Sunday 7 February 2010

Day 10 Queenstown - Lake St Clair

Date: 15/JAN/2010
Route:Queenstown - (Franklin - Gordon Wild Reserve National Park, Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park) - Derwent Bridge - Lake St Clair
Distance: 100km
Accident: 0
Puncture: 0
Weather: Fine
Accommodation: Fergys Paddock (Free / No Facilities)

Today's ride was the in the most beautiful and wild parts Tasmania of my tour so far. There was a number of rolling water falls, deep rain forests, beautiful rivers, magnificent mountains and massive lakes to visit and see. In addition, the weather today was perfectly fine!


Rolling Falls - Nelson Falls

The ride started from a famous 99 Bend Road. This road starts just out of Queenstown. As the name suggests this road has so many corners and hills and as the plantation was destroyed by the past-mining, I felt like riding on the moon.


Like the moon - 99 Bend Road

After that, Lake Burbury came into my eyes. The lake was breathtaking as mountains and the blue sky was nicely reflecting against water surface. Also, it was really calm day and there was hardly no traffic. I felt like the lake was mine. I met Californian couple cyclists at a campsite beside the lake. (Beautiful campsite). They were riding clockwise from Hobart (Opposit to mine). Their bike were also cool mountain bike based touring bike with thick block tyers on.


Picturesque Lake - Lake Burbury

As soon as the lake was over, the way was gradually getting hilly. The next hill was Victoria Pass. During the climbing, I stopped at Nelson Fall 20 minutes walk to check out this famous water fall. No doubt, It was beautiful.

Then, I kept on riding the hill. It was all uphill but as the weather was perfect and steepness wasn't too bad so the ride went pretty well.

After Victoria Pass, I enjoyed the smooth decent for a while. Frenchmans Cap (1,446m) appeared on my right hand side. It's Tasmania's highest cliff. The shape looked like a french beret. Interesting!


Interesting View - Frenchmans Cap

There was heaps of rivers on the way as well. Today's ride was like a condensation of Tasmanian gems. I am glad to have this ride in the perfect weather condition today as it often gets miserable weather even in the middle of summer.


Gordon River

On the last part of climbing, 3 massive mountains Mt William I (1,324m), London Bluff (1,310m), and Mt William II (1,359m) on the right. That was like three mountain brothers.

Mt William I (1,324m), London Bluff (1,310m), and Mt William II (1,359m)

I got to today's bed, Lake St Clair at 3.00pm. The camp site was on the beach of the lake. So the lake was just in front of me. At the camp site, I met a group of friendly trekking blolkes who had just done the Overland Track (One of the Tassie's famous trekking route which starts from the base of Cradle Mountain and ends at Lake St Clair. Duration of the trek is 4-6 days) . They were walking four to five days to get here. That must have been a great trip. I am not into trekking and obviously I can't walk that long with massive amount of luggage, but its the way to be wild.... one day...

Lake St Clair is the deepest lake is not a massive lake but in Australia with the maximum depth of 300m. I am explore the lake a bit tomorrow. I've got enough today.


See you tomorrow - Lake St Clair

Today's Route

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