TRIP REPORTS
All safely across we headed south, lots of photo ops
on the way including Reece and Bastyar Dams.
James found us a lovely lunch stop overlooking Lake
Mackintosh near Tulla.
After lunch we continued south through more
picturesque forest passing both active and derelict
mining areas, arriving at Rosebery early afternoon,
where we booked into the caravan park.
Rosebery is an interesting town with an active zinc/
lead mine and flotation plant which has been
operating since 1936 on the edge of town. It was
Rosebery Festival weekend so lots of attractions to
keep all amused.
I chose to tackle the Montezuma Falls walk some 10
kms out of town. The walk is 9.8 kms return and
follows an old tramway, used to bring ore into
Rosebery from various mines, and was last used in
the 1920s. Most of the way is quite easy and the
scenery spectacular, the walk terminating at the
base of the 110 metre falls on one of the tributaries
of the Pieman River. Just below the falls there is an
interesting suspension bridge and on the other side
the end of a 4WD track which starts at Melba,
maybe next trip. Another feature is the remains and
photos of the tramway bridge at the falls, an
amazing engineering feat. I really recommend this
walk but allow at least 3.5 hours.
On return to Rosebery everybody dined at the hotel,
some listened to music, and all enjoyed the street
lantern parade and fireworks before adjourning
back to caravan park (we must be getting old the
music was to continue to 2 am.)
Day 7 - 24th
After pack up and breakfast, minus Lael and Joy who
decided to remain at Rosebery, we visited the old
Williamsford mine and smelter site and continued
on to Zeehan, being Sunday everything except
museum closed, photos of street scape, and we
continued on to Queenstown. Again photos of street
scape, and lunch at hotel. Not having dessert I
wandered across to the iconic station to be
rewarded with Abt train arriving, one of the original
cog steam engines, now operating on the Strahan to
Queenstown tourist line. Now joined by rest of the
group we walked around town including a visit to
the Empire Hotel with its heritage listed Blackwood
staircase.