Today we travel into the heart of the wilderness to Gordon Dam, reason and cataylst for many environmental actions and initiatives in protest to environmental destruction.

Great view of Mount Field with residual snow from near Maydena.

Another view north to Mount Field NP

The road from here to Gordon Dam is over 80km passing several impressive rocky ranges.

Access here is limited for many parts of the year in all months. We chose our day carefiully with an eye on the weather.

The road was lined with yellow in places.

Unusual form of Banksia – presumably marginata but with very big leaves.

Highest Point of road – 651 metres

Peaks surrounded us

Th Needles

Heath plants added colour in the rocky landscapes

Scott Peak Road through beech rainforest

New beech leaves

You disappear onto Creepy Crawly Nature Trail through a hole in the forest.

The track passes through cool temperate rainforest.

Everything is covered in green.

The Creepy Crawl trail is named beacuse of a tree with the common name “Horizontal.”

Fungi adds a splash of colour other than green.

Sassafras leaves are aromatic

As someone else said, “its ducking good fun.”

New fern growth

Lichens

Insectivorous Drosera

Bitumen Bones sculpture – This artwork is a response to the beautiful and often harsh environment in South West Tasmania and draws inspiration from a poem by Sarah Day titled ‘Wombat’. The quartzite earth wedge represents weather-bleached bones, and framing the view, the black wings of a Forest Raven (Corvus tasmanicus) – often seen hopping along the roadside scavenging roadkill remnants.

Sentinel Range mountain views

Mount Wedge

Heath plain

McPartlan Pass Canal connects the waters of Lake Gordon with those of Lake Pedder. 

Teds Beach on Lake Pedder

Lake Pedder Lookout – the lakes are vast.

Strathgordon Bay

Leptospermum, source of the local Manuka honey

A Spotted-tailed quoll dashed across the road into the scrub….

…climbed a bank and seemed to sniff the air…

… looked ahead….

…then turned, gave me a glance then disappeared in the forest.

Gordon Dam – an engineering marvel and part of the hydro-electricity grid for Tasmania’s power.

Lake Gordon

Gordon River below the dam wall

A Black currawong eyed off our lunch

Knob Hill Lookout gives a different viewpoint

Banksia marginata growing in an improbable position

Lichen remains

Another view across the vast Lake Peddar, massively greater area than the original natural lake.

The Sentinel Range on our return journey

More ranges as we drive east

Passing the extensive hop farms at Bushy Park

Wandin Valley Farms have a huge cherry production every summer…..

…and home to The Big Cherry. After our disappointment at Wyuna earlier in our journey, this really adds the cherry on top of our day.

Derwent River valley

The Big Daffodils at New Norfolk – flower power!