Low altitude walks in Southern Tasmania

[devoswitch]

Working for the council gives me an RDO every second Friday. It's my day to myself and I love making the most of by climbing mountains an going for walks usually around the SW.
I think its kind of pointless getting up to the top only to find it shrouded in cloud and there's not a view at all to be seen. Does anyone have any suggestions for any low level walks where it doesn't matter that it's a cloudy/miserable day? I've had a bit of a search around and can't really find anything that I really want to do.
Any suggestions would be great thanks

[devoswitch]

Also I should have said day walks an that I'm based in the Huon Valley but am willing to travel a couple of hours or so. Thanks

[MickyB]

Working for the council gives me an RDO every second Friday

Does RDO mean rostered day on or rostered day off when working for a council?

[MrWalker]

This site has day walks only
http://www.cowirrie.com/stepscape/
Zoom in on the area you are based in and see what there is nearby.
It does not have full details on the walks because you are supposed to look up the details in the books referred to there.
Not all possible walks are listed, but they have about 820 day-walks In Tasmania covered so far.

[lajs]

Coastal walks are good for cloudy/rainy weather, it can get a bit too warm in full sun and you could probably get good views even in bad weather as it is a lower altitude.
I know that you said around the SW but I think Cape Hauy and Cape Raoul walks are pretty special even though I am not usually attracted to coastal walks as much as alpine walks.
Around the SW there is Cockle Creek to South Cape Bay which would be a good day walk (I haven't done it yet, but will be on my way very soon).

[devoswitch]

Lol MickyB. Don't hate the player, hate the game. I work hard and deserve my day off.... Most of the time!
Thanks guys for the suggestions. I've decided South Cape Bay is going to be me. I've never been over there so Friday's my day!

[Hallu]

I did South Cape Bay in the rain. It's a bit boring because the track is all straight, and there was hardly any wildlife. The ocean view is nice though. Careful at the end, you end up on large slabs of rock overlooking the ocean, and in the wet they are quite slippery. You could also walk the lakes in Hartz Mountains NP, but it's a short walk (couple of hours max). It's usually very windy there though, preventing you from going to the summit (I could hardly stand up passed Ladies Tarn).

[devoswitch]

Thanks Hallu,
I've done the short walks to a couple of lakes up the Hartz mtns, they were lovely actually.
Hmm a bit boring walk to south cape? Maybe I'm not heading there just yet. I like a bit of a challenge and don't mind covering a fair few km.... Any other suggestions ppl?

[north-north-west]

Waterfalls are always good in 'bad' weather.

This site has day walks only
<a class="linkification-ext" href="http://www.cowirrie.com/stepscape/" title="Linkification: http://www.cowirrie.com/stepscape/">http://www.cowirrie.com/stepscape/</a>

Thanks for reminding me about that site. They've been hard at work. There's some very useful info there.

[devoswitch]

Yeah you're not wrong NNW. Hey, just been reading an old forum post and you said in it that Cape Pillar was doable as a longish day walk. Have you done this? I'd be very keen to get out there as I haven't been yet. Is it fairly level walking the whole way? Thanks

[north-north-west]

Yes, I have, when I was younger, fitter and a good bit faster. Spent the night at Fortescue Bay and was off at first light. It was getting dark when I got back to the car. Would have been April or May, so the longer summer days would make it easier.
The new track avoids the biggest drop and climb (Lunchtime Creek), and the surface is better for fast going, too. A few hills but the grade is mild. Most likely thing to slow you down is the photographic opportunites once you're down on the cape.

[devoswitch]

Ok so I'd be looking at a very long day driving from the huon valley aswell! Don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow :-/ thanks for your help though. Much appreciated

[devoswitch]

Arrgh... The track to pillar is closed on Fridays anyhow from what I gather!

[north-north-west]

Odd. They've had it open Fridays through Sundays while the trackwork is going on.

[stepbystep]

Tarkine coast or rainforest. Tasman Peninsula, Freycinet Peninsula, Bay of Fires, Rocky Cape NP, Port Davey Track, Lake Judd and as mentioned, any number of waterfall walks around the state.

PS Yes the Cape Pillar track is closed Mon-Friday presently.

[flyfisher]

Have you thought of the Bluff river gorge track near Buckland, easy drive and very scenic.

FF

[flyfisher]

The walk to lake Skinner is another, closer to you area and lowish altitude.

FF

[devoswitch]

Thanks for suggestions sbs and ff. I have decided I'm going to go for a casual cruise over to South Cape Bay and check it out. It's meant to be fairly breezy so I guess it's a great time to see the roughness of the Southern Ocean.

[devoswitch]

Yeah I like the walk to skinner. I've been up there and Snowy South. Very nice indeed. I've taken a rod up there before too an pulled a small rainbow out of there

[north-north-west]

You could also do Snowdrift Tarns and Nevada. Start of the track isn't that far from the Skinner track, and it's a beautiful place.