This is a great location for a walk. But the cold breeze off the water means there is always a wind chill factor.
The reservoir is managed by Taswater and there is a lovely scenic circuit track. Built 1968, it was estimated to cost $1K. The dam contains 800 million gallons of water (on a good day presumably and pre decimal). It is filled by a pump from the Derwent River after treatment at New Norfolk, it gravity feeds to Warrane and Lindisfarne. Local run off is too hard and bypasses the dam.
More fascinating gems of history and information can be found here:
http://www.mrt.tas.gov.au/mrtdoc/tasxplor/download/65_0387/65-0387.pdf
Let's walk...
Assembling to start
Dick and Caz lead the way
Local inhabitants two Pacific Black Ducks, and a Coot. We also saw lots of Coot in the water and on land.
Mount Direction. A walk for another day, a three hour circuit but worth it for the views.
A different set of locals...with their model yachts.
Off we go
Mount Wellington in the distance...
and closer up.
Some took the low road and...
...others took the high road.
Wattles in bloom.
Heading towards the top of the reservoir, a bit of a hill.
and down again, into the dramatic rock formation of...
...a disused quarry. This may be where the rock for the dam came from, I need to read the report!
The remains of Risdon Brook
Paparrazzi?
All smiles going up again.
Looking great.
High viz shoelaces!
Track markers showing alternative ways to go up Mount Direction (121m asl)
We wend our way around the foothills...
...back towards the dam wall. With some lovely views across the water as we come back into sunshine.
At the time I could see a lion, as clear as anything, others saw other things. Now it is a rocky outcrop.
We have reached the beginning of the dam wall crossing.
We meet more locals, Bennets Wallabies.
Looking along the dam wall with safety barriers (rather overdone we thought!)
and back to our cars waiting in line to take us to lunch
Yum!
On the way to lunch we look down (literally) on other inhabitants. These are mostly unwilling as this is the location of Risdon Prison.
You can see it on the bottom right hand side of the map.
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