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Tasmania (Hobart Region) |
| Geeveston | |
| Located 71km south-west of Hobart and 8km from Port Huon, Geeveston, is an important tourism service centre. Surrounded by eucalypts and rain forests the town has had a long association with the forestry industry. Geeveston was first settled in 1842, with the arrival of the Geeves family from England, after whom it takes its name. Geeveston has most southerly local government area which takes in Macquarie Island 1300km to the south. The island is almost half way to Antarctica and is a base for Antarctic research and a State reserve. | |
| Geeveston,
is a sleepy but solid town at the centre of the Southern Forest, a
traditional logging centre, with two huge upright logs acting as an
entrance to the town. Confrontation between conservationists and the
timber industry here led to the so-called “Battle of Farmhouse Creek”
in 1986, a dispute won by the conservationists, after which some of the
forests were awarded World Heritage listing.
The Forestry Commission was awarded millions of dollars in compensation, to be used on special forestry projects, one of which is the Forest and Heritage Centre in the town hall on Church Street (daily 10am–4.30pm; $4). You begin by looking at displays that show how the Southern forests grow, then you gradually move on to the history of logging in the area – covering the Farmhouse Creek dispute – and finally you are shown how to chop down a tree and end up with woodchips. There’s a gallery showing off the woodwork of local craftspeople, a woodturner in residence (lessons are available if you’re keen) and lots of objects for sale in the giftshop. After visiting the centre, you’re meant to drive along Arve Road, where several boardwalks have been constructed through magnificent swamp gum and eucalypt forests – they’re detailed on the free leaflet that’s handed out. Twenty-four kilometres southwest along Arve Road is the rugged Hartz Mountains National Park, with its glacial lakes, rainforests and alpine moorlands; a day-walk map is available from the Forest and Heritage Centre. From Arve Road, a very stony, unsealed track winds up for 12km, with several stopping-off points, at the end of which you can walk a couple of minutes to Waratah Lookout, from where you can see over the Huon Valley and the Southern forests. There’s also a four-kilometre walk to the sometimes snowcapped Hartz Peak (1255m), where there are views west to the Arthur Range. The walk is along a tricky alpine track, wet and boggy underfoot and with the potential for fog to settle and icy winds to sweep in at any time – recommended for well-prepared walkers only. The Picton River skirts the Hartz Mountains from its source deep in the South West National Park and continues towards the Tahune Reserve, at the junction with the Huon River, just north of Hartz Mountain National Park. With its bouncy rapids, intermittent gentle sections and magnificent wilderness scenery, it’s a popular, short (and affordable) rafting alternative to the Franklin River. Rafting Tasmania (tel 03/6239 1080) operates day-trips from Hobart all year ($110). Esperance
Forest and Heritage Centre, Geeveston Hartz Mountains National Park |
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