stepbystep]

Nice report old chap - tis a very nice area indeed, will post a couple pics shortly

Oh you forgot to mention the massive weed infestations throughout the coupe and along the 70-odd km's of the Florentine Road

[ollster]

Nice work guys, wish I could've joined you. The scrub between Wylds and Shakers looks fairly unrelenting!

[ILUVSWTAS]

Nice work guys, wish I could've joined you. The scrub between Wylds and Shakers looks fairly unrelenting!

Yeh, Bauera mostly. but it's fairly tame stuff, mostly knee-waist high.

[stepbystep]

Some pics from me....

[ILUVSWTAS]

As your pics are better than mine, im going to correct you on the spelling of WYLDS. Not WYLDES.

[stepbystep]

As your pics are better than mine, im going to correct you on the spelling of WYLDS. Not WYLDES.

Fixed

[Taurë-rana]

Sounds like a good trip, thanks for the report and photos. Wish I lived in Hobart...

[bluewombat]

Sounds like a bit of an epic for a day walk but looks like fascinating country. Thanks for the heads up on the new track to Wylds, is it easy to find the start of this track.
bw

[stepbystep]

Sounds like a bit of an epic for a day walk but looks like fascinating country. Thanks for the heads up on the new track to Wylds, is it easy to find the start of this track.
bw

Hi bw,

Very easy to find, the new track starts off Tiger Spur 21 in a coupe - there are cairns leading through the coupe and a well tagged route to the old track and then up to the plateau - I found the country quite similar to areas of Mt Field. If you didn't feel like the big trip to Shakespeare simply crossing the plateau to Darkes Peak gives great views to the West, particularly The Denisons and Spires, but also over Lakes Daphne and Laurel. Easy walking with pads here and there. The Florentine Rd from the Nth was unlocked and means only 20-odd km unsealed as opposed to 50-odd from the Sth, best to call FT before though.

Cheers, sbs

[bluewombat]

Thanks for the advice, another one to put on the list of walks to do
bw

[JDG]

Can you remember how far you drove up Tiger Spur 21? I found some a cairns along Tiger Rd (some 500m after Tiger Spur 21) It was already hard to find the registration box due to a fallen tree. After that the path was completely vanished, I found a few ribbons on trees in the beginning (first 10min) but after that I couldn't find path nor ribbons so had to go back(was alone and had no gps)...I guess I was at the old path? Last person to sign the registration book was 9 months ago though.
Cheers, JDG

[ILUVSWTAS]

Can you remember how far you drove up Tiger Spur 21? I found some a cairns along Tiger Rd (some 500m after Tiger Spur 21) It was already hard to find the registration box due to a fallen tree. After that the path was completely vanished, I found a few ribbons on trees in the beginning (first 10min) but after that I couldn't find path nor ribbons so had to go back(was alone and had no gps)...I guess I was at the old path? Last person to sign the registration book was 9 months ago though.
Cheers, JDG

Yes there is no log book on the old track which is overgrowing, thats where you would have been. Take the next left and stay on the left path, you'll come to a cleared area with a cairn on the side of the road.

[telopea truncata]

very nice

[bluewombat]

you'll come to a cleared area with a cairn on the side of the road

It looks like this:

park on the right
bw

[iaindtiler]

Am planning on heading up to Mt Shakespeare this weekend. Does Tiger spur 21 lead directly off the Florentine rd? Cheers much Iain

[ILUVSWTAS]

It's pretty obvious when your there, big uphill road on left hand side, there was no sign for the spur when we were there though. If you cross the bridge you've gone too far. It's a few hundred metres past the old track (which is getting harder to find anyway)

[stepbystep]

It's pretty obvious when your there, big uphill road on left hand side, there was no sign for the spur when we were there though. If you cross the bridge you've gone too far. It's a few hundred metres past the old track (which is getting harder to find anyway)

Unless of course you are coming from the North In which case it's the first right after crossing the river.
Bit long as a daywalk this time of year, you'd want to make an early start...

[ILUVSWTAS]

Yes there is that...

Wouldnt be possible as a daywalk now. He said weekend, so I presumed overnight...??

[iaindtiler]

Thanks for help. No only planning a day walk to Wylds and a little beyond, maybe spend 7 or so hours about there. Cheers Iain

[ILUVSWTAS]

Shakespeare took us around 10hrs, at a fairly uncomfortable pace

[telopea truncata]

amazing walk fellas , and a big day rewarded. great pictures

[stepbystep]

Just a heads up I was doing a cpl of walks off the Styx Rd yesterday and noticed the Florentine Rd was closed for bridge repairs, best call FT to see if you can access from the North for Wylds and Shakespeare.

[iaindtiler]

Was up Wylds yesterday. Fabulous, relatively easy day walk with some amazing views. There is indeed a sign saying the bridge is closed, but it isn't at this stage. tho looking at bridge, which i walked before taking car across, it will be soon !!! Iain

[stepbystep]

Ah excellent Iain, glad you got through. I went up Mueller and Styx. Fabulous day though a bit windy...

[iaindtiler]

wind was blowing , but more so across Goodwins More than the summit. Besides winds, perfect day. How long is the Mueller hike?

[stepbystep]

How long is the Mueller hike?

I think it took about 5hrs return. The true summit is at the far end of the ridgeline. If you weren't into bagging the summit 4hrs would get you up onto the ridge and back.

[tigercat]

The Mt Mueller ridge between the 2 summits is a little jewel if the weather is right.

[stepbystep]

The Mt Mueller ridge between the 2 summits is a little jewel if the weather is right.

^^True that^^ track to the lake isn't much to write home about though, I've still got cutting grass scarification.

[north-north-west]

I hate anyone who gets good weather on Wylds.

The Florentine bridge has looked like that for at least the last five years. it isn't going to fall down any time soon.