"Hi, I'm Shannon, during the summer of 2011 as a bursary student with Forestry Tasmania, I took the challenge to visit Forestry Tamania's 52 visitor sites. I hope you enjoy my blogs and are inspired to visit some or all of these places for yourself."
A lovely drive along the Bass Highway, heading west through the scenic Doctors Rocks, and then Wynyard, you follow Tasmania's northern coast until you almost reach Stanley. With the Nut looming in the distance, you need to take the turnoff to Mawbanna (on Mawbanna Road) which will take you out to the Dip River Forest Reserve.
It will take you about 26km but then you drive straight into Circular Head Forests and arrive at Dip River. There is quite a lot to do here, I parked my car and then took a short walk, opposite the picnic/BBQ area. This walk isn't well signed but there is a well established track. This track takes you down to an old boiler which was used back in the 1920s when this area was a working forest. An interpretive sign gives you a better overview of the history of forest in this area.
I then went to see the main drawcard to this area- Dip Falls. The walk is quite steep, and is pretty much all stairs to get down. The stairs are pretty narrow and get slippery from the moisture in the air, so be careful. When you get to the bottom there is a great view of the falls, and they are quite unique with the water running over basalt which as formed many hexagonal columns. I dragged myself back up to the top via the handrail; it's only about a 15 minute return walk to get to the falls and back.
Once I reached the top, I drove over the bridge to the other side of Dip River; on this side is a great wheelchair/pram friendly lookout of the falls for those who can't manage the narrow stairs. You can look down at the top of the falls and from here you can see how defined the shape of the columns are.
If you then continue driving for a further kilometre, you will reach the Big Tree. The Big Tree is a browntop stringybark and is estimated as 400 years old! Now while the tree isn't one of the tallest I have seen at 62 metres, it definitely has the widest circumferences. The base is measured at about 16 metres (would take a lot of people to hug that tree!).
Further along there is another tree which has fallen, and this is a good thing in a way as it makes more space for other trees to get sunlight and nutrients and hopefully grow up bit like the other.
There are wood fuelled BBQ facilities here and toilets for those who want to stop off for lunch, and the locals I spoke with seemed really enthusiastic about the area which is great! My time for now is up in the Dip River Forest Reserve, however next week I am visiting Mt Victoria Forest Reserve which boast Ralphs Falls.
GPS Coordinates :
LAT : 40°56'19.33"S
LON : 145°19'44.05"E
Click here to view in Google Earth!
Burnie to Stanley - 68km
Stanley to Dip Falls - 42km
Stanley to Smithton - 22km
Smithton to Dismal Swamp - 32km
Smithton to Kununnah Bridge - 38km
Smithton to South Arthur Forests (return) - 130km
52 Places to Visit
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