Flinders Island

[ollster]

Hi all,

Off to lovely Finders Island around Xmas/NYE and obviously I intend to get out and do a bit of walking with the GF. Peak Bagging is primary agenda for the walks (well, for me), but also I'm interested in some interesting sites that people may recommend.

Mt Strzelecki is obviously well tracked, but I was wondering if anyone knows the track situation on Mt Leventhorpe? Google maps and Listmap don't indicate there is a direct track all the way, but I suspect there is. Anyone been up there?

[abowen]

Hi Ollster,
Spent some time on Flinders when I was in my late teens. Highly recommend that you visit the old tin mining site at Tanners Creek - particularly if you are interested in finding some topaz - Killecrankie Diamonds. We camped there and I remember being mightily p....ed when a tour group arrived and found a gem the size of a twenty cent piece on the road not 10 meters from our tent! Embarassing when you have all the sieving gear, shovels and sluicing pans working the gravels in the creek!
The other place to have a look is at the eastern end of Killecrankie Bay - I think that this may be under Mt Killecrankie from memory. We scooped out the sand from some of the gutters that run off the granite into the sea. The topaz is generally heavier than the sand and sits in the bottom. Hard work though.
Mind you all this was 30 years ago and may now be well and truly picked over.
Cheers
Andrew

[ollster]

particularly if you are interested in finding some topaz - Killecrankie Diamonds.

Certainly is on the schedule! We're going to be based up at Palana, so a good half day will probably be possible looking for rocks as Killa' is close by. Good advice about digging deep and looking at the base of old run offs. I might just suggest we wander off into the bush looking for a likely remote spot that hasn't been hammered by tourists. Never know we might just stumble upon some massive chunk in the middle of the road... I am feeling lucky.

[Azza]

I'll let you know when I go back from there in November...

You many want to talk to my better half round then as she will be up there for a week working and traveling to Cape Barren as well.
I was looking at a popping over for a few days.
Looks like there is a track running past Mt Leventhorpe gets you within under a km... so I reckon you know the drill from there.

[ollster]

I'll let you know when I go back from there in November...
...
Looks like there is a track running past Mt Leventhorpe gets you within under a km... so I reckon you know the drill from there.

Yeah noice. I did notice the track, I'm assuming since the place is so small there'll be tracks everywhere. Always pays to be informed though.

[Amanda]

Hi Ollster

I think I have been up Leventhorpe, I'll dig out the old track notes and try to remember. There was a mountain with a chain I think that was Leventhorpe. There was definitely a track to the top. Killiekrankie is good too. There's also this wierd wildlife sanctuary at an abandoned scout hall A frame worth a visit to feed the peacocks and wallabies! Otherwise some of the other guys we know would remember, it was a HWC trip about 5 years ago.