New Norfolk, Mt Field NP, Lakes Gordon and Pedder.

Our first stop after leaving Geeveston was New Norfolk. This is a lovely town, people have told us that it is stunning during the autumn. Some of the trees have started to turn colour already. We used New Norfolk as a base to visit Mount Field NP and the Lakes Gordon and Pedder. We did this on the advice of some of the park residents, they said the road was rather hilly and windy out to the Lakes. On our drive out to Lakes Gordon and Pedder, all through the forest there were hundreds of bee hives deposited on any flat area there was. About 20 km past the town of Maydena, in the wettest, coldest area along the road was a camp of "tree huggers". Banners strung across the road, and an invitation to have a cup of tea, we didn't take up their offer, they looked rather scruffy and smelly. Very little sunshine must reach the road as ferns of all types are growing by the roadside. The day we came back from the Lakes area the temperature at New Norfolk was still a balmy 25 C. As usual it is better to let the photos tell the story, so on we go.

Well manicured park in the centre of New Norfolk town.

Early morning mist on the Derwent River, New Norfolk. This is the view from our van window.

Fantastic elevated view point of the Derwent River, New Norfolk. Looking upstream.

One of the many fallen forest giants in Mt Field NP, a Swamp Gum.

Russell Falls, the main feature at Mt Field NP.

Horseshoe Falls, Mt Field NP. All the falls look great at the moment because of the volume of water coming down.

Finally, Barren Falls.

This is claimed to be the tallest of the tall giants in Mt Field NP. Swamp Gum again.

There are many different types of fungus growing in the NP because of the very damp conditions there.

Yet another variety of fungus.

We were having a peaceful lunch until these invaders 'cottoned' on to us. This individual was the most persistent, it would take food from my hand. We left our 'bird book' home, so we do not know what it is, if anybody can help us there, that would be great.

We found this little fella in the camp park at Mt Field NP. It didn't really want to be photographed either, it continually tried to turn it's head away from the camera.

The following day we drove out to Lakes Gordon and Pedder. We have morning tea facing the formidable Sentinel Range.

The first sight of water is the backwaters of Lake Pedder. I think it is still about 24 km to the dam wall from this point.

The beginning of the stairway down to Gordon Dam. Vertigo anyone.

Almost down to the wall.

Finally at the wall, these cages are for the maintenance crews to go down to the base of the wall, you can make that out, way down there, about 200 m top to bottom.

This is the Gordon River Gorge behind the dam wall.

The wall gains it's strength from the double curve in the wall face.

The Gordon Dam Hydro Power Station.

A photograph of the schematic drawing of the power station.

The Serpentine Dam which holds back Lake Pedder. All the water from this reservoir is fed into the Gordon Dam then through the power station.

The river valley behind The Serpentine Dam.

Lake Pedder at the town of Strathgordon.

An old jetty on Lake Pedder at Strathgordon.

There is a boat ramp here, so there is a 'wash' wall all along the embankment. The white colour you can see on the hill tops in the background is not snow but 'quartzite'. This rock is abundant all around the area. The rock in the ranges here is purported to be 1000 million years old.

On the way back to New Norfolk from both Mt Field NP and the Gordon and Pedder Lakes is the small town of Westerway. The town is sandwiched between the Derwent River and the road. This holiday house is struggling to fit in.

Beside the 'Red House' is this Cafe, you can clearly see how close to the road it is.

After all our walking we had to fill up on carbs, this is the back of the Cafe overlooking the Derwent River. Jude had the biggest piece of cake and couldn't eat her dinner.