I have been seriously considering, even planning, to undertake the four day Three Capes Track walk in south eastern Tasmania, and to do so within the next few weeks. I have the mental fitness for the effort but my concern has been whether my legs and feet can complete the course; and I know this will be a one-way, cannot-turn-back walk. In addition, walkers are only entitled to stay in the cabins one night and must move daily to allow the next lot of walkers to be accommodated. Therefore, if I take up this personal challenge, I cannot change my mind after a day or two and must remain committed for the whole journey. Despite considerable walking experience, but knowing some of my current physical challenges, I felt a small test was required. When friend Marion suggested I visit her at Lauderdale and that we walk the recently established walking track south eastwards to the tiny hamlet of Cremorne, I told her I would love to.

These couple of blog posts record my experience with Marion and Alex.

The day promised 40-50 km per hour winds so we decided we would rather be blown there than fight our way back into the wind; this meant we started at the Lauderdale end of the track which commences at the top end of Bayside Drive. Initially we were faced with a determinedly shut gate but a side entrance to the path.

Down the hill we walked, all the while remarking on the varying architectural styles of grand new homes, and the extensive views of hills and the water of Frederick Henry Bay.

At this point, when we had walked only a few metres of the track, already I began to notice the weeds; in the photo above, the yellow flowering Capeweed attracted my attention first. Then, with the exception of our treks across May’s Beach and Cremorne Beach, either side of the track was infested with weeds of many kinds; some in flower, some in seed and the rest promising those ends. Prolific; so many and so large I cannot imagine how they can be eradicated. Obviously a control and management plan was not in place when the track was created. But these were the only mar on what otherwise was a superb experience.

We descended a couple of short flights of stairs and headed towards May’s Beach.

Through the trees we could see bridesmaids and flower girls and, on the stairs, we chatted with a marriage celebrant as she passed.

On the beach a local family were playing racquet games.

From half way along the beach I stared in both directions. Idyllic. Peaceful. Serene.

Once off the sand we reached a sign indicating the start of a sandy pathway which changed quickly into an uneven pebbly pathway before settling as a fine gravel pathway.

We passed the original May family’s house, now refurbished.

Where the track parted, one diverging to Forest Hill Road, we took the lower track and continued on towards the Calvert’s Hill Nature Reserve on route to Cremorne.

Regrettably many of my photos have not captured the sense of almost boundless clean space, with a bright outlook. Nevertheless, here is a taste…

Frederick Henry Bay alternatively glistened, showed white crests, was smoothed in patches by wind gusts, and showed colours of aqua, royal blue and green/grey.

We passed normal water holes/lagoons and unexplained sink holes. On one occasion we walked gingerly and quickly across what we determined was an earth bridge between two sink holes. We discussed when that slip of earth might drop, and under whose weight. On occasions the sink holes were flush with grass and if someone accidentally stepped off the track, then we felt assured a broken or twisted ankle would be the result.

The track was well marked and seemed to have been walked frequently, obviously an asset to locals.

Exciting skies and grand vistas at every turn.