Trish Travels: Rosebery, Tullah, Queenstown and King William Lake

Day 23 - Rosebery, Tullah, Queenstown and King William Lake

Wednesday, 19 February 2014

Quick look out at Tullah. Highest rainfall in Tas, and sure enough whilst looking at Wee Georgie Wood, (historic trains) we could hear the thunder. Taking the back road through the mountains to Queenstown the heavens opened, slippery, winding and no visibility, interesting!

Arrived in Queenstown in one piece! phew. What a quaint, interesting town. Lots of history, mines, forestry etc. lots of rivalry, Broken Hill on a very small scale. Lots of businesses closed down, some trying to draw new customers. The old Empire Hotel offering a cafe/cinema night. The old Queenstown station drew HH like a magnet. The West Coast Wilderness Railway offers a half day heritage experience on a steam train. A definite must do for HH, but weather bad at the moment, so we will come back (no where is far on this little isle) if there is a break in the weather.

Driving out, up and over mountains, what a weird experience. The hills are all bear, oops bare, it looks like you are driving through slag heaps. HH said it reminded him of Andamooka in SA (opal mining). A lookout over the town explained. All the previously forested hillsides were logged during the mining 'rush' and the rain did the rest. Unfortunately another side effect was the sulphur given off in some of the mining process (fires) which was highly acidic. The hills look like something out of a Hollywood Scifi movie, The Day After ..... The acid rain has also damaged the local rivers!

We bought a brolly, looks like we are going to need it, second to last pie (locally made), picked up a package waiting for me at the post office and started driving to somewhere with better weather:) he he in Tassie eh?

Crossed off 3 more walks from my book. Nelson Falls, Donaghys Hill and Franklin River Nature Trail - 5.6 Km in all.

Camped at King William Lake, some ominous skies but no rain.

	All Hand made [Map]		Tullah 'moods' [Map]
	Lake Plimpsol [Map]		Queenstown [Map]
	Iron Blow [Map]		Nelson Walk [Map]
	Nelson Falls [Map]		Ominous over Lake King Billy [Map]
	Not ominous [Map]