Sunday Selections - Mt Wellington, Tasmania

My fifth blog for Frogpondsrock 's Sunday Selections! Go and check out hers and all the others linked there!

Mt Wellington is the 1271 meter peak that rises above the city of Hobart, Tasmania. Known as kunanyi by the indigenous aboriginal population, or more commonly as 'The Mountain' by locals, Mt Wellington is now a large park managed by the Wellington Park Trust.  It is almost impossible to have a photo of Hobart that does not feature the mountain in some form. This photo shows the mountain with the iconic Organ Pipes, a dolerite formation on the face of the mountain. 

And this side on view taken half way up the mountain near a location known as "the Springs"

The mountain is accessed by a single, winding road the leads to the summit, and there are numerous walking tracks and fire trails that criss-cross the mountain.

Many of the tracks cross over some of the large boulder fields that have formed on the mountain. Many of these boulder fields are visible from the city, although the scale of them does not become apaprent until you walk through them. 

They are impressive in either this form..

or in their winter form, covered in snow.

The mountain also has many streams and waterfalls, most in the foothills that are within easy, short walking distance.  Silver falls is on the pipeline track

and more impressive after rain is Myrtle Gully falls just north of the Cascade Brewery

and the stream downhill from the falls..

The summit or Pinnacle to the locals is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike and has several viewing platforms and an enclosed viewing room which offers spectacular views of the Hobart area and surrounds.

One of the popular tracks that tourists take to walk to the pinnacle is the zig zag track which leads directly up the face of the mountain. I find it offers a more challenging walk to take down the mountain, particularly when covered in snow and ice..

My personal favourite track is the ice house track. As the name might suggest, this track was historically used to transport ice down the mountain to the young city of Hobart. Once you make it up the side if the mountain you find yourself on the plateau which allows 360 degree views.

Sunday Selections - Tassie Ice

My third blog for Frogpondsrock 's Sunday Selections! Go and Check out hers and all the others linked there!

Most people associate Tasmania with being cold. Indeed it can be quite cool at times. This morning it was a very refreshing 7 c when I felt brave enough to get out from under the doonah. I thought a few photos that reflect the cool Tasmania might be appropriate for my Sunday Selection.

Frost - In most areas of Tasmania it is not unusual to wake up to a thick layer of frost, formed when the moisture on the ground freezes. This shot is of frost on some pine bark in my backyard.

And this shot was taken on the aptly named Ice House Track on Hobart's Mt Wellington

Ice - Taking frost one step further. While not common in the urban areas, there is certainly pelty of icy conditions to be found in the rural and highland regions. This first photo is again from the ice house track, and shows ice that had covered the walking track.

The next two show a large frozen pond beside Dove Lake near Cradle Mountain.

Snow - The type of cold that most people love to see. It certainly can look great!

This photo taken on the Mt Wellington plateau.

This also from Mt Wellington looking down over Hobart and the Derwent River.

And now some more classic views of Tasmania - Snow on Cradle Mountain