Wilmot River Walks North
Wilmot River Walks.
Introduction.
These walks on the Wilmot River arose from work done on the Dooley Track which may eventually run from the Alma Reserve to the Black Bluff range. The tracks south to East Ellis crossing are easy and maintained to a high standard thanks to excellent work by the Wilmot Heritage Trails group and their helpers.There are low water crossings, shelters, bridges and information stations. The track goes through interesting country. There are placid pools, rock gardens and rapids, fern glades and fine benched sections among the dogwoods high above the river. At choice spots we have cleared lookouts.
Beyond East Ellis things get progressively rougher! There are more unstable sections prone to landslip .During the winter of 2007 I did considerable work on the section from Farmer's Creek to the south side of Horseshoe bend and this is now a reasonable track.
I have been gradually extending a route on the east bank from Gentle Annie Road. This East Wilmot track has now reached a point opposite the Osbert Creek shelter where one has to ford the river.
The river has to be forded again about 3 km north of Spellmans Bridge due to more access problems!
A through walk takes around 6-8 hours for a fit walker. A car shuttle or bike is necessary. I found it easiest to leave a bike at Spellmans and drive down to Gentle Annie Road, then walk south back to Spellmans.The quickest way to do the through walk is via the east bank as far as the Osbert crossing.
South of Spellmans I have marked a route as far as Andersons Road in South Nietta. Four walks in this area are listed. They are all more demanding than the three northern walks.
Please look after the Wilmot River valley. Leave no litter, light no fires. If you feel like helping by taking light tools along and clearing windfalls or bracken, that would be very nice! Most of the walks are on Crown land or State forest, but there are areas that are close to private property. Please respect the privacy of landowners, by walking quietly and creating no nuisance. Keep dogs on a lead to protect wild life.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Fred Groenier for his cheerful and invaluable help on the Track over the last 8 years, and to the Johns Brothers , Chris Dennis, Rod Davey, Max Richardson and all other friends who have helped cut track. I am indebted to the Kreger family for many things including use of the maps, and introducing me to the River. Jerry is probably still regretting it! Forestry Tasmania , Norma Jamieson and the Murray family have been very helpful in forwarding the Dooley venture. Eva Brockmann has done a superb job with signing on the track.
Wilmot River Walks. North
Walk 1. Lucys track/ Dooley track circuit from Alma to East Ellis Crossing and return
This is a pleasant walk of three- four hours, mostly on flat ground. It involves two river crossings on concrete stepping stones which pose no problems at normal summer river levels.
The quickest access is from a layby on the lefthand side of Gentle Annie Road about 0.9 km uphill from Alma bridge.(Look for tapes) Park here and cross the road to pick up a zigzag path down to the river. At the bottom turn left along the riverbank, passing a new shelter.
There is easier access via a footbridge from Jamiesons Road. This involves driving along Jamiesons Road to a carpark, using a bypass track above a private property, and then crossing the Gold River footbridge. There is less climbing by this route but it is slower.The distances on the accompanying map are from Jamieson's Road. The footbridge is removed in winter to avoid flood damage, check with Jane Becker at Forestry.
The route then follows the east bank of the river reaching Shoestring Crossing after about 20 minutes walk. You will normally use this crossing on the return trip.
Continue along the east bank on Lucys track, named after a little dog who was one of the first to use this route. There is a steep rock above the river at Barking Snake Pool, a fine picnic and swimming spot. A safety rope and footsteps have been put in here to make for easy passage.
After this wander along a lovely forest flat until you come to an open area with little rapids in the river.Then follow a roughish section close by the river until the route cuts across a low ridge to pickup an old vehicular track which takes you back to the riverside at a place called The Barbecue as locals have erected an iron barbie (and a alfresco toilet) Keep going until along the river bank until East Ellis crossing is gained, take care in one section where big rocks have fallen. There is a shelter and picnic place at East Ellis just south of the Crossing.The grassy flats are a delight.
Please do not stray on to the private land - The Valley- beyond the shelter - there is a sign on the boundary. Obviously you will not light fires or leave litter anywhere on the route!
On heading over the crossing turn left and walk up a ridge until a junction where you turn right along the Dooley track which will take you back to Shoestring crossing and the Alma area. On the way you will pass the Payne creek shelter. The Dooley track is longer than Lucy's track, but is a wide well benched track. There are however more ups and downs on it ! There are several shelter/information stations and little poems to inspire the weary traveller en route, with maps to show you exactly where you are.
If Shoestring Crossing is under water you can continue on the west bank to Jamieson's Road utilising a crown road line through private property, follow the orange flags, and do not intrude on to the property or linger here. There is another short bypass above the Murray property. Please use this.
