Arm End Reserve

Monday, 26 June 2017

Summerleas Road in Kingston affords great views of Mt Wellington and Cathedral Rock. In fact Cathedral Rock’s peak is so prominent that when we first moved to Kingston I’d often drive down Summerleas Road towards home and think about how cool it would be to hike up it.

It took a few years to finally get the opportunity to do so,  but once I’d been to the top it was nice to be able to think about how fun it was every time I looked up at it. Since my adventure run from a few weeks ago I can now look up and know I've been up and over all of the rocky peaks behind it too. Cool.

On a similar theme, today I finally visited another part of the Hobart area that I see ALL THE TIME, but have never visited.  It’s a big arm of land that is right opposite Kingston, but via the Tasman Bridge it’s almost an hour’s drive away. I found out a few weeks ago that it’s called both Gellibrand Point and Arm End Reserve. It’s just past Opossum Bay, a place I’ve only been once on a driving trip with Granny and Grandfather about 7 years ago.


 

There are grand plans for Arm End Reserve, including a golf course, mountain bike tracks, walking trails, bird watching thingies and a whole lot of other stuff. It even has it’s own web-site - but for now, it’s a fairly barren bit of land which has some pretty amazing views all the way up to the city. The current walking trail is more like a mown strip of grass but it does do a satisfying loop of the Arm. 

It reminded me a lot of Maria Island settlement with cleared fields, long yellow grass and windy hills.  It lacked the historical remnants but it did contain the triple decker vault style grave of Gellibrand and a few of his descendants, dug by Mr Gellibrand himself every day after breakfast until it was done. Uff.

  

When he died in 1840 the area was apparently renown for the 'tallest timber in the colony', a winery and an extensive orchard.  I think he'd be disappointed that you could pretty much count the trees on one hand now, and aside from a few birds, the only wildlife I saw was a mouse that scampered across my path at one point.   

Nevertheless, I was surprised at how nice parts of the coastline were.

 

 

although in one spot I was equally surprised at how much rubbish there was on the beach - unusual (and disappointing) for a Tasmanian beach. It had obviously washed up from the sea (rather than having been left by picnicers) which is even more of a worry. 

  

I only saw two other people during the 6.5k loop - which added to the eerie sense of loneliness the point has.

All in all it was a fun trip, and now when I look across the river at Gellibrand Point I'll know more about what I'm staring at. Whilst I don't love golf courses I do hope the plans for the development of the point go ahead - the place deserves some re-forestation and more visits. 

