Wilmot River Walks. South
Wilmot River Walks . South
These are four walks on the Wilmot river south of Spellman’s bridge, taped by Fred Groenier and myself. They are in fairly rough terrain, suitable for experienced walkers who undertake them entirely at their own risk. For the most part the routes are clear of scrub and small limbs, big logs are circumvented! We will gradually improve the routes with some benching where appropriate.
Walk 4. Eastley’s Road to Spellman’s Bridge
Map Tasmap 1:25,000 Castra
Time 2 hours +
Suitablity. For Bushwalkers, marked and cleared route, no benched track, some rough sections over easy rocks, involves low water crossing. Not suitable for high river levels.
Drive to Spellman’s bridge, on Spellmans Road between Castra and Wilmot., via Wilmot Road and Back Road. Leave a vehicle here. Drive up Spellmans Road towards Castra for 3 km until Eastley’s Road turns off on left. Drive along this gravel road for 1.9 km, passing through an old gate after the last farm. Leave gates as you find them.
Continue steeply down the hill for a further 1.2 km ignoring all roads leading off this forestry road until a level area with the remains of a hut is reached. Park here. This area was formerly paddock, and now is plantation.
Walk north down the hill along the edge of the plantation until a rough track leads off to the right steeply down to the river(look for tapes). Follow the tapes north along the river bank on a pretty flat. Then head steeply up over a bluff, take care here, there is a rope to assist when wet and slippy. There is a nice lookout at the top of the bluff. Head back down towards the river and a pleasant flat will take you to Eastley’s crossing where it is easy to ford the river in summer conditions. (this crossing is to avoid very steep bluffs just ahead and bramble infested areas nearer to Spellman’s Reserve)
The route follows the east bank, coming out just above Spellman’s Bridge. There are some rough rocky sections and pleasant flats. Excellent swimming holes just after the crossing(La Plage – a little sandy beach named after a trip to Paris!) and near the horizontal scrub section closer to Spellman’s. Fred Groenier cut this part of the route and was delighted to find a small area of horizontal scrub (Anodopetalum biglandulosum) by the river
Walk 5. South Eastley’s Loop
Tasmap 1:25000 Castra 4242 and Wilmot 4241
Time 4 - 5 hours .
This is a rough walk, the hardest on this list, suitable for experienced bushwalkers which goes south from Eastley’s road over the Castra Rivulet and heads high above steep bluffs to a prominent ridge, descends very steeply down scree to the river(care should be taken here), crosses to the east bank, then back to the west bank where it goes through manferns and rain forest, round a rocky step to another lovely forest section by a beautiful pool (excellent campsite possible here). It then crosses the river again to avoid steep ground and finally goes back to the west bank where there is a junction. The Dooley Track continues north and Eastley’s Loop climbs up through the forest to the edge of a logging coup before contouring back and descending the prominent ridge encountered earlier on the walk and returning to Castra Rivulet.
The many river crossings make this a walk for low water, but it has several very fine forest sections by the river, and lovely pools.
Detail. Drive to the old hut at the end of Eastleys road, as per Spellman’s to Eastley’s walk, then head south down a logging track which leaves the main forest road on the right as you approach the old hut. This track goes down to the Castra Rivulet which has to be forded on stepping stones. Then follow the tapes up above the cliffs, along a ledge to easier ground. Cross three creeks before arriving at a prominent ridge with a lookout, Hallelujah Point.(Named because I was so glad to get to the top of the steep scree slope when working on this route!) This is a junction to which you will return on the way back.
Head down from this point towards the river on a steep scree slope, taking care not to dislodge rocks on any companions!If you take your time and hang on to the trees its no problem.On reaching the river cross to the east bank and rock hop south for a couple of hundred metres until you see a fine myrtle tree on the west bank. Cross again and go through the manfern and myrtle forest. The ground steepens again and you have to cross a rock bar above the river, easy scrambling with excellent holds. You may have to rock hop in the river for a short section after this, but you will soon reach another very fine forest section with an attractive camp spot near a grand swimming hole called Big Snake pool after a fine snake I saw gliding across the rocks on the other side.
After this flat ends cross again to avoid steep rough ground and follow the tapes through the scrub on the east bank for a couple of hundred metres. Then cross again to the west. Enter the forest and climb up the bank to a junction of tracks. The other track at this junction, heading south, is the Dooley route to Anderson’s Road. Make sure you find this junction and the taped route when you leave the river.
For the South Eastley’s Loop continue uphill through open eucalypt forest until just before the top of the ridge (about 20 minutes climb). The route turns north avoiding the Gaunt’s Road logging coups and contours until it reachs the prominent ridge which you descend to meet up with Hallelujah Point and return route to the Castra Rivulet from whence you came.