A variant on this walk is to go along the Dooley track to the concrete step crossing at Payne Shelter and pick up a taped route which goes north along the river bank for about 200 metres before climbing up to a spur. Follow the tapes along the Spur until you reach Lucy's East Wilmot track and take this track back to the Alma area.This walk is an hour shorter than the full circuit to East Ellis flats. The crossing is only easy in summer/low water conditions.
Update November 2009 The East bank route continues to a crossing opposite the Osbert Shelter. Head up the marked route to Ellis Flats road saddle, cross the road and head south along the new track. Much of it is very easy but there are a few rocky and rough sections and a river crossing(no stepping stone pads as yet)After the crossing you can return to East Ellis or Alma via the Dooley track on the west bank . Only go here in low water.
Walk 2. Groove Creek Circuit.
Map Tasmap 1:25,000 4242 Castra
Time 2 hours plus 45 minutes for a sidetrip to Secluded Falls
The circuit is an easy walk .The hardest part is finding your way around the Sprent Forest road network, so detailed instructions are given for this.
Drive from Forth on the Kindred road for 10.5 km. Turn left at Swamp road, drive along it for 4.3 km until Nicolle's Link turns off to the left.
Go along this forest road for 3.7 km until a Y junction, take the left road here. Proceed for 0 .6 km, take right turn and drive along this road for 1.2 km . You should be on an open ridge with eucalypt and pine plantations with views to Mount Roland and Eardley's Tor. Take a left turn, ignoring a road leading off to the left after 0.3 km. After 0.4 km you will arrive at an open space where a dumped blue car used to reside. Park here. Total travel distance from Forth should be around 20.7 km.
Just below the car park tapes mark a track leading down through the pine plantation. This ends at an old 4wd track. Turn left down this track until tapes and a cairn mark a right turn. Go down here and you will pick up another track leading down to Groove Creek. Just before the creek turn left and a route will quickly take you to the main Dooley Track and the Wilmot River.
If you want to visit Secluded Falls on Groove Creek go on down to
the creek bed , cross over a man fern "bridge" and follow it upstream for about 20 minutes until you reach a point where the creek divides.
There is a waterfall on the right hand branch just above you, obscured by the bush. The best falls are ten minutes further up the left hand branch, but this is very rough. There are some very fine manferns along the valley floor , but the upper slopes are loose and dangerous. The falls are spectacular after rain.
The main part of the walk goes north along the Dooley track climbing high above the river in places . There is a descent to the attractive forest around Osbert Creek, then another climb until you descend to the Osbert Shelter, a fine overnight and picnic shelter. The sleeping loft is still incomplete. Shortly after this take care to follow the steep eroded 4wd track up the hill - the Dooley track continues along the river. At the top of the 4 wd track you will join a forest road which links to the spur road you drove down to start the walk.
Walk 3 .Groove Creek to Spellman's bridge Map 1:25,000 Castra
Time 3-4 hours one way
This walk will need a car shuttle between Spellman's Bridge and the start of the Groove Creek walk in the Sprent forest. Drive to Spellman's Bridge and leave a vehicle. Drive up Spellman's Road to Castra and then turn right heading for Sprent. Just before you reach Sprent turn right along Swamp Road. Turn right at the junction with Nicolle's Link road and follow the detailed instructions for Walk 2.
On reaching the Wilmot river at Groove Creek head south on a flat route through water ferns and then a manfern forest until Farmer's Creek - a tranquil spot with little cascades. The route then rises, climbing above the river in a wild spectacular section. First stop is the Rock Garden lookout, where a steep little side trip can be made to exciting pools and big rocks in the river.Then onward on high levels before descending to Horse Shoe Bend, an excellent spot for swimming and lunch. This area of track is a long way in, and maintenance is more difficult.
Climb over the little ridge at Horse Shoe and steeply down to a rough narrow passage by the river, until gaining another pleasant flat. A brief climb leads up to a well benched section of original Dooley track, before again descending to a manfern flat and Leo's Crossing. Ford the river here to avoid invading Leo's private property.
Stay on the east bank all the way to Spellman's Bridge.Its about 80 minutes on from here. There are some rough sections on rocky banks which can be tricky when its wet,followed by a nice little wooded section. Then at low water you can walk easily over flat rocks until the next corner. Wooded flats follow. Towards the end a big rock outcrop has to be negotiated with care. This has a ladder and ramp over it at present and should eventually be all ramp if the Wilmot team manage to finish it. It can be bypassed by a reasonable track which climbs above the rocks.
This is a walk for low river levels but its one of the best on the river.
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