2016summary
Kangaroo Island - Day 4 Friday, 29 December 2017
Kangaroo Island - Day 3 Friday, 29 December 2017
Intermission Wednesday, 27 December 2017
Kangaroo Island - Day 1 Wednesday, 27 December 2017
Kangaroo Island - Day 2 Wednesday, 27 December 2017
School Lunches Friday, 22 December 2017
Lovely Jett Friday, 22 December 2017
Meanwhile.. Sunday, 10 December 2017
The best laid plans.. Sunday, 10 December 2017
Show Photos Saturday, 18 November 2017
Zali & Jett's cake Saturday, 18 November 2017
Show Cakes Friday, 17 November 2017
Gingerbread Men Thursday, 16 November 2017
Gingerbread Brewery Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Spring Flowers Wednesday, 15 November 2017
Derby River Derby Monday, 30 October 2017
Search Party Sunday, 22 October 2017
Fortescue Loop Take 3 Friday, 20 October 2017
Lime Bay Friday, 20 October 2017
Ikea makes everything better Tuesday, 3 October 2017
Back in Sydney.. Tuesday, 3 October 2017
Australian Champs - Day ? + 2 Saturday, 30 September 2017
Rest Day Schmest Day Friday, 29 September 2017
Australian Champs - Day ? Friday, 29 September 2017
Supertourists Wednesday, 27 September 2017
Way out west.. Tuesday, 26 September 2017
Long Nights Monday, 25 September 2017
Australian Champs - Day 4 Monday, 25 September 2017
Australian Champs - Day 3 Monday, 25 September 2017
Australian Champs - Day 2 Monday, 25 September 2017
Australian Champs - Day 1 Monday, 25 September 2017
Class Play Friday, 15 September 2017
Queens Domain Friday, 15 September 2017
The Great Koala Rescue of '93 Wednesday, 13 September 2017
Bird Rescue! Wednesday, 13 September 2017
It's getting better Wednesday, 6 September 2017
Before and After #43 - Kitchen Update Saturday, 2 September 2017
East Cloudy Head Thursday, 31 August 2017
It's hard to relocate when.. Monday, 14 August 2017
Bonus Weeks Wednesday, 9 August 2017
Small Adventures Wednesday, 9 August 2017
Thursday Bowling Wednesday, 9 August 2017
Before and After #42 - Tool Storage Tuesday, 1 August 2017
Goodbye tas-oak veneer kitchen Tuesday, 1 August 2017
Freycinet Winter Hike - Day 3 Wednesday, 26 July 2017
Freycinet Winter Hike - Day 2 Wednesday, 26 July 2017
Freycinet Winter Hike - Day 1 Wednesday, 26 July 2017
More Kingborourgh Trails Friday, 21 July 2017
Seagulls and Clifftops Monday, 10 July 2017
Vanilla Slice & Vanilla Slush Sunday, 9 July 2017
Garden Projects - Part 2 Saturday, 8 July 2017
Garden Projects - Part 1 Saturday, 8 July 2017
Motivation Saturday, 8 July 2017
Worst. Night. Ever. Wednesday, 28 June 2017
Arm End Reserve Monday, 26 June 2017
If it has to be fruit cake... Sunday, 25 June 2017
Nice Places Thursday, 22 June 2017
Other Milestones Thursday, 22 June 2017
Milestones Thursday, 22 June 2017
Launceston Sprint Orienteering Weekend Tuesday, 13 June 2017
Before and After #41 - Offcut Pathway Thursday, 8 June 2017
Cathedral Rock & Montague Thumbs Loop Thursday, 8 June 2017
Mount Fortescue Loop Saturday, 3 June 2017
Bruny Island Day Out Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Sewing Projects Friday, 19 May 2017
Melbourne Weekend Thursday, 18 May 2017
Before and After #40 - Be afraid.. Be very afraid.. Wednesday, 3 May 2017
Flags Wednesday, 3 May 2017
Cool things Wednesday, 3 May 2017
NZ Day 30 - Long Distance Final Sunday, 30 April 2017
NZ Day 28 - Rest Day 3 (HA!) Friday, 28 April 2017
NZ Day 27 - Long Qualifying 2 Friday, 28 April 2017
NZ Day 26 - Long Qualifying 1 Wednesday, 26 April 2017
NZ Day 25 - Rangitoto Island Tuesday, 25 April 2017
NZ Day 24 - Unexpected Outcomes Tuesday, 25 April 2017
NZ Day 23 - Sprint Qualifying Sunday, 23 April 2017
NZ Day 22 - Goodbye Rotorua, Hello Auckland Sunday, 23 April 2017
NZ Day 21 - Rest Day 2 (HA!) Saturday, 22 April 2017
NZ Day 20 - Rotorua Orienteering & Adrenaline Forest Thursday, 20 April 2017
NZ Day 19 - Rotorua Orienteering Thursday, 20 April 2017
NZ Day 18 - Rest Day (HA!) Tuesday, 18 April 2017
NZ Day 17 - Oceania Middle & Rotorua Tuesday, 18 April 2017
NZ Day 16 - Goodbye South Island Tuesday, 18 April 2017
NZ Day 15 - Milford Sound Saturday, 15 April 2017
Milford Track - Day 4 Saturday, 15 April 2017
Milford Track - Day 3 Saturday, 15 April 2017
Milford Track - Day 2 Saturday, 15 April 2017
Milford Track - Day 1 Saturday, 15 April 2017
NZ Day 9 - Pastries and Packing Saturday, 15 April 2017
NZ Day 8 - Pools and Puzzles Sunday, 9 April 2017
NZ Day 7 - More Glaciers & Amazing Views Sunday, 9 April 2017
NZ Day 6 - Gorges and Glaciers Friday, 7 April 2017
NZ Day 5 - Seals & Rocks Friday, 7 April 2017
NZ Day 4 - Old Ghost Road Wednesday, 5 April 2017
NZ Day 3 - Abel Tasman National Park Tuesday, 4 April 2017
NZ Day 2 - Hot Springs and Long Drives Monday, 3 April 2017
NZ Day 0 & NZ Day 1 Sunday, 2 April 2017
NZ (Planned) Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Pinto Tuesday, 28 March 2017
Before and After #39 - Ikea Stools Tuesday, 28 March 2017
Small Cakes Tuesday, 28 March 2017
Finally. Thursday, 23 March 2017
Shooting Up Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Mt Wellington Hike Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Mt Fortescue and Cape Pillar Tuesday, 21 March 2017
Crescent Bay and Mt Brown Friday, 17 March 2017
Southport Lagoon Thursday, 16 March 2017
Before and After #37 - Sliding Wardrobe Sunday, 5 March 2017
Maria Island Mini Trip Tuesday, 14 February 2017
Phone found! Race Photos! Tuesday, 14 February 2017
Done! Saturday, 4 February 2017
Waiting.. Waiting.. Saturday, 4 February 2017
Back into the wilderness Saturday, 4 February 2017
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #36 Saturday, 4 February 2017
More Frenchman's Photos Tuesday, 31 January 2017
Frenchmans Cap - Days 3 & 4 Tuesday, 31 January 2017
Frenchman's Cap - Day 2 Monday, 30 January 2017
Frenchman's Cap - Day 1 Monday, 30 January 2017
Frenchman's Cap - Prologue Sunday, 29 January 2017
Collins Bonnet Take 2 Saturday, 21 January 2017
Hartz Moutains again! Thursday, 19 January 2017
Bouddi Coastal Walk Sunday, 15 January 2017
Last Day! Sunday, 15 January 2017
Hot Hot Hot.. Saturday, 14 January 2017
More Summer Fun Thursday, 12 January 2017
Quiet Morning Wednesday, 11 January 2017
Sydney Day 9,10,, - Changing Gears Monday, 9 January 2017
Sydney Day 3 - Zali's Birthday Sunday, 8 January 2017
Sydney Day 9 - Spit Bridge to Manly Sunday, 8 January 2017
Sydney Day 8 - Why Sydney Aquarium Sucks Saturday, 7 January 2017
Sydney Day 1 - Bondi and Uber! Tuesday, 3 January 2017
Sydney Day 4 - Canyoning! Tuesday, 3 January 2017