Note 26/11/2008 I am working on a new route below Hallelujah which will avoid the steep scree slope and the first river crossings. It contours along below the little cliffs and works its way down to the rainforest flat.11/12/2008 This new route is almost finished, follow the tapes!
Walk 6. Anderson’s Loop
Tasmap 1:25000 Wilmot 4241
Time 3 hours plus
This is a circuit in the Nietta area which give access to some fine stretches of the river, with rainforest and steep bluffs. Suitable for experienced bushwalkers.
Drive to Nietta, take the left road at the Leven Canyon junction and drive towards South Nietta. After 2.3 km turn left along Anderson’s Road(signposted)
After 0.5 km turn right along Andersons One spur , drive steeply down this road for 1.2 km until a junction of red dirt forest tracks. Vehicle with good clearance can go down for another 0.5 km, otherwise or if its wet, park here.
The walk starts where Anderson’s Road enters the forest, marked by tapes. This is the old Narrawa crossing road, and it is a very pleasant walk zigzagging down towards the river. Look for a wooden sign and tapes on the right before you reach the river. The route heads north here through bracken making its way to the river past an old mining trench. It then climbs above some big rocks and traverses a slope before rejoining the river, meandering along flatter ground, until it reaches some bluffs where it climbs up through the rocks along ledges to the Laurel Pass and lookout. Native laurel is very pretty here in November. Then its down to the river and a fine rainforest flat leads to Two Pools Bend. Great pools here for a swim or picnic.Platypus and trout spotting are delights here. There is a track cut on the east bank connecting the pools. Just before you reach the bar between the pools look out for the remains of an old camp.( It is possible to cross the river and continue north to pick up the main Dooley Track. This variant is as yet unfinished and will involve rock hopping)
The route then climbs up steeply through open forest to a signposted junction. The Dooley track route continues north. Anderson’s Loop route keeps going up until it comes out on the Long Spur Ridge, turn south along this ridge until you meet up with an old forest track which takes you to a red dirt forestry road about 0.4 km from the start of the walk. Head along this to complete the circuit.
Take care when driving out of Andersons road on to the South Nietta public road as there is very poor line of sight, and log trucks use this road. If you have companions, get them to get out and check for traffic.
Walk 7. Wilmot Gorge
Map. Tasmap 1:25,000 Wilmot 4241
Notes on the Wilmot gorges.
The Wilmot has two fine gorge sections.The southern section starts below Lake Gairdner and can be exited at the old Erriba crossing by climbing up the eastern side to reach the Cradle Mountain Road near Bell Mount.There is also a forest road on the west side which takes you up to Ling road and Smith Plains , this is useful for exiting the northern section of the Gorge which runs from above Andersons Road to the Erriba crossing. The northern section of the gorge has more sustained cliff sections.The river is but of ghost of its former self, as the highland water is captured in the Lake Gairdner dam and tunnelled off to the Wilmot power station and the Forth, but in times of flood it roars back into life. This last happened in the spring of 2005, debris can be seen two metres above normal river level! In the gorge the kettle holes scoured by ancient floods are clearly visible.
Traversing the gorge is only suitable for experienced bushwalkers prepared to swim pools and rock hop long sections. The gorge should be avoided in rough weather and high water, its really a place for hot summer days. Double plastic bags are necessary to protect rucksacs and personal effects, and a wetsuit could be handy on cooler days.
The Walk
Time 2hours return, allowing for a swim and picnic.
Suitable for bushwalkers.
This gives access to the middle reaches of the northern Wilmot gorge , and can be done as a short return trip , as a “taster” for the rock scenery and pristine forests of this area.
It also enables parties going through the gorge to break the journey safely.
Drive to Nietta and take the South Nietta road at the Loongana Leven Canyon junction. This road is sign posted to South Nietta and Winterbrook Falls. Drive on for a further 5.2 km until a forest road turns off to the left just after the last house.
Drive down this road for 0.6 km and take the first left turn. Continue for another 0.7 km until the road ends in a junction with forest tracks. Take the right hand forest track(look for tape and wooden sign on the ground.) and follow this south for approx 1 km until a tape and wooden sign on a little log is picked up on the left. The scrub has been cut so that there is an obvious opening Follow the tapes down through the open forest among manferns . The going gets rougher with some fallen logs and then you descend towards a creek. Cross the creek and descend through ferny open forest to the river. As you near the river a massive undercut rock can be seen. Descend steeply to the left of this, and you are in the gorge.
Delightful pools and rock scenery can be enjoyed, with forays up or down river, before returning by the taped route.
Make certain that you find the start of the route down as it is one of the few easy ways into the gorge, avoiding rough bush and big cliffs.
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