Page 475 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

T ASM ANIA  473

Idyllic, deserted beach on the rugged Bruny Island
Frenchmans Cap, accessible to vegetation and wildlife along hours or days. In total, the trip
experienced bushwalkers. The well­maintained walking tracks. south from Hobart, through the
Franklin River is also renowned The most popular walk is also town of Huonville, the Hartz
for its rapids. the shortest: the 10­minute trail Mountains and Southport, the
The Wild Way, linking Hobart to Russell Falls starts out from southernmost town in the
with the west coast, runs just within the park’s entrance country, is only 100 km (60
through the park. Sections through a temperate miles). On the other side
of the river and forest can be rainforest environment. of the channel are the
reached from the main road Lake Dobson car park orchards, craft outlets and
along short tracks. Longer walks is 15 km (9 miles) from vineyards around Cygnet.
into the heart of the park the park’s entrance The attractive
require a higher level of survival up a steep gravel marina of Kettering, just
skills and equipment. path. This is 40 minutes’ drive from
the beginning Hobart, is the depar­
of several ture point for a
other walks. regular ferry service
The 10­km Truganini, the Bruny to Bruny Island.
(6­mile) walk Island Aborigine The name Bruny
to Tarn Shelf is a Island actually
bushwalker’s paradise, applies to two islands joined by
especially in autumn, when a narrow neck. The south island
the glacial lakes, mountains townships of Adventure Bay
and Alonnah ar
and valleys are spectacularly and Alonnah are only a half­e only a half­e only a half
and Alonnah ar
highlighted by the red­orange hour drive from the ferry
hues of the deciduous beech terminal in the north. Once
trees. Longer trails lead up to home to a thriving colonial
the higher peaks of Mount Field whaling industry, Bruny Island is
West and Mount Mawson, now a haven for bird­watchers,
Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park southern Tasmania’s premier boaters, swimmers and camel
ski slope. riders along its sheltered bays,
aMount Field beaches and lagoons.
National Park Unfortunately, Bruny Island
sBruny Island also has a sadder side to its
n Lake Dobson Rd, at entrance to
the Park, (03) 6288 1149. & Travel by car only – no public history. Truganini, of the
Wuenonne people of Bruny
transport or taxis on Bruny Island.
Little more than 70 km n Bruny D’Entrecasteaux Visitors’ Island, is said to have been one
(45 miles) from Hobart along Centre, Ferry Road (inside Mermaid of Tasmania’s last full­blooded
the Maydena Road, Mount Field Café), Kettering (03) 6267 4494. Aborigines. It was also from
National Park’s proximity and the aptly named Missionary
beauty make it a popular On Hobart’s back doorstep, yet Bay on the island that Reverend
location with nature­loving a world away in landscape and Robinson began his ill­fated
tourists. As a day trip from atmosphere, the Huon Valley campaign to round up the indi­
Hobart, it offers easy access to and D’Entrecasteaux Channel genous inhabitants of Tasmania
a diversity of Tasmanian can be enjoyed over several for incarceration (see p